Aden & Anais Mum & Bub Soothing Ointment: Free of phytoestrogen, parabens, petroleum oils, phthalates, gluten and soy. It does contain fragrance though so may not be ideal for super sensitive skin.
Aleva Naturals Soothing Diaper Cream
Arbonne Baby Care Diaper Rash Cream
Avalon Organics Protective Ointment
Aveeno Soothing Relief Diaper Rash Cream w/ zinc oxide
Baby and Eve everyday bum balm : Organic, Made in Canada
*Bee All Natural’s Organic Baby Powder: Any baby powder not made with talc is safe for cloth diapers. Just use sparingly when applying as too much can create a cloud that can be inhaled. It’s for the tush, not your lungs ;)
Babo Botanicals Soothing Diaper Cream
*Babyganics Non-Petroleum Soothing Protective Ointment: Thicker cream, good to use as a moisture barrier on babies prone to wetness sensitivity. No fragrance so also great on sensitive skin.
*Balm! Baby- Diaper Balm: I’ve become heavily dependent on the products made by Taylor House, Inc (THinc.) and love them all. The Diaper Balm is also a First Aid ointment. I’ve had many more occasions to use it on myself and the children’s boo-boos than on rashes.
* Bee All Natural Diaper Rash Salve: (J) Quickly clears up rashes from ammonia or sensitivities. The tube fits nicely in a diaper bag as well.
*Bee Green Naturals CocoBum Cream: (J) Nourishes, protects and heals. This is a creamier blend made by a WAHM. She states on her website, that due to the ingredients used, texture varies depending on the weather and temperature.
Bourdeaux’s All Natural Butt Paste (green tube): This is available in many drug stores and places like Walmart and Target. The main ingredient is zinc, which is cloth diaper safe. Zinc may stain but will not cause repelling.
*Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Ointment: Yes, this has zinc in it. Zinc is CD safe. It has been known to cause staining for some people. If you have that happen, don’t be alarmed. I like to use this when I want a good thick barrier cream.
*California Baby Diaper Rash Cream: can be purchased at many grocery stores and Amazon. Great aromatherapy scent. I have this thing about zinc oxide creams, as I apply them I immediately feel at ease as if they work faster and better. There have been cloth diaper users that claim this product leaves stains on their diapers. I have not experienced this yet. (J) I also have had no problems with zinc creams. I like that I can buy this in pretty much any local grocery store as well.
Calmoseptine: This comes highly recommended from pediatricians. Menthol helps to immediately relieve skin issues and zinc provides an excellent barrier.
* CJ’s BUTTer: I LOVE the spritz, especially the pixie pie scent! I use it after every diaper change. It keeps Camden smelling good and his skin soft and supple. (J) This is my other favorite that I reach for A LOT! I find if I really want to moisturize, this is the one. It works well when Sophia’s sensitive skin reacts to (a sometimes unknown) irritant. I also love the spritz, but I like the tubs as well. The Love Spell is heavenly smelling!
*Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm now known as Earth Momma Organic Diaper balm: Use it on anything from bug bites to razor burn to yeast rashes. Very popular with many cloth diaper manufacturers. This company knows how to make great products. (J) I love this cream! It’s one of my favorites, read my review to find out more!
Earthly Remedies Baby’s Butt Cream
Eco Sprout Coconut Stick: This is a simple stick made up of 100% Organic unrefined virgin coconut oil blended with beeswax and vitamin E oil. Easy application and basic ingredients.
* Grandma El’s: Grandma El’s is my go to recommendation when someone needs a barrier ointment. I love the smell and wish it was gluten free so I could still use it.
GroVia Magic Stick Diaper Balm: (J) Made with natural and organic ingredients. Good if you don’t like to get your hands messy. However, because it is touched directly on baby, you will need a separate stick for each child if you have more than one in diapers. GroVia also has a version of this available with zinc in it.
Hello Bello contains zinc
Honest Company Organic Healing Balm: Some may worry that beeswax isn’t cd safe. It totally is, plus it is also a great to lock in moisture. It is also naturally anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergenic, and germicidal.
Honest Company Rapid Relief Diaper Rash Cream: Goes on smooth and rubs in while still leaving enough of a barrier to help soothe skin.
*Kissing Blake Bum Balm I really liked this on rashes that had an open sore. It helped to speed the healing. There are no colorants or dyes, phthalates, formaldehyde, mineral oil, petroleum, or fragrances Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Koalin Clay, Beeswax, Lavender EO, Tea Tree EO
Lanolin: The kind used as nipple cream. Or what you use on wool to make them waterproof. Any pure brand is safe for cloth.
La Petite Creme Diaper Cleanser Lotion: (J) I’ve used this as both a rash cream and a cleanser and I prefer it as a rash cream. It may just be because I’m not really used to cleaning bums with a cream instead of a spray though. Very creamy and easy to use.
*LuSa Organics Booty Balm: (J) Made with organic ingredients. Good for diaper rashes as well as cuts, scraps, drool rash, windburn and sunburns. I am a big fan of all of the LuSa products.
Maty’s All Natural Baby Ointment
* MotherLove Diaper Rash and Thrush Ointment: Very versatile. I’ve used it on fungal spots with great success.
Northern Essence All Natural Diaper Rash Salves
NYME Organics Bun Glaze
Ora’s Amazing Herbal Baby Salve
*Organic unrefined virgin coconut oil: (J) This one is nature’s moisturizer. You can find this at any grocery store in their health food section. It is found in solid form. You can apply it by rubbing some between your fingers first. The friction will soften it up enough to be able to apply to little one’s bum. I found this to be a little more work than I wanted to be bothered with; but lots of people use this with great results.
Palmers Cocoa Butter Rash Cream
Peas in a Pod Bum Balm
*Pooters Skin Therapy: (J) I turned to this stuff to treat a tick bite Sophia had. I then started to use it on a regular basis on any redness I saw. Cleared it up quickly every time. This is an excellent product for eczema as well.
Reese and Luke’s Shea Butter Baby Balm
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Chamomile and Argan Oil Baby Head-to-Toe Ointment
*Sweetbottoms Naturals All-Natural Soothing Herbal Balm
* Thirsties Booty Love: An excellent choice to apply every night before bedtime. Booty Love ointment will protect baby’s sensitive skin throughout the night from moisture and ammonia vapors. Anytime I used a barrier ointment at night my children wouldn’t have a red bum in the morning if the diaper reeked of ammonia. Sometimes ammonia can’t be avoided but still needs to be properly washed out. Make sure you are rinsing well and using a deep cleaning detergent appropriate for your water type.
TriDerman Stubborn Diaper Rash Healing Cream
Weleda Calendula Diaper Rash Cream
Wish Garden Herbs Baby Bum Balm
Autumn is a wife, mother, homeschool teacher, friend and most important a follower of Christ.
