Diaper rash with cloth diapers?!?!

Molly - posted on 03/03/2009

Thank you all!!

Crystal - posted on 03/02/2009

HI, I also only wash once at 40oC no hotter as it can damage the pul liner in the nappy, i also rinse them on a cold cycle first.

I occassionally add a little drop of tea tree oil when they start to smell :)

Good luck!

Erin - posted on 03/02/2009

Sounds like you may have detergent build up. You don't need to use much and only once. My little one had a bad rash when I moved to cloth and I discovered that I was rinsing all the detergent out. I now rinse a lot. I was once in cold, then in hot with 1/4 of detergent or less if it is a smaller load then rinse 2-3 more times until I nolonger see bubbles. She is rash free now. HTHs

Vilate - posted on 03/02/2009

so Molly, here is some infor and then a suggestion.

many detergents have enzymes in them since they break down bacteria, but they also "eat" your baby's skin.  You want to make sure that your detergent doesn't have enzymes. 

i would suggest that you use tea tree oil as it kills bacteria and so helps with the smell.  also i would throw them out in the sun!  The sun bleaches stains and will get rid of any smells left over from washing. 

I only wash once in hot water with tea tree oil 3-5 drops

Unless I am stripping them, then I run just the wash cycle like normal over and over about 4-5 times until all the soap bubbles are gone.  -I have hard water so i use watersoftener.

i hope this all helps.

Molly - posted on 02/27/2009

Jan I also wanted to ask another question.  When you use the soap nuts, is the strong smell still left in your diapers or do they do a good job of removing the odor?  Thanks! 

Molly - posted on 02/27/2009

Jan I also wanted to ask another question.  When you use the soap nuts, is the strong smell still left in your diapers or do they do a good job of removing the odor?  Thanks! 

Molly - posted on 02/27/2009

I'm changing them just as often as I did disposables, but I may need to change them more often. I am using 2 cloth liners when I apply the ointment so I won't ruin the diapers.  I may try the soap nuts.  I've never heard of these.  Jan how many do you need to use in one load?  I'm using the care instructions provided by the company I bought them from.  They have me washing a first load with 1/4 amount of detergent with cold water with and extra rinse. Then I do a second wash with same amount of detergent, but with hot water.  Thanks for your help! 

Jan - posted on 02/27/2009

my son also got rashy when I switched so I changed to using soapnuts to wash rather than detergent and it went away immediately.  Even using 1/4 of the amount of detergent was causing the ultra sensitive skin to go crazy and diaper creams are not recommended in CDs as it will cause the top layer to start repelling rather than absorbing and then you have mega leaks.  you can buy the nuts online if you're interested... http://www.maggiespureland.com/index.htm...

Heather - posted on 02/27/2009

I like Balmex.  I strongly suggest using a biodegradable liner or cloth liner, so you don't get buildup in the dipes.  That can be an issue with diaper creams.

It's possible the rash is from detergent buildup or other laundry issues.  Or are you changing often enough?  My son gets rashy in disposables, but in our BGs he rarely gets a rash.  And a couple of applications of Balmex usually clears it up.