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Parenting

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Barrier Creams - How Often?

14 replies

2plus2more · 08/06/2010 11:11

OK - some background...

When my son was a baby he occasionally got nappy rash. When he did we used Sudocrem and it sorted it. Once he was clear we stopped using the cream.

When my daughter was a baby she had fairly bad ezcema and we used a lot of different creams on the various parts of her body that needed them. Her bottom was one of her flare-up points and so we were regularly using a combination of metanium (sudocrem never worked for her), daktacort and a few different hydracortisone creams. Her ezcema is much better now and she very rarely has flare-ups which can be treated with simple aqueous cream. She was potty trained a year ago, although is still in pull-ups at night. She is almost dry at night and always clean.

So yesterday her bottom suddenly flared up - bleeding etc... and as I had nothing in the house bar oilatum I called the doctor. She was prescribed a hydracortisone cream but I was told I should still be using a barrier cream at night anyway. I explained that her skin is generally fine (it's been over a year since she has had a flare-up like this) but the doc's response was that barrier cream should be used with EVERY nappy change from birth through until the child is completely out of nappies day and night regardless of skin complaints! I was really shocked! Do people actually do that? We've only ever used creams when needed and that's with a child with ezcema! The doc made me feel like the worst parent in the world!

OP posts:
debka · 08/06/2010 11:31

I don't think you're the worst parent in the world, I think you're very sensible. Why put chemicals on a child who doesn't need it? My dr's advice has always been treat the flare-up and then do the minimum. DD has had sudocrem on her bum about 5 times in her life.

TurtleAnn · 08/06/2010 13:21

Yes, clearly the worst Mum in the world - apart from me, cos I am way the worst Mum ever.
We use Waitrose Bottom Butter, its brilliant for my son, the GP hates it because it isn't part the prescribed collection of chemical weaponry we are currently building in our ezcema arsenal at home.
I'm a big fan of 'whatever works', literally if your baby's bum needs regular creaming (and my son's does) go for it. But I do know babies whose bums are adequaetly soft without the cream and that works for their bottoms.
As a slap in the face to the GP we have set aside the arsenal this week to try a new non-prescribed cream that has worked well for my husband for the past 15 years - just to see...(having already researched that this particular adult cream will have no short-term ill-effects on toddlers, although there is no evidence of what might happen if we opt for long-term use - to be discussed with the pharmacist on Thursday!)

2plus2more · 08/06/2010 16:17

I love it TurtleAnn! We've been using Nivea cream on a small flare up point on my daughter's face for a while now as it has worked better than oilatum (and is much nicer to apply!) - doc was horrified yesterday!

I should point out that I don't actually feel like a bad mother - I stand by our decision to only use creams (and all other medications!) when actually necessary, but the doc spoke to me in such a patronising way it was as if everyone else was doing the every nappy change thing except for me and I was genuinely shocked!

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TurtleAnn · 09/06/2010 19:39

It is really interesting that you said Nivea because that is the one we were trying. It made his skin feel so soft and he didn't scratch for a whole day! He stank of whatever perfume they use in it though
I am going to the Pharmacist tomorrow to chat about long-term ill-effects of using Nivea regularly.

lifeas3plus1 · 09/06/2010 19:55

Ermmmm, Sorry what's wrong with using cream at every nappy change?

Until my Ds was a year old we used Bepanthen at EVERY nappy change. He has Never had nappy rash.

Prevention is FAR better than cure, IMO.

On another note, I did buy some of the Waitrose bottom butter ready for Ds2 when he is born and my MW was shocked that I would even think of using anything other than sudocreme (Yucky stuff).

Pozzled · 09/06/2010 19:59

I certainly don't use cream at every change, but I do put some on if DD's bottom is looking a bit red - try to catch it before it gets really bad. That said, DD doesn't have particularly sensitive skin. The only time she got bad nappy rash (touch wood) is when she had been on antibiotics for a long time, and sudocrem made absolutely no difference to that.

Habbibu · 09/06/2010 20:01

We rarely use it on ds - making sure a dirty nappy is changed very quickly seems to keep his skin in good shape - if it looks a wee bit red I'll put some bepanthem on, but fresh air, fleece nappy liners (we use reusable nappies) and getting out of mucky nappies quickly seem to do the trick.

TurtleAnn · 09/06/2010 20:33

Sudocrem isn't a barrier cream it is an antiseptic to prevent infection. It will only work on wounded skin, e.g. skin with a rash.
It is part of my arsenal.

didgeridoo · 09/06/2010 22:08

I had to use Sudocrem every at every nappy change. DD has sensitive skin & it was the only cream that would stop her getting horrendous nappy rash. Every time we tried a different cream, her skin would flare up immediately. I think you just have to do what's right for your own dc. It's not being a bad parent, just responsing to their individual needs.

Cies · 09/06/2010 22:14

We don't use cream at every change, only when ds's bum starts to look a little red, which is maybe once a fortnight.

addictedtolatte · 09/06/2010 22:27

i have only ever used it twice. i find all it does is transfer on to the nappy making the nappy less absorbant therefore making skin wetter and more prone to rashes. it just ends up a vicious cycle.

addictedtolatte · 09/06/2010 22:27

i have only ever used it twice. i find all it does is transfer on to the nappy making the nappy less absorbant therefore making skin wetter and more prone to rashes. it just ends up a vicious cycle.

woopsidaisy · 10/06/2010 08:37

Hi.I did mention this on a recent similar thread.We used to nurse people with horrible nappy rash...I'm talking about being inflamed from thigh up,including personal areas.Patients were in agony.Tissue Viability nurse always said that metanium was best barrier cream.We completely covered the rash/affected area thickly,then left it in place for as long as possible,ie unless did a poo.The secret is to remove it as little as possible,ie once/twice a day.When you do remove it use Baby Oil,nothing else.Wipes,soapy water etc will tear at the skin,the oil takes it off gently.The warm weather could be irritating her skin? Find a cream that works,but remove with baby oil.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 10/06/2010 13:24

we were given neal's yard barrier cream and only use it at night time when he'll be in his nappy for 12 hours +

we've used sudocrem every nappy change when teething has caused it to be sore...do what works for you and your baby IMO

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