Eva Lepe says
I love my own homemade balm and GroVia magic stick
Kirsten says
I make Pampered Patooties Butt Balm and we love it. It actually is used for everything in our house- dry skin, eczema, bee stings, cuts… a 2 oz jar is gone within a month! I love how it smells and how my skin feels after using it
Lacey says
Hi! Thanks for your post. I’m new to CD (DAY2!) We use diaper cream a few times a week when we notice a tiny bit of reddening. He’s never had an actual diaper rash luckily.
At the end of te day yesterday he had a little redding around his penis and in his thigh crevices (he’s chunky:)). First…is there anything were doing that could be causing this? We’re trying out FuzziBunz, Flips, BG AIO, Thirsties, and Econobums.
Second, we use mainly California Baby Sensitive Skin Diaper Cream and I hear the Zinc and Lanolin are ‘no-nos’. However it seems most people are okay with CB. Can you explain how it’s safe even though it has the ‘bad’ ingredients?
Autumn Beck says
Zinc Oxide isn’t a 100% no-no. I’ve used it with cloth diapers and not had staining or repelling. It is best though to use a liner for full protection of diapers.
Sarah says
Many who use CB diaper cream use it with natural fiber diapers. If a diaper has synthetic fibers (suede-cloth/fleece/microfiber) you will see repelling issues if you use any kind of diaper cream, even if it claims to be “cloth diaper safe.” To save yourself a lot of hassle later (I had to hand scrub my flip inserts with Dawn and a toothbrush to take care of our repelling issues after using “cloth diaper safe” diaper cream, don’t use the cream with those synthetic fibers. Instead, invest in a few pre-folds (super cheap on http://www.cottonbabies.com, and free shipping!) and when you little guy gets red, use the pre-folds with the CB, and wash them in a load all on their own, so you don’t transfer the diaper cream to the other diapers. If you use cloth wipes, wash the wipes with the pre-folds also. HTH!!
Karyn says
My kid has been fighting a rash off and on for about 2mos now. I’m sad because most treatments you shouldn’t use with cloth, so I have been using disposibles. I’d really like to get him back in cloth, but not sure what to use. I got some virgin coconut oil but I think I read oils aren’t a good idea with cloth? Could I just use a liner and the coconut oil? Any guidance you may have, would be greatly appreciated.
Autumn Beck says
coconut oil is safe to use with cloth diapers. no liner needed.
Karyn says
Thanks Autumn!
Sherry says
I developed an all natural and almost 100% organic balm that works wonders! It truly clears up any rash on my daughter in about 24 hours with the majority of the redness gone in about 12 hours! Anyone interested in trying it out (for free) to give feedback?!
Autumn Beck says
Of course, Sherry! You can contact me through the “Contact Us” button in the bottom toolbar.
Serena says
I would love to and give you a detailed report. How do I contact you?
Sherry says
Great!! I asked Autumn to forward you my e-mail if possible.
Meghan says
I too would love to try it and review for you! :)
Sherry says
Meghan, Please send me a message to sda7577ATyahooDOTcom.
Sherry says
I have had quite a response for balm testers! Thanks fellow mommas :) If anyone else is interested, please feel free to e-mail me/ sda7577 AT yahoo DOT com.
Sara says
Sherry~
I would be interested in trying out your cream for you also. I have been cloth diapering my son almost 3 months now (hes almost 14mo) and just had to buy his first cd safe cream earlier today :/ he always gets red and a few spots on his bum after he has a bm no matter how quickly I change him after her goes. I picked up the only diaper cream that I could find at a local store that was cd safe since I needed it NOW never thought I would need it so I never got any when I first started since its better for them I didnt think he would get red but he still does after a bm I havent put him in a disposable in about 3 weeks (I’m proud of myself that my little accomplishment) because I was still putting him in one as night just because it was easier…..I still have a bunch of disposables left but I notice a BIG difference in his skin since I’ve started cd when hes was in a sposie at night it was because he needed cream on but even if he didn’t need it I would still have to put it on because he would get a rash just from wearing one to bed. So as you can tell I definitely need to use a cream on my son at least every few days so he doesn’t get a bad rash so anything that would work great I would love to try out since I’m still new to all of this and still learning along the way. Please email me at tigerluv2007@yahoo.com if you are still needing/wanting people to try your cream out for you! Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you just have the subject of the email be something related to trying a cd cream so I’ll know to open it….sorry I’ll shut up now I’m so tired that I’m just rambling now lol
Lacey Yaes says
I would love to try the rash cream! I have been cloth diapering for over a year now and have’t used any creams…a little scary! I just ordered some CD safe cream from a gal who makes cloth diapers. My little one has had a few problems lately with a rash – I think it’s from teething – and would love love love to try yours! you can email me at yates.lacey@gmail.com
lisaann says
Id love to try your cream. My son has had a bad diaper rash for months. nothing i have tried works. I dont know what to do
Sherry says
I am so sorry to hear about your little bum in need! We have had an overwhelming response to this posting, mailing over 35 free samples all over the states! Please check out our facebook page to see some of the amazing feedback from mommas like you and to see what we are all about: Terra Naturali (www.facebook.com/TerraNaturali?ref=hl). If you like and follow our page, you can have a chance to win our next giveaway, otherwise we currently have a special on our one ounce tin posted to the top of our page. Feel free to contact me directly this way as well!
Kathy Schmidt says
We have a new grand baby due in a couple of weeks. Mom wants to try cloth diapers. I’d love to know about your diaper cream.
Sherry says
Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your grandbaby! Please check out our facebook page: Terra Naturali or you may e-mail me at sda7577@yahoo.com.
Christine says
Has anyone tried Bum Boosa Bamboo Diaper Rash Ointment? I realy like this ointment!
Here are the ingredients:Ingredients: Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed Oil), Beeswax, Zinc oxide, Lavandula Augustifolia (Lavender Essential Oil), Bambusa glaucescens (Bamboo powder), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Organic Rosa Canina (Rosehip Seed Oil), Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Olea Europaea (Olive Oil), Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree Essential Oil), Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile Essential Oil), Organic Symphytum Officinale (Comfrey), Organic Calendula Officinalis (Calendula), Sodium Bicarbonate.
Michelle says
We’ve used California Baby calming diaper rash cream since we started cloth diapering (at 10 days of age). The most recent tube (and only 2nd tube we’ve had to buy, since we have virtually no rashes in cloth….just when we get a virus that causes lots of extra poo!) actually irritates baby boy when I put it on. He’s 17 months old and just cries and cries when I put it on. Since I’m a retail-store kinda mom, I’ll give Method a try….
