His bum is burnt!

[mummycloud]

My son is 4 weeks old and is lactose intoleranrt which makes his poo real acidic. I've been using dispoables because he is my 4th and I wanted to save some time and I already do so much laundry I dout I'd ever get to the bottom of the basket with nappies in the mix.
Unfortunalty his bum is so bad the top layer os skin has burnt away :eek: He's in cosntant agony and I dread nappy change time cause I know how much it hurts him. He does that scream where there's no noise...it's awful! If I'm out I use wipes but I use the sensative skin ones without alcohol in them, but he still screams his little lungs out.
At home I drench a cloth nappy in water and just pat his bottom instead of wiping cause it seems to hurt less.
I'm using a medicated barrier cream too, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better.
I thought that disposable nappies were more absorbant than cloth and would prevent rashes. Now I'm strating to think that maybe switching to cloth will help? :confused:
I have fitted cloth nappies (don't know if they will fit him, never tried them) and I also have plain flannel's which I used with the others, but I had snibs back then which I used instead of pins.
Do I need snibs with the fitted nappies? Also, do I need to line them with a flannel? Do I need pilchers? He's only 4 weeks old, so I'm not sure if he needs extra padding extra.
Some advise is needed please, cause I've never used fitted cloth before. Thanks :)

[JenNT]

Poor Aiden! Thats an awful experience to go through, you try all you can to help. :(
We had this problem with cloth nappies until someone put me onto Curash Nappy rash cream, it provides a deep waterproof layer that is even hard to wash off in the bath.It worked in a matter of hours!

I can't help you in regard to fitted nappies as i use flats, sorry. I guess anything is worth a shot.

HTH cheers Jen

[cwsmum]

I'm not sure about the fitted nappies stuff either...i was thinking of getting some for bub #2, due in 3.5 weeks, but decided I am too lazy to wash them and will probably just use disposables :)

What cream are you using bubs nappy rash? I used a really thick one on DS when he had a bad reaction to some antibiotics when he was younger and it worked so well I never went back to any of the others. I can't remember what it was called...i have bad preg brain atm...just gonna go have a look for it now...

[mummycloud]

Hi Jen and cwsmum :)
I've tried sudocream, Covital and now I'm using Desitin, which I bought yesterday. It's mainly zinc, like the others but this one is supposed to have a healing agent in it too. The redness has gone from around the burnt area, but the burn is still just as bad :(
I have curash powder which doens't work, but maybe I'll try the curash cream if the Desitin cream doesn't work in a day or two.

[cwsmum]

I just found the name of the cream...it was called Gold Cross BOZ Ointment. It is mostly zinc, so it is very thick...it says on the container...contains Boric acid 0.25% w/w, Zinc oxide 7.5% w/w, Olive oil 25% w/w. I'm not sure what the w/w part means :confused: It comes in a white and blue container and cost about $5 from the chemist. It worked really well for DS...maybe it can help your bub too :)

[JenNT]

Another thing just came to memory from DD1.........go to a health food shop and ask for chickweed gel, its a miracle cream , trust me! $9 a jar, well worth it. Please try this before commercial products if you can. It worked better at curing the existing problem whereas these other creams are preventative creams
Cheers Jen

[Chickadee]

\...contains Boric acid 0.25% w/w, Zinc oxide 7.5% w/w, Olive oil 25% w/w. I'm not sure what the w/w part means :confused:
w/w just means that the percentages are based on weight. As opposed to volume. So if it's (for example) a 100 g jar then it contains 7.5 g zin oxide, etc. Some products are made up based on volumes %. Sort of like cooking and baking, sometimes you measure in volumes and sometimes by weight.

[cwsmum]

Thanks MarthaM :D I was hoping someone would explain that one to me...I always forgot to ask when I was at the chemist buying the stuff.

[mummycloud]

Thanks Jen :)

I will definatly be buying the chickweed ointment tomorrow!

[madvoice]

I can vouch that chickweed is very good at helping clear up rashes. I used that extensively when I had dermatitis on my hands. It was very soothing. Another thing you might be able to try is Lucas' Papaw Ointment.

