Horrendous nappy rash

[Worriedmum779]

I am really hoping someone could offer some advice or guidance. My 18 month old daughter has never suffered with nappy rash before, however mid-November she started with some red sore spots on her nappy area. I had bought some pampers at the time which is the only thing I had changed. Since then she has really suffered with really aggressive and painful nappy rash.

I have taken her to the doctors 3 times now, been prescribed steroid cream which looked like it had started to work however the rash came back ten fold, then prescribed amoxicillin by the doctor which didn’t make a difference, and told no more they could offer.

i spoke to a friend who works in healthcare who advised to try a combination of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole creams with sudocrem on top.

it looked like it started to improve however the area is just covered in spots. We have tried nappy free time, more nappy changes and have stopped using pampers.

please please please could anyone offer help as we are at a loose end now and I really don’t know where to turn next and if we can resolve this nappy rash once and for all

Sorry to hear this. My baby really suffered with it because she had seemingly constant runny poos as a newborn so I know how stressful and upsetting it is. We got through about twenty nappies a day at one point! We found the Metanium in a white tube (with purple writing) was the best barrier cream. Couldn’t get on with the yellow tube one everyone swears by though! We put a tiny bit onto a totally dry bum (patted dry gently with a fresh muslin - we had a certain colour for nappy changes) then patted the nappy rash cream on so it was really thin and not remotely sticky. I’ve seen some really slathering it on and I don’t think this helps at all. As dry as possible was best for us. We eventually got on top of it with these things and constantly changing for a short period. We didn’t use anything fragranced beyond a little bit of Aveeno body wash in her bath water. We also used water wipes. Any brand of water wipes is pretty good we found. We assume it’s because of the frequent changes but she then hated the sensation of a slightly wet nappy and potty trained pretty young! Good luck.

We had this problem when my DD was a couple of week's old and had a fungal nappy rash. We had antibiotics in hospital for days, and then again months later when I had mastitis (she was bf), and she seemed extra susceptible to nappy rashes.

I would suggest (if not already), trying every single cream you can (one at a time). We tried Sudocrem (she was allergic - came out is spots), Metanium (also spots), Weleda nappy rash cream (lovely smell but did nothing), Canister (1% helped, but not enough and 2% made her redder), we had a cream from the GP but it made her so red, Vaseline worked a little. In the end only Bepanthem worked for us. I can’t imagine using so many creams in one go - they all do different things! Also, not using wipes seem like a good idea, I used to just wash her with water and dry her down with towels. Even now, when using wipes I wipe her with toilet paper (completely dry) before applying any cream.

We also had a long period of nappy free time - I had her lying on towels and using small face clothes to mop up wee. This led us to Elimination communication (catching wees and poos in the potty), and we have done that ever since four months. This might be a solution for you. Maybe consider buying a potty and sitting her on there every time you go (the sound of your wee can trigger her to do one too), and after every meal, and first thing when she wakes up? She may be too early for proper potty training (when they take themselves to the potty), but this is a good age to get her used to sitting on a potty and maybe catch a few wees / poos (if you are lucky).

Anyway, good luck - nappy rashes are the worst! I couldn’t sleep for weeks worrying about my newborn’s poor skin.

I was also going to say it could be fungal. If she's got decent understanding and communication (doesn't need to able to talk but does need to be able to point or show you things she wants) I'd seriously consider potty training her. Mine potty trained at 16 months (girl) and 20 months (boy) and it's obviously completely ended any threat of nappy rash.

Seriously consider potty training. My LO is basically the same age, very prone to horrible nappy rash. We took the HV's advice to start potty training at 12 months, and now get one-two wees a day in the potty and some poos. The regular potty time helps with nappy free time, generally airing the skin. Nursery now put LO on the potty at every nappy change too.

I use Boots Little Stories bamboo nappies at night as they seem more breathable. The GP had to prescribe Fucidin cream when LO was a baby because the nappy rash got so bad it bled. They was a combination thrush/nappy rash that got infected. You absolutely have my sympathies, for you and your LO. It's stressful.

Has the GP ruled out it being fungal? I’d also buy a copy of Oh Crap potty training- 18 months isn’t necessarily too young and there’s a good chapter on younger trainers.