Nicole says
I have just discovered the diaper rash cream dilema with my motherease cloths. They have the stay dry liner w/the little perforations for the liquid to go through. Mfg told me to use bleach, but I am skeptical. So I’m starting off with the old Dawn. Switching to coconut & olive oils , do these kitchen oils was out of cloth ok? Also, thanks for the Lanolin suggestion, I’ll try that too! Just ordered Organic Baby -Baby Bottom Balm looked like a good product. Also Avalon Protective A,D,E ointment contains: beeswax, organic coconut oil(1), tribehenin (canola oil), hydrogenated castor oil, organic calendula and chamomile flower extracts(1), organic safflower, sunflower and jojoba seed oils(1), organic olive oil(1), vitamin E, vitamin A and vitamin D. Going to try these 2 products next…w/liners!
Serena says
Instead of letting my sensitive baby crawl around completely pantless, I fasten a large prefold around her like a really loose diaper with the corners gathered at her hips and secured with rubber bands. That way she gets a lot of air down there, but I don’t have puddles and several baths a day. It’s really esy to tell when she has peed and then I give her a fresh one.
Also, I made my own salve out of Shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and olive oil infused with chamomile, calendula (very important), chickweed and plantain leaves. It was easy if you are the crafty type and have the time. I got the herbs at a whole foods store (cheap!) and the butters at Madame Koiteh’s on etsy.com. SO MUCH CHEAPER than buying an ounce at a time online. These ingredients are listed on all natural products all the time.
If you want the recipe go to http://naturalfacialrecipes.homestead.com/bodylotionrecipes.html
I did an adaptation of the Eczema one with the infused oil instead of Almond oil, although you can infuse that oil as well. I skipped the essential oils and just added more infused oil. This clears up my son’s bad eczema outbreaks overnight. Nothing else does that but the prescription steroid cream.
Shelly says
Hi
I am wondering if Bag Balm is okay to use for diaper rash, when using cloth diapers? Ingredients are Hydroxyquinoline Sulfate 0.3% in a Petrolatum Lanolin Base. I just started using Cloth and although my daughter very seldom got diaper rash this is what I used with disposables.
Autumn Beck says
YIKES! I would not recommend continuing the use of it. A Google search brought up a lot of information that is scary.
Lucinda says
Christina & Dominique: I realize it is a year later after your comments, but am hoping you might still be a subscriber to the site…
Did either of you encounter rashes on your LO upon using Oil Lift to remove diaper cream? I used it on my LO’s G-diaper cloth inserts and the cloth is now clean. However now I am encountering a rash and I was wondering if you had any issues after using Oil Lift. I’d really hate to have to switch over to disposable if I’ve ruined my cloth diapers (especially after such a huge investment in them).
Stephanie says
My daughter just developed a diaper rash. I use the cloth diapers when I’m home with her, but have the daycare use disposables on her. So during the day, she’s in disposables. I have some “Bye Bye Diaper Rash” spray that I got from Seagate (www.Seagate Products.com) & was wondering if anyone else has used this product with cloth diapers? I’m new to cloth diapering, as this is my first child. It says it’s all natural & is an Omega-3 oil base. Is this good? It also says not to get onto clothing, as it will stain. Please let me know what your thoughts/suggestions are. Thanks!
Autumn Beck says
I wouldn’t use it with cloth diapers. The oils are thicker and can lead to buildup.
Paola says
Hi i just used Grandma El’s Diaper cream on my Bumgenius Cloth Diaper and left stain on them, what can i do??? pls help
Autumn Beck says
Stains can be sunned out, hand washed with an oxyclean paste or bleached.
Paola says
Thank you!!! Worked with the sun!! but now, some of my diapers have black spots. can it be mold? what can I do?
Autumn Beck says
did the black spots show up while sunning? Maybe it’s something that blew on them?? If it is mold I’d add some bleach to the wash. If you haven’t done anything to lead to mold I wouldn’t assume that’s what it is.
Estela says
Grandma El’s is 59% petrolatum. Isn’t that supposed to be bad for cloth diapers?
Autumn Beck says
That’s why the reviews of Grandma El’s are so split. Some have problems, some don’t (we haven’t). http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/diaperrashcreams.htm
Serena says
Two Questions:
I have read this whole post and am not sure what the best product would be for my SUPER sensitive girl. She woke up with a poopy diaper nearly two weeks ago and still has 4 small open wounds where the burst blisters are trying to heal. They are not bleeding or weeping but will not close and are red and warm to the touch. I have been using a liner and have tried Vaseline, Desitin, CJ’s, pure Shea butter, Epsom salt baths and blow drying her after changes. Arrrgh!! Poor baby.
Also, for super sensitive skin are there products, ingredients, oils that I should avoid? I have heard essential oils are bad for them.
I lied: third question is what does the first “D” is DD and DS stand for?
Autumn Beck says
The first D is dear/darling.
I’d use Calendula cream right on the sores then get some Grandma El’s to put over the whole area as a barrier.
Avoid essential oils on sensitive skin. Most of the time you can find fragrance free options.
stephanie says
Maybe a yeast infection? ?????
Tamara says
I had the same problem with my daughter, now 8 months. I tried everything, nothing worked. My MIL brought me some “fanny cream” that she had the pharmacy make up. I looked into it and the brand name is Dermacloud Ointment . It cleared up in 2 days (which is amazing if you’d seen the open sores, bumps and redness. Not sure if all pharmacy carry it but I’d give it a try.
Good luck.
Nat Nat says
I’m using FuzziBunz onesize diapers and my son has been in disposables for some time because of a rash. I tried using cornstarch with the disposables, and it made it worse. The skin was just irritated at first, and now bumps have appeared. I went back to the 40% zinc cream.
Has anyone tried the Magic Stick by GroVia with FuzziBunz? What do you ladies recommend?
Autumn Beck says
if it’s a yeast rash then corn starch will definitely exacerbate the problem. i haven’t tried the magic stick but i’ve listed great ones for yeast here http://www.allaboutclothdiapers.com/killing-the-dreaded-yeast-monster/
Skye says
Grovia stick made my baby’s rash worse on two occasions. I called grovia for a refund, but they refused. Poor guy is in sposies and desitin now when he gets rashy every couple weeks. Scared to ruin my fuzzibunz or worsen rash. Bummer.
Autumn Beck says
thanks for telling me. i’m always shocked when a company won’t give a refund. bad business. it’s better to be out a few dollars then the possible hundreds from your complaints.
Corie Waldron says
Hi Autumn,
I am using Kissaluvs fitteds for my 2 month old son and a few nights ago he slept for 8 hours (YAHOO!!) when he woke up he had a red rash all over his belly and on part of his thighs that was in the diaper area but not really on his bum or genitals. I just stripped them all using dawn but not sure if that helped. I also use Planet detergent in my front loader and usually do a cold/cold, hot/cold,and another hot/cold, sometimes even a 4th just to be sure. Any suggestions? Also was thinking of putting some lanolin that I use for nursing on him, do you think that would be ok?
