August 16, 2021

What’s Behind Your Baby’s Diaper Rash?

Tips for getting to the bottom of the problem

Dad Changes baby's diaper

If you have a baby, you know about unpleasant occurrence of diaper rash. While it’s a common problem, even a mild case can upset you — and irritate your little one.

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

When you’re changing a diaper and find a red, painful-looking bottom, it’s not only important to know how to treat it, but also how to avoid recurrence. Often, this involves basic care adjustments, but sometimes, it can be harder to pinpoint the source of the problem, especially if it’s related to food or skin allergies.

Pediatrician Jacqueline Kaari, DO, explains what to watch for, how to avoid making diaper rash worse and when you should suspect that allergies are involved.

Deciphering the diaper rash: first steps

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “more than half of all babies between 4 to 15 months of age will develop diaper rash at least once in a two-month period.” So you’re not alone if you and your baby are occasionally struggling with an outbreak.

“It’s a quality-of-life issue for the child who is miserable, and for the parents who want to help but are not getting any sleep,” Dr. Kaari says.

She says to first look for the most common cause of diaper rash, which is a baby wearing a wet or soiled diaper for too long. It’s important to pay attention to a few diapering basics before looking for other causes.

Basic care tips for your baby’s diaper rash

Research suggests that diaper rash is less common with disposable diapers, but what’s more important than the type of diaper is how often you change it.

Before you consider allergies as a culprit, check to see if you are doing the following:

Advertisement
  • Change your baby’s wet or soiled diaper as soon as possible. “That’s the best strategy to prevent diaper rash,” Dr. Kaari says. Be especially vigilant if your child has diarrhea or is taking an antibiotic (or if you’re a nursing mother taking an antibiotic). Antibiotics can cause loose stools and extra irritation.
  • Apply a protective ointment or cream. Look for products containing zinc oxide or petroleum jelly to use and apply when changing a diaper.
  • Let your baby go without a diaper at home whenever possible. This exposes their bottom to fresh air.

Watch for allergies and other factors

Besides the most obvious, there are several other factors that may leave your baby with a red bottom:

1. Disagreeable diapers or wipes. A certain brand of disposable diaper or baby wipe could irritate the skin.

Tip: “While they may outgrow the irritant, the best thing is to try a different product,” Dr. Kaari says. “The simplest strategy is trial and error — eliminate one variable at a time.” Use water wipes or a soft cloth with water to clean their bottom. If your baby’s bottom is red, try to avoid using regular baby wipes to clean the area. These may cause further irritation.

2. Irritating detergent. The laundry detergent used to wash cloth diapers is sometimes the culprit, but if this is the case, your child is also likely to have a rash elsewhere on the body.

Tip: Use detergents labeled scent/fragrance-free and dye-free to wash your baby’s diapers and clothes. Stick with one brand if you suspect soap is irritating your child’s skin.

3. Harmful heat. Hot, humid weather or overdressing a child for the weather can cause a heat rash in the groin area. However, as with detergent, the rash is likely to also show up elsewhere, particularly on the neck, armpits and elbow creases.

Tip: Of course you want to keep your baby warm enough, but it’s possible to overdo it.

In cold weather, check on your baby and loosen clothing as needed when you’re moving from your car to stores or restaurants and back. In hot weather, a diaper is often enough, but use sunscreen and shade when you’re outside. And bring an outfit for air-conditioned spaces.

Advertisement

4. Unfriendly food. Your child may have a food sensitivity or allergy, but other symptoms besides diaper rash are also likely in this case.

“For instance, a child having an adverse reaction to cow’s milk is likely to also have blood in the stool, hives, swollen lips and/or wheezing,” says Dr. Kaari.

Tip: To prevent food allergies, doctors recommend that children avoid milk before age 1 and eggs before age 2.

Know when to call for help

Despite all your best efforts, a child can still develop a diaper rash, either gradually or suddenly. If that happens, clean the area gently with soap and a soft cloth. Avoid rubbing and always be sure to pat the area completely dry.

Call your pediatrician if the rash:

  • Persists for three days or gets worse.
  • Is more red-dotted than solid red, indicating a possible yeast infection.
  • Contains skin that is breaking down and not intact.
  • Is accompanied by a fever.

“If there’s any question in your mind, bring them in to see their pediatrician,” says Dr. Kaari, adding, “I tell my parents that about anything.”

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Are Food Allergies Causing Your Baby’s Diaper Rash?
November 1, 2022
Are Food Allergies Causing Your Baby’s Diaper Rash?

It’s likely a short-term sensitivity (not an allergy) to acidic foods

Dad changing baby's diaper diaper rash
May 2, 2022
How To Get Rid of Diaper Rash

These simple steps can soothe your baby’s blotchy bottom

Close up of child's chipped teeth
March 29, 2024
What To Do if Your Child Chips a Tooth

A dental emergency, quick action is key to preventing long-term damage

child kneeling down, holding head, with a headache
March 19, 2024
How Serious Are Headaches in Children?

Severe and debilitating headaches can affect the quality of your child’s life

Close up of hand holding a scoop of powder baby formula over container of powder baby formula
February 23, 2024
Feeding Your Baby: How and When to Supplement With Formula

When breastfeeding doesn’t go as planned, you may need to supplement with formula or donor breast milk — and that’s OK

Sad, exhausted parent holding newborn in cage surrounded by drug addiction possibilities
February 15, 2024
Can Babies Be Born Dependent on Drugs?

Neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome, or NOWS, can develop when a birthing parent uses opioids, nonmedical drugs or even some prescription drugs during pregnancy

Baby in onesie asleep on back
February 12, 2024
When Can I Put My Baby To Sleep on Their Stomach?

Your baby needs to able to roll in both directions before they can make the switch

parent holding baby at a doctor's appointment
February 8, 2024
How Many Bones Do Babies Have?

Surprise: A lot more than adults!

Trending Topics

Person in yellow tshirt and blue jeans relaxing on green couch in living room reading texts on their phone.
Here’s How Many Calories You Naturally Burn in a Day

Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity

person getting a sinus massage between brows
5 Sinus Massage Techniques To Relieve Pressure and Promote Drainage

A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses

woman snacking on raisins and nuts
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Ad