[*~*~jem~*~*]

Hi,
I am new to this site but just had to register after reading your post, so please forgive me if I make any errors here. All 3 of my children have had lactose intolerance so I totally understand what you are going through - it is heartbreaking. With my eldest (she is 9) the peadiatricians advised me that there was nothing I could do but place her on Soy Formula, so reluctantly I did. With my next (he is now 3) the peadiatricians advised me to place him on Lactease Drops (which are no longer available) and now with my 10 month old he has recently come off Lacteeze tablets which I highly recommend. The peadiatrician advised me to crush 1/2 an adult tablet with some boiled water and give it to my son each time I breastfed with a syringe or alternatively express some milk and place the tablet in the breastmilk. It is hard work but I felt the effort was worth it to be able to breastfeed him (as the alternative is to place your baby on Lactose free formula) the great news for me was that all 3 kids have grown out of it - all of them between 9 - 12 months.

These tablets are available on the internet or through some pharmacys. You can buy them in drop formula but I was advised that they are not as effective

I too tried every cream available and the only ones that would help with Lactose intolerance were the barrier creams that contained lots of zinc. The peadiatricians advised me to use straight zinc and castor oil to help prevent the urine from further irritating the rash because there is nothing you can do to stop the rash other than by changing what he is consuming. Goodluck with it and I hope that his poor rash improves soon. Sorry for rambling on so much!!

Mum of 3 gorgeous kids
Skye 9
Lachlan 3
Caleb 10months
and TTC bub no4

[tickle]

Hi!
I always found paw paw cream works really well!

Good luck,

Ellen

[Shelz]

Hi there,
My bubs is 6.5 months now and has bad nappy rash just a couple of times. I used Sudocream to clear up the rash and then I swear by the good old fashioned Vaseline White Petroleum Jelly - it puts a waterproof barrier on bubs bum. She has used cloth and disposable nappies and I just used iVaseline every nappy change and she has never had nappy rash again.
Hope this helps, it must be so sore for our poor bubs to go thru.
:)

[Mor]

Oh you poor thing. :( It's horrible when bubs suffers and you can't seem to do anything to help. I hope you find a solution.

A few things to keep in mind:

Some babies are allergic/more irritated by disposable nappies than cloth ones.

You might want to avoid putting a barrier on the rash like vaseline, etc. because they can stop the skin from breathing, and it needs to breath to heal.

Petroleum (not a natural substance) based creams such as Vaseline and Lucas Paw Paw ointment can actually be more drying and irritating to babies' skin. I would stick with natural ointments, there is a natural paw paw ointment (simonds?) with no petro chemicals in it, as well as other ointments, balms, etc. with hemp seed oil, calendula and other lovely things in them that tend not to irristate and actually moisturise and heal the baby's skin.

Have you been to see a doctor, or even child health nurse? There may be something else going on, as a previous post said, such as an allergy to something in your or his diet. I wouldn't put another thing on his bum until you see someone who can give you a better idea of what is wrong.

Good luck. :)

[Crazyfamily]

Hi,
My first 2 children had bad reactions to using any baby wipes. It didn't matter what they were. I could only use a wet washer. Now with my daughter she gets all sorts of rashes including exzema and I use emu oil for all of it and it has been great.

[mummycloud]

Hi,
I am new to this site but just had to register after reading your post, so please forgive me if I make any errors here. All 3 of my children have had lactose intolerance so I totally understand what you are going through - it is heartbreaking. With my eldest (she is 9) the peadiatricians advised me that there was nothing I could do but place her on Soy Formula, so reluctantly I did. With my next (he is now 3) the peadiatricians advised me to place him on Lactease Drops (which are no longer available) and now with my 10 month old he has recently come off Lacteeze tablets which I highly recommend. The peadiatrician advised me to crush 1/2 an adult tablet with some boiled water and give it to my son each time I breastfed with a syringe or alternatively express some milk and place the tablet in the breastmilk. It is hard work but I felt the effort was worth it to be able to breastfeed him (as the alternative is to place your baby on Lactose free formula) the great news for me was that all 3 kids have grown out of it - all of them between 9 - 12 months.

These tablets are available on the internet or through some pharmacys. You can buy them in drop formula but I was advised that they are not as effective



Hi :)
I have ordered Lact Ezy drops from the Royal childrens hospital, Melbourne. it's the only place you can get them from. I will get them tomorrow or Wednesday hopefully. I used them with my second child so I wouldn't have to put her on soy formula and it worked straight away.