Autumn Beck says
I’d place a stay-dry liner in the diaper. The wetness against his skin for that long is probably creating the rash.
Corie says
I got the rash cleared up by using sposies and a bum cream then as soon as I put him back in the diapers he got red again even with a stay dry liner. That was after I stripped them all as well. Any other thoughts?
Sarah says
I cut up old fleece blankets and pants as liners. It wicks away the moisture on our baby and really makes a difference with redness. I realize this response is years later than the question but I hope it helps someone else.
leah says
I have used Grandma El’s and it’s great for mild cases and for eczema. Absolutely no staining or absorption issues. However…my son has a really bad rash right now and thinking he may need something stronger. Anyone know a more potent cream that won’t stain…will plain zinc oxide work?
Karla says
Can anyone tell me what ingredients to AVOID in a diaper cream? Also, any thoughts on what is the “best” strength of zinc oxide? Thanks.
Autumn Beck says
mineral oil for sure
Michele says
I am new to cloth, used disposables with my others so I am curious. Can you use Malox on their tushies? I have unfortunately had children that have spent time in hospitals and they had prescribed “Magic Butt Cream”, which is simply equal parts A&D, Desitine and Malox. This works great on my little one’s bum, but obviously isn’t for cloth diapering. So do you think it would be ok to mix Malox with a more cloth friendly ointment? I can’t think it would really hurt the diapers but not sure. The Malox helps cut any acid that might be in their pee/poop so it doesn’t sting their tiny cute tushies. Also for yeast infections we had used foot cream, has anyone tried this with cloth?
And my giggle for the day, we have been using disposable at night, the last couple of nights because was putting the magic butt cream on him. I have had no leakage problems with my cloth and I am not even using wool or any kind of cover, just a thirsties with a hemp doubler. Last night the disposable leaked. My little man woke up wet and cranky. I don’t miss disposable:-)
Autumn Beck says
Michele, there are many cloth diaper safe creams that you can choose from. Pinstripes and Polka Dots has a great reference list.
Sarah Peterson says
If you aren’t using diapers with a fleece liner (like a pocket diaper or the Flip diapers) then your DD is probably getting a rash due to prolonged contact with wetness. Even if you change her very frequently. My DD is the same way. Some things that have helped my DD is fleece and cornstarch. Cut piece of fleece to fit your diapers, or you can buy fleece liners from Bummis. Since fleece is hydrophobic, the urine will pass through the fleece, and the fleece will dry quickly, leaving your DD with that “stay dry” feel. We use cornstarch on our DD’s bum. Empty out a spice bottle (like garlic powder or something) wash and rinse it really well and put plain ole cornstarch in it. This way there’s a cap to put on it when you go out. Sprinkle that on baby’s bum (use a lot! It absorbs any excess moisture, so the more you use, the drier your baby still stay). We also put it in empty pepper shakers at home. You can also try Magic Stick by GroVia, that is supposed to be a wetness barrier, but it doesnt work on my daughter. So I’d suggest trying the cheapest and easiest option first, the cornstarch! Good luck!
Danielle Cochran says
@Autumn – Thank You!! Those were great posts! I have started putting pure olive oil on him after every change, and that seems to be helping.
@Sarah – That sounds like a great idea! He loves yogurt, so that shouldn’t be a problem!! :o)
Danielle Cochran says
Hi! We have been cloth diapering our youngest(16mo) for apx 4 mo now. Switched to cloth because he had TERRIBLE rashes from disposables. I am so happy to say that his rashes are virtually nill now! However, we have stumbled on to a new problem. He recently had to have a round of antibiotics and now has a red spotty rash. I have Grandma El’s and Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm, neither of which have helped. Do you know of anything else I can use with my cloth diapers? Before the switch I would use a mix of Dr. Smith’s and Neosporin to clear up the rashes. TYIA.
Autumn Beck says
Here are 2 posts that might help you:
http://www.allaboutclothdiapers.com/when-cloth-diapers-leak-part-2/
http://www.allaboutclothdiapers.com/killing-the-dreaded-yeast-monster/
sarah peterson says
@ Danielle: In the future, give your son 2 or 3 spoonfuls of yogurt when you give him the antibiotic. It keeps diaper rashes from appearing. May sound strange, but try it! Works for me, and worked for me and my sisters when we were babies.
Alana says
Hello again,
Thanks so much for the helpful reply. My daughter is struggling with a rash right now that just wont go away. I have her in disposables temporarily because the cloth seems to have the poop stick to her butt (even if left for a short time) and irritates even more. I tried breast milk on it to see if that would help and some normal diaper rash cream with the disposables temporarily because the only places with rash creams it seems are online for cloth diapers. My local target doesnt really stock stuff. I wanted to know if you knew of anywhere that might sell something that may help her rash so I can use my cloth diapers. Also, I wanted to know what your experiences were with your specific brand of cloth diapers. Before I used cloth she never had a problem with rashes, and I love cloth diapers, but not at the expense of my babies bottom. :) I have read some people use fleece liners…where would I get that(or make it?) and will that help if she is getting the rash due to the way the material and stuff stick to her bottom. Sorry for my long comment/question, I am just wanting to get rid of her pain…thanks again! I appreciate your help or anyone else’s very much! :)
Autumn Beck says
You might try a barrier ointment like Grandma El’s. See if that helps.
Kathleen says
I have read that Safflower oil is good for preventing and treating diaper rash. Is this true? Can I use it with cloth diapers (FuzziBunz One Size)? Thanks!
Autumn Beck says
California Baby, which is a diaper rash cream I recommend, contains safflower oil.
Jennifer G says
I tried California Baby, and it burns my son (he screams bloody murder), as well as I think it made his rash worse. They actually put alcohol in it. I can’t believe they would put alcohol in a product designed to be used on already sore skin, especially on a baby.
Alana says
Hello,
Wow, everyone has so many different experiences with various products, it is so hard to make a decision. My daughter seems to get diaper rashes now and again (depending how quickly I notice/smell she went). I am looking to get something to prevent this and at first from reviews I was going to go with Angel Baby Bottom Balm, but after reading your posts, its not fairing so well. Autumn, you said you use Homestead Company Diaper Rash Oil with no problems for a few months. I guess my question is, Diaper rash balm or oil? Which is better for prevention and treating? Are there any other brands you have used for extended periods of time with no issues? Also, I was wondering if there was anything you have used to prevent/get rid of staining on the diapers? My daughter is breastfed and has runny/colored poops and it has seemed to stain quite a bit each time. Some people say sun, is there anything else since we do not have a large outdoor area to sun them. :) thank you so much for your time and insight! :)
Autumn Beck says
I love the Homestead oil. It seems to work really well when he gets a rash. I have their diaper spray but I don’t “love” it. The only brand that I’ve used for years is California Baby. I bought it at Target years ago and still use it when we occasionally get a rash.
