Five Best Diaper Creams

Five Best Diaper Creams

Diaper rash making your child miserable? Not sure what to do next? Here's an overview of the five best diaper creams. Apply any diaper cream like it is cupcake frosting, not moisturizer, when you are trying to treat a diaper rash. You want a 1/4" thick layer covering the skin. Avoid anything that contains parabens or phthalates. Children absorb parabens through your skin and researchers are still studying their effects but they may disrupt hormonal function and studies are ongoing to see if they increase the risk of cancer. Children absord phalats from particles they eat or drink and since they touch everything and put their hands in their mouths, avoid these too since they appear to have a wide array of health effects in children.

Five best diaper creams:

1. Boudreaux's Butt Paste: Buy the 14 ounce container, you'll use it! With 40% zinc oxide this cream will protect baby's skin while it heals overnight. This one has no strong smell, no dyes and no parabens or phthalates. This one is affordable, easy to apply, non-toxic and comes in a huge container - it tops the list of best diaper creams.

2.  Triple Paste Diaper Rash Cream for Baby - 16 oz Tub - Zinc Oxide Ointment: Comes in a 16 ounce container, slightly lower zinc (12.8%) balanced with beeswax and lanolin to make a smooth cream that, when applied thick like frosting, can help the underlying skin heal. No dyes or parabens or phthalates. Also

3. Mustela Baby Diaper Rash Cream 123 - Skin Protectant with Zinc Oxide: Made in France where they have stricter safety guidelines about what can go in baby products, this smooth on/easy off cream helps to heal the most stubborn diaper rashes. No worrisome chemicals, just a higher price-point and only available in smaller tubes. Fragrance free.

4. A+D Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash Cream with Aloe: 10% zinc oxide helps baby's skin heals with the thick frosting like layer. Only problem is the small containers - good for travel or when you're on the go, but don't be surprised if one tube only lasts 2 diaper changes! May have a strong smell. Paraben and phthalates free. The plain A& D ointment without zinc oxide won't form a protective layer for long enough to allow the skin to heal.

5. Desitin Maximum Strength Baby Diaper Rash Cream with 40% Zinc Oxide: Paraben and phthalate free like the ones above, this one has a strong smell. Although all zinc oxide creams are messy, this one can be stickier than the other products making it harder to get off diaper bags, changing pads or your mother-in-law's new couch you just changed baby on, making it the 5th on my list of best diaper creams.

When all else fails, try mixing in 1 tablespoon of Mylanta for each 1/4 cup of diaper cream prior to applying to baby's skin. This can help neutralize the acids in the poop and help skin heal. You can even add in over-the-counter anti-fungal cream for good measure. Top with cornstarch based baby powder. Watch this video to see it prepared. Avoid TALC containing powders, these have been associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer when applied to the genital area for prolonged periods of time in girls. If the rash is not improving or worsening, call your pediatrician for an appointment or more advice!

This blog contains parenting advice only. I am not providing medical advice and is not equivalent to or a substitute for  medical care. If your child needs medical care, please call your pediatrician.