My pedeatrician told me to use Desitin ointment which is basically straight zinc. It's working but not as fast as I would like :(
I will try the chickweed gel today.

[2ndtimearound]

Hi mummycloud,
I also am new to this site but I read your post and just had to reply. My son also suffered nappy rash at the tender age of 6 weeks with horrible blistering, just from one bad serve of orange juice enduced breast milk. He was also allergic to any of the well known brands like J&J etc etc and so all of my purchases prior to having him was a waste of money, and developed a rash on his face and flaky scalp etc etc. My pediatrician was fantastic and made me realise that sometimes as new mums we tend to fall into the trap of believing that the brand name products are what is best for our babies. :confused:

Well advice from my pediatrician. Plain old Zinc Cream (yes like the one you use on your face when you go to the beach). Change bubs nappy, with a wet warm washer (no baby wipes, even if they are sensitive they still have alcohol in them) and then pat dry with a dry washer. Place the Zinc Cream over the blisters or burns to completely protect them from any urine etc and then use Curash baby powder over the top of the zinc cream, this stops the zinc cream from sticking to the nappies (be they disposable or cloth). Then just make sure you change their nappy on a very regular basis and do this process until the blisters/burns disappear. :p

This has worked on nappy blisters (as I call them ever since)and he is now 2. He only seems to get a sore bottom when he eats something that irritates him so maybe you might need to look at that as well. Believe me I will be using the same process on baby no 2 due in 2 months, if it happens to them. I have used disposable nappies all of the time so even though this does help it is not a cure for bottom problems.

I also have not used any other products on my child in the bath or on his skin due to his allergic reactions and continue to this day to only use water to wash him and maybe the addition of natural products like LUSH bubble baths which do not contain any horrible chemicals or pure essential oil of lavender. He smells beautiful and have had no problems ever since.

I hope this helps with your little one and his bottom clears up quickly!! I know how useless you feel when they are obviously in pain and you feel like you cannot help. Good luck!!! :)

[aardvark]

The Lactezy drops are also available from www.allergyfree.com.au - a shop based in Sydney.

[funnyfarm]

Mummycloud,

My daughter had nappy rash when she was a couple of weeks old. I found the normal nappy wipes were irritating her. I ended up using cotton wool balls with warm water (a flask kept next the the nappy change area). It was really soft on her bottom and because the water was warm, it actually soothed her bum (not as much crying).

Hope it gets better soon.

[mummycloud]

Thankyou all so much for your advice and support :) I see the maternal health nurse tomorrow, I'm a little worried she might think I have been neglecting him by not changing his nappy enough :( I change it every hour, and I soak his little bottom in the bath twice a day. I hope she believes me.

[mummycloud]

Mummycloud,

My daughter had nappy rash when she was a couple of weeks old. I found the normal nappy wipes were irritating her. I ended up using cotton wool balls with warm water (a flask kept next the the nappy change area). It was really soft on her bottom and because the water was warm, it actually soothed her bum (not as much crying).

Hope it gets better soon.

I was thinking of using cottom balls but thought they would stick to his bum. Good to know they don't, I will use them next nappy change


Cheers!

[Oscar's mum]

Mummycloud,

I found the normal nappy wipes were irritating her. I ended up using cotton wool balls with warm water (a flask kept next the the nappy change area). It was really soft on her bottom and because the water was warm, it actually soothed her bum (not as much crying).


We too use cotton wool balls dipped in warm water (you wouldn't believe the amount of money we have saved by doing this).

I also alternate between using Lucas Paw Paw Ointment (I know it isn't recommended but it works a treat), as well as zinc and castor oil cream or sudocrem (which is zinc based anyway).

I also don't think you would need to use much padding in a newborns nappy, but I don't think the liners would go astray when bub gets older. If you do find some really good absorbant liners let us know as we can't seem to find any in shops (I don't have a credit card so I can't order over the net). So at the moment we use face washers folded into my bubs nappy! :)

[Mor]

(I don't have a credit card so I can't order over the net).

Sorry to pop in here, most WAHMs selling nappy products actually accept, if not prefer, direct deposit (ie. transfer online from your bank account) and you can also arrange money order with most. :)