Sunning is great for stains. You don’t need much space, you could lay them on top of your car :P A little bit of bleach works too.
CP says
You don’t need much room to sun them in, and in fact you don’t need sun at all. A shady spot outdoors or even some bare-bottom time in the crib, perhaps with a fan on, will work too. Sun is great for sanitizing, but it’s not necessary to reduce a rash.
I personally have moved to using plain olive oil on my baby’s rashes, though I did not do this when she was very young and the rashes were more frequent, so I don’t know how well it would’ve worked then. My baby’s skin has gotten less sensitive as she has grown and the rashes have become less frequent regardless of what I use. At 6 months she hardly gets rashes at all. One great thing about olive oil is that it’s cheap and can be found anywhere!
shay says
When my 6 mo old got diaper rash from food alergy I used creams that I now know are a no no on cloth diapers. And the creams didnt really work that great anyway. I had to strip & scrub the diapers w couple times with dawn original. It eventually removed the creams. After doing research I learned that coconut oil works to rid diaper rash. I tried it and it was amazing! Rash went away by the next morning! It’s amazing anti viral anti bacteria & inflammation reducer. You can get it at your local grocery. I kbiw whole foods carries it. Make sure to get extra virgin.
CP says
After 6 months, I have just realized my baby’s cloth diapers are stinky and non-absorbent probably because of diaper cream and too much detergent! My mom was very insistent that we use zinc oxide creams on our daughter, and I didn’t know any better. She mostly gets sunshine and plain olive oil for her rash now, but the diapers must have so much residue in them by now!!! I’m going to strip them all today and hope for the best.
CP says
PS. Has anyone tried washing soda to remove greasy residue?
Autumn Beck says
If there is repelling try Dawn.
Melissa says
This is actually in response to a few posts above.
Regarding the eczema, my 2 sons have it one worse than the other and the only soap I can wash them with that doesn’t irritate is Dr. Bonner’s liquid castile.
I use aquaphor on eczema spots (the red super dry irritated spots that for some reason love bum cheeks). I also used it on circs with no problems. For diaper rash I use a product my mom had found for me a few years ago from a WHAM, I LOVE this spray for irritated bottoms its http://www.joyfulgirlnaturalproducts.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=12&products_id=116
All of my family is sensitive to pretty much every detergent on the market, if not at first we quickly develop a tolerance. I make all of our laundry detergent. I have never had a problem with the Aquaphor not washing out of my CD and I use prefolds, some gerbers cotton ones and some organic cotton. I wash all my CD stuff together, and I use 100% poly fleece for covers.
Here is my recipe:
I refill a 36 load 2x concentrated detergent bottle. ( Actually I make 5 bottles at a time for our family)
On my stove top I boil 2 qts of water and add 1 cup of borax, 1 cup of washing soda and about 2 table spoons of dr. bonner’s castile soap (i like either peppermint or tea tree oil) I stir until dissolved and use a funnel to pour the mixture into the detergent bottle (after it has cooled some) and then I fill the rest of the bottle with cold water. use like regular detergent except shake the bottle well before each use. I don’t know what the price break down is but I know its a lot cheaper than what I used to spend buying commercial detergent and it works better than anything I have ever used.
I will say that when I have “stinky” diapers I use dbl detergent. it is exceptionally low sudsing so it is safe for HE machines and I have very hard water and no problems there either.
My Hubby pours molten aluminum for a living so you can imagine what his work clothes look like, this detergent cleans EVERY thing. if needed I will let the CD or clothes soak overnight (or while I run errands) in my washer and occasionally for stains i want to make sure come out (white ballet leotard anyone?) I will soak them in a regular bucket with a 1/2 cup of washing soda and hot water. I have done this for a few extra yucky CD and then just run through a regular wash cycle with no problems.
Hope this helps some of you ladies out there!
Pinky says
Now I’m getting confused just by reading all your entries, though all helpful! Can anyone summarize what is the best diaper rash cream brand for cloth diapers? Contrary to what websites say that certain brands are cloth diaper-safe, your feedback says otherwise. Hmmm… now I’m torn as to what brand will best serve its purpose for my baby’s bum without ruining my cloth diapers (prefolds and pocket diapers). Please help! Thanks! )
Autumn Beck says
All the brands that Banana Peels sells are cloth diaper safe ;) Of course, having said that I have read that Grandma El’s causes problems for some. I haven’t had problems. My favorite that she sells is the Homestead Company Diaper Rash Oil.
Pinky says
Thanks for the prompt reply! So do you mind telling me how long have you been using Grandma El’s with your cloth diapers? :) Same question applies to the Homestead Company Diaper Rash Oil or Better Butter (as you also recommended in your previous comments)? Many thanks again! :)
Autumn Beck says
I have not used Better Butter. Homestead for a couple of months. Grandma El’s I don’t currently use but when I did it was only occasionally.
Pinky says
Hi again! Would anyone be able to comment on Mom to Mom Sharing Wisdom Vit A & D ointment diaper rash ointment skin protectant? Would anyone know if this is cloth diaper safe? Thanks! :)
Sarah says
Hi Pinky! A&D ointment is NOT safe to use with cloth diapers. It has petrolatum in it, which is bad for the diapers. It will coat the cloth diapers and cause them to repel, not absorb urine. We use Magic Stick, which works alright for keeping diaper rash away. The main this we use is cornstarch. It clears up minor diaper rashes, and keeps the skin clear. If you really want to use the A&D, or other diaper ointments that are not cloth diaper safe (like Desitin) you can cut a piece of fleece into a rectangle to cover your diaper, and then wash the fleece by itself.
Pinky says
Thanks for the tip Sarah! :)
Sarah says
That would be horrible to get a lecture from someone on such a personal matter! I hope you haven’t been getting lectures from others!
I just don’t know what to use for my daughters bottom when I change her. She has ALWAYS needed a barrier cream when we change her (we used A&D with disposable diapers). We have recently switched to cloth, and she always gets a diaper rash and ends up being in disposables overnight with a thick layer of A&D which normally clears up the rash. I have tried northern essence and california baby on her, and neither was successful in keeping the diaper rash from appearing. What should I do?? I don’t want to waste a whole bunch of money on diaper ointments that don’t work. Maybe I am not changing her frequently enough? Changed her after 4 hours and then when she pooped about an hour and a half after that (not sure when she pooped… I can normally tell, but this one was a surprise). Also wondering if Bordeux’s diaper rash protector (the one that sprays on) is safe to use with Cloth?
