really really stupid question about nappy cream

[fromheretomaternity]

This is probably the dumbest question ever posted. I don't know whether I am meant to be using nappy cream or not. DS is 6 weeks old, since he was born I've been putting Sudocrem on his bottie with every nappy change as that's what my inlaws told me to use, but it seems a bit over the top to be using it the whole time.

Should I use nothing, something milder than Sudocrem, or carry on as I am? DS does not have nappy rash. Am using either cotton wool and water or Simple wipes to clean, and at the moment Pampers nappies.

if he doesn't have nappy rash, no need for cream

Not a dumb question. In laws are probably remembering the days of terry nappies or the original disposables when most babies got nappy rash and so putting cream on every change was a good idea. With modern nappies, you don't need to unless they have sore skin. Then sudocrem is the best stuff ever!

don't use the cream if you don't need to

sudacrem is for healing existing rash, not for prevention

if, later, you find DS has a tendency to be rashy you can use a barrier cream (like the waitrose bottom butter, or shea butter, or vaseline or similar) at every change to keep the wet away from his skin.

Totally agree to avoid the sudacrem unless it is needed. At the most use vaseline as a barrier - I only ever do this if DD is teething (which makes her wee more acidic) and is unlikely to get her nappy changed straight away (if we are out for eg). I think it is best to allow the skin to breathe as much as possible.

Metanium far better than sudocrem for rash IME but all babies are different (I just have metanium ones grin])

btw - there are no stupid questions when you have a newborn! I'm expecting my third in 4 years Sunday and I'm sure I'll be wondering what I am supposed to do with him when the time comes

for the cheap and cheerful option, use zinc and castor oil cream or (cheaper even) vaseline. Only use sudacrem if your baby has a nappy rash. there are loads of lovely baby bottom creams, especially the organic, preservative-free ones that you can buy online from beaming baby, green baby, twinkleontheweb, etc. weleda has a really lovely calendula bottom cream which also works really well on mummy's nappy fatigue hands

(NB be careful with zinc-castor-oil creams as some of them have peanut ('arachid') oil in and the one thing with a proven link to peanut allergy later in life is using peanut oil on broken skin when they are small)

no need for cream - if you want a simple barrier you could put a bit of vaseline on - cheap and clear!!

Oops, looks like I've been doing it all wrong then - I'll get the vaseline out instead!