Autumn Beck says
I’ve been using the Homestead Company’s products and like them. Here is their barrier product Baby Balm.
Sarah says
Thanx for the reply. I tried cornstarch for 2 diaper changes, and lanolin for the 3rd. The cornstarch cleared up the redness, and the lanolin kept it from returning. I also changed her more frequently (every 2 hours, as opposed to every 3-4 hours). I like the looks of the Baby Balm, and might try it if this doesn’t continue working. Thanx :)
Lindsay says
My daughter gets terrible diaper rash. We have to change her every two hours, unless she is napping of course. Once we notice she has pooped, we only give her five minutes to make sure she is done. Occasionally we have a sneaky poop, but I can usually tell after a while, because she is fussy for no reason. Also, using Aveeno or a store brand oatmeal bath for her nighttime bath has helped. Sometimes I will give her a soak in the middle of the day. Also letting her run around without a diaper on for a little while may be messy, but is really the best cure for diaper rash.
Matthew says
Grandma El’s is NOT safe for cloth. Use it more than two or three times and your diapers will repel water like no other. We were happy with it after the first use, but now we’re worried our diapers are ruined; stripping isn’t even getting rid of it.
Trenna Wilson says
Regarding Lanolin – some mentioned it’ll make diapers repel … and given the whole wool cover thing I thought so too …
But I read (on the Green Mountain Diaper website) that lanolin is great for cloth because it dissolves in hot water (this is why we don’t wash our wool soakers in hot).
We’re only a few weeks in but I like the lanolin: I wasn’t prepared with a liner for his circ (no lectures please we’re Jewish, it was a tough decision), and then just didn’t use them after since it was only a teensy spot of Vaseline. After a week I switched from Vaseline to lanolin, and used lanolin on our 1 day hint of diaper rash.
The result is that the ones with Vaseline do have a little dot that visibly repels, while the ones exposed to lanolin then washed hot are fine!
Autumn Beck says
You won’t get lectures from my commenters…I wouldn’t approve their comments.
Emily says
Trenna, You won’t get any lectures from me. Just asking for your input.
We are having our first baby, a boy and are planning on circ him. Did you use the lanolin to help him heal? I’ve heard good things about lanolin for diaper rash but for some reason I hadn’t considered it for his circ.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Twylia says
I used colloidal silver gel on my sons circ. but I always use lanolin for cuts, scrapes, burns, dryness, etc… I always have it around from nursing and I use it frequently. It works GREAT for healing! Putting it on your son I’m sure would help him heal and not stick to diapers really well, just make sure to hold it on your finger long enough to get soft first. If you don’t it’s kind of a pain to spread and might be uncomfortable for him. :)
Jamie says
I don’t think Katie meant that her child is playing “Play-doh style” in her poo, just continuing to play with stinky pants without fussing. My 3rd child is 15 months and will not alert me to a poopy diaper, so she now has a rash. I just switched her to FB and am hoping that more frequent changing and California Baby’s spray helps and doesn’t cause a build-up. One wash cycle through, all seems well.
Sarah says
I am fighting an interesting case of diaper rash. My little guy has it on his inner thighs, outside of his diaper. I am thinking it is more from rubbing then moisture due to the fact that he is quite the chub with a nice pair of thunder thighs. I ordered Grandma El’s to try and heal this. It is just red and somewhat dry. There is no blistering or any other severe sores so I do not think he is reacting to the PUL . Any ideas? Am I missing something?
Autumn Beck says
This sounds very similar to what Paisley had when she was little. It was almost like an eczema rash. I have a sample of Grandma El’s and I like it. When I was going through this with Paisley I tried everything under the sun. I wish I could say I found the ultimate cure. Let me know how it goes.
Corinne says
If you are concerned about rubbing try using a little talc free powder on his thighs when changing his diaper it may help keep it a little drier and friction free.
Melanie says
My son has the exact same thing. The doctor has said it is eczema. I know for us, it started when we switched from FBs at night to Sbish. I think too much moisture against the skin is the cause. I have used Ihle’s paste (and a sposie — for shame!) to clear it up, but have just got some Dimpleskin’s Bum Bum Balm and we’ll see how it goes.
Melanie says
I have been using the Bum Bum Balm for a couple of weeks now and I think it is wonderful. It cleared up my son’s rash and has not harmed the diapers. We do use flushable liners, but I find the balm not to be greasy in the least. I was hesitant to use it on eczema with all of the natural oils in it (they usually exacerbate), but it is fine. I even tested it on my own eczema and had no reaction. Hope that helps!
Emma says
Eczema is often a sign of food allergies, most commonly cow dairy, eggs, tomato, and fish. If your baby is breastfed, you could try to cut out one offender from your diet at a time for one week to see if any improvement in the rash is seen. If the baby is formula fed, you could look for a different type, or soy if the baby is over 6 mos. Even with soy, you have to read the ingredients to make sure there is no lactose or casein (the cow milk proteins) in the formula.
Helen says
Contrary to popular belief, eczema is not always linked to diet. Check with a doctor before altering your baby’s diet.
Serena says
My children both have eczema and my pediatrician said that there is a very small percentage (I want to say 2%) that are linked to allergies. She said it is almost always linked to genetics. Poor babies! I use pure Shea Butter that I got on Etsy.com from Madame Koiteh. Her family imports it to her directly from Africa. Lasts a long time and NEVER inflames.
Bethany says
I love Badger Balm for eczema. It works great. We also use it occasionally with our CDs for diaper rash (though our daughter has only had a couple very mild cases when in cloth). It only requires a very thin layer and to help protect the diapers, I also sprinkle it with some baby powder. This keeps the fleece from sticking to the balm. We have had zero problems with repelling, though we have to strip occasionally anyways due to hard water. We do one super hot soak and wash with Dawn, followed by a super hot soak and wash with Rockin’ Green Rage Against the Raspberries (what a fun scent!!!).
Francesca says
I tried strips of flannel and it did not fair well…/the urine repelled from the fleece. So now I put sterile gauze on the cream. I was told by Cottonbabies to use 1 tsp of blue original dawn and 1/4 cup of bleach in a normal hot wash follow that by 2 more normal hot washes without any soaps/bleach. It worked for me.
marie says
ha, forgot MY question re cloth diapers and rash cream.. I have help changing and washing diapers due to my disabilities, so a diaper coated with zinc oxide cream got washed in with all my prefolds, is there any hope?
Autumn Beck says
have you noticed problems with the prefolds repelling? i’ve used burt’s bees in the past and have never had repelling issues. but it can certainly occur. i guess my question is what has led you to believe that there is no hope?
Katie says
Hi Autum!
I’m new to your website…I “Googled” cloth diapers and diaper rash and stumbled upon this little gem. The last commet said that diaper liners are simple pieces of flannel or fleece. My question is about comfort. Wouldn’t that create a baby wedgie? Ever had a baby say that liners were uncomfortable? :) I have stopped using cd for months now because my baby (now 19 months) happily plays with poop in her diaper thus creating diaper rash. Persistant diaper rash that required loads of Berts Bees. Poor thing is our 3rd child and I’m not on top of my game sniffing bottoms. :) Thanks for the helpful suggestions.
Autumn Beck says
I would suggest always putting clothes on over her cloth diapers ;) As far as a wedgie, never thought about it. Certainly could be a problem. I’d suggest making it wide enough though that it covers the entire inside of the diaper. I’m not good at sniffing out poopies either. Usually I discover it haphazardly.
Allison says
Has anyone used Yes to Baby Carrots diaper cream with cloth? I’m a FTM due in a few weeks and just got some because I love their other products, then realized it might not work with cloth. I have mostly pre-folds and a few bamboo fitteds and one BG AIO. I’ve read some people use liners with rash cream, what kind of liner?
Autumn Beck says
I haven’t used it but after looking at the ingredients and comparing it to cloth diaper safe creams I would say it looks safe. A liner would just be a cheap home-made fleece or flannel strip of fabric.
Cortny says
In my 9 months of cloth diapering, I have used small amounts of all your “regular” diaper rash creams (Desitin, A&D, etc.) with seemingly no ill effects to my diapers. Granted, my daughter has rarely had any diaper rash and when she did it cleared up quickly with just a very thin layer of cream. Recently we’ve had a long bout of diaper rash, so I have been further researching creams. Although I’ve had no problems with other creams, today I bought some California Baby Diaper Rash Cream simply because it had the best of all the other brands I liked: zinc, aloe, and lanolin all in the same tube.
So here’s my real story. My limited experience is that the active ingredient in ALL diaper rash creams, whether designed for the cloth diaper or not, is either zinc oxide or lanolin. Neither of these dissolve in water. Hence, their protective properties and your problem with staining and leaks and what-not.
But there is hope… although I have not tried it, tonight I found this remedy for removing zinc oxide based creams from cloth on http://www.momsbudget.com:
“Fill a sink with hot water and laundry detergent, and soak the garment. Then gently rub the fabric together over the spot to remove the oil in the cream. Next, empty the sink and refill with white vinegar, soaking the garment for 15 minutes to remove the zinc oxide. Then wash as normal. The diaper rash cream will be gone!”
Just thought I’d share for anyone else having problems!
Chantal says
I have been cloth diapering for 18 months now with my 2 year old daughter and she used to get diaper rashes quiet often. Also, I only recently found out that regular diaper cream were a non, I have always used Kushies’ biodegradable liners while diapering and have had no problem with clogging using the Desitin cream. I do however always used a 1/4 cup of white vinegar in my rinse cycle each time I wash my diapers and I have stripped my diapers every 3 months (3 washes with white vinegar and no detergent in a row on hot/hot, and then do a regular wash). It works great for me, it gets rid of the smell and return the cloth to its natural ph.
Autumn Beck says
White vinegar is awesome! But, a note for other readers don’t use if you have hard water ;)
Karla says
Why?
Ann says
yes…. why is this bad? I’ve been using it with my hard water for a few weeks now…
Autumn Beck says
Vinegar will react with the minerals in hard water causing more buildup and often discoloring.
Amy says
Oxiclean should only be used once a month…and even then only the Oxy baby type.
I’ve also heard 7th Gen is not good detergent for diaps! I use Country Save. Have heard good about Rockin Green.
I use the burt’s bees too so I am wondering the same thing.
Rebecca says
I have found that my son is allergic to the Chariles soap. He would get so bad it would bleed from that and I had no clue. It took another mom off diaperswappers.com to suggest that to me before I tired another soap and it works now. Good luck.
aysha says
i use burts bees diaper cream with a liner each time i change my little one to prevent rash. i havent had a problem with leaks and i havent had to strip the diapers. i recently purchased method cream and was wondering if anyone has personal experience with it on their diapers. i have fb and bg. also, i wasnt sure if the charlies soap i have been usingn could be the cause of the rash. the rashes showed up after purchasing some imse vimse liners and using those in her diapers, maybe since they werent “stay dry” it caused her to rash? in any case, now i always use a fleece liner, mostly to make clean up easy for me. also, one more question, i have since switched to seventh generation powder free and clear detergent. any ideas whether or not this is goood for the diapers? i also do a soak/prewash using oxiclean each time to keep the diapers looking fresh. thanks! (im new to cloth diapering if u cant tell…and can get all the advice that comes my way!)
Talita says
So I’m a cloth diaper newbie. After during a 3-day research, I purchased oh my baby cloth diapers from ebay. I bought 20 pockets diapers for $108. After washing them and trying it out on my baby, I think it was 2 or a day later that she got a diaper rash that kept getting worse. I used those vaseline based small tubs for diaper rashes. I didn’t know what a diaper liner was until a week later after using cloth diapers. I saw on amazon.com that a dad was using viva cloth like paper towels as a liner. I purchased a pack of six rolls, which would be 600 diaper liner for about $8. After using the “liners” without the cream the diaper rash was way better by the next day. I use charlies soap and after thinking about, that’s what has been giving her a rash!! The diapers were also having a very bad ammonia like smell. After researching, that’s from charlie’s soap too. I can’t wait until I finish this 80 load bag, so I can get a better soap. Anyone that has tried charlie’s soap and other soaps which one has worked best for you? Thanks for any input!
Autumn Beck says
I would immediately discontinue using the Charlies on diapers. Rockin Green, Clean B and Crunchy Clean are all great detergent options. Even if you had to go get something from the store like Tide or All F&C it’d be better than using something you know causes a rash.
Anonymous says
I have heard a lot about crunchy clean. I’ll order that next!! They also have hard water options.
thanks!!
Karla says
I use Tiny Bubbles laundry detergent for my cloth diapers. It really cleans, and a little goes a LONG way.
Sarah says
@ Talita… Def. discontinue using Charlie’s Soap is it is giving your daughter a diaper rash. Use it for the regular laundry! I would recommend Nellie’s All Natural Laundry Soda. This is what we use, and my daughter has very sensitive skin. She reacted to some off the shelt detergents, as well as Rockin Green. As for the amonia smell, it’s possible that you are using too much detergent, and it has built up in your diapers. It is very important to rinse your diapers on a cold/cold cycle first with NO detergent, then do a hot/cold cycle with detergent (less if you have soft water), then a cold/cold rinse again. You need to rinse all the detergent out of your diapers, and you also need to use a clean rinsing detergent, which would be Nellie’s or Rockin Green. There are a few others out there, but I haven’t had any experience with them. You should also strip your diapers if you are getting an amonia smell. Do 3 or 4 hot washes in a row, don’t dry inbetween. Nellie’s works great, and I love it. It gets the diapers clean, and DD has no reaction to it. And it’s cheap!! You can get it at http://www.cottonbabies.com. Good luck!!
Shay says
Did you buy used diapers? If so I would recommend stripping the diapers. The ammonia smell is caused by urine that hasnt been removed from the diapers. If they were new then you just need a wash that gets rid of the urine & bad bacteria from the diapers. I recommend Thirsties wash & prewash they are all natural, are made for cloth diapers, & actually remove the urine & bad bacteria that cause diaper rash. If you smell ammonia it means they aren’t clean. Drying them in the sun will also help naturally clean.
Anonymous says
I used planet detergent, which is nice because I can pick it up at the grocery store. I have not had an problem with it causing rashes. She does get diaper rash frequently though. My baby just has sensitive skin, and so we have to change her diaper more frequently.
Christina says
Dominique, It worked!! My diapers are saved!! The Oil Lift worked like magic and I’ve since tried it on a bunch more of the diapers and they are all working as good as new!! Oil Lift did not wreck them. And I like the fact that it’s an organic product! Who knew? If you’re game to try it, you can buy it at Canadian tire. I somehow managed to have a small 50 ml spray bottle of it in my house and I’m not sure where I got one so small, but I’ve seen it in a large bottle for around $25.
Good luck and let me know how things worked out for you!!
Autumn Beck says
Yeah! Praise the Lord. I love how my readers help each other out.
Jenny says
Does anyone know if Weleda Calendula Diaper Cream is safe for cloth diapers? What is the water repelling ingredient in most creams that damages cloth diapers?
Autumn Beck says
@Jenny: I have read reviews that state Weleda is cloth diaper safe. The reviews also state that it is very effective :) You may also try Rash Magic http://www.jacksmagicbeanstalk.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=331&products_id=49 I’ve heard many good things about it.
Anonymous says
Weleda did a number on my diapers… And would not wash out. It is zinc bad and I gather anything with zinc is a no go with cloth. Now when I use cream, I make sure to use liners with my diapers. Or disposable diapers… Sigh. Would love to find something that doesn’t cling to the cloth.
Autumn Beck says
zinc wouldn’t cause a problem other than maybe staining. the lanolin and/or the beeswax may be in a high enough concentration to cause repelling. Try Diaper Salve or Better Butt(er) cream by Northern Essence or California Baby.
Dominique says
Wow – thanks Christina!! I’ll go pick up some blue dawn (apparenlty here in Canada you’ve got to hit up the dollar store for some real original blue dawn) and i’ll get a good stiff scrubber too. I tried again last night with the hot boiling water and lots of soap and scrubbing but a lot of cream is still visible on the diapers. Cottonbabies (makers of BG’s) told me the same thing – dawn, hot water, scrubbing. I’m also going to look into a grease remover …
Thanks again and good luck with yours. I’ve since supplied my daycare with a bunch of disposibles in case she deems it imperative that my son be slathered in cream …
Dominique
Christina says
Dominique that’s awful that the daycare used the cream with your diapers. I’ll tell you exactly what I did with mine (although the cream on mine was not zinc based) I filled my kitchen sink up with water that I boiled and a good squirt of original Dawn detergent (the blue kind) and then added my diapers and stirred them around with a wooden spoon. I let them soak in that until I could stand to put my hands in the water. Then I used a scrub brush (you may have to use one larger and firmer than a tooth brush). You know the kind you would clean with? I picked it up from a dollar store and the bristles are quite firm. Then I squirted more dawn on the spots where the cream was and brushed the heck out of them. I even flipped the diaper inside out and scrubbed the other side of the fleece too. When I rubbed the fleece between my thumb and finger after doing this I could feel that it was less “slimey” feeling. So I rinsed the heck out of them until I saw no more bubbles in the sink, then rinsed them one more time in the washing machine. I tried 2 of them today on my daughter. One still leaked and the other seemed okay. But the one that leaked may have been a problem with the fit (she is filling out and has lost some leg “chub” recently). I also thought I would try an experiment with two of my diapers (two I could swallow losing money on if it didn’t work). I’ve never seen anyone recommend using it, but there is an all natural product called Oil Lift. I’ve used it on my laundry to get oil stains out before and I thought I would give it a shot. I sprayed it on, let it sit for 2 minutes, then scrubbed with the brush and rinsed. The cream (and the stain) came out much more quickly with that product. But I have not checked to see yet if those two diapers have been fixed. I’m hoping that this product worked and did not do more damage than good. I figured, if my diapers are already wrecked, I may as well give it a try and see. I will try those two dipes on my daughter tomorrow and post again to let you know how it panned out. :)
Sorry for the long winded post, but I know how hard it can be to get rash cream out and if I can help even 1 person out there who is in my shoes, then I’m happy. It really is no fun.
Elisabeth says
I am new to C.D. but I’ve used “Goo-Gone”, also found @ the dollar store, for similar issues. I was wondering if someone has ever tried using Goo-Gone, letting it soak for a bit then putting stain remover on the area and washing the diaper. I would think i.m.h.o. that this would work, but as I said I am a newbie.
Dominique says
Ack – I feel Christina’s pain re: trying to get diaper rash cream out of my cloth diapers!!
My daycare provider used some zinc-based cream on my BG’s this week and two of them are COVERED in it … any hints on how I can clean them?? I’ve tried using dish detergent, letting them soak, using rockin’ green and lots of hot water but they’re still slimey to the touch – I’ve even tried scrubbing with a toothbrush!
any advice?
Thanks,
Dominique
Christina says
Hi there. I just wanted to add my experience with one of the creams on your list. I tried the Angel Baby Bottom Balm for a rash after much research on what is safe to use with cloth diapers. Although the ointment itself is nice, it DID NOT wash out of my diapers. I use fuzzi bunz and the fleece was stained by it and they started repelling badly. I spent the entire day yesterday stripping my stash with Dawn detergent. The squirt in the washing machine did not do the trick so I ended up scrubbing each individual diaper (the fleece part) with a scrub brush and hot hot water in my kitchen sink! That was a lot of work!! I’m so disappointed. I’m not even sure that my diapers will perform as well. I sure hope they do. Now I’m scared to try anything else. Nor, do I want to spend another $20 for rash cream (I find that a bit pricey for the product). I just want to keep rash cream far far away from my dipes. I may, unfortunately, have to go back to using disposables when she gets a rash which is a shame. :(
Anyways, I thought I would share in case others are looking for a safe cream to use. IMO, don’t use this one with your Fuzzi Bunz. Lesson Learned…
Tara says
Has anyone tried Badger Balm Baby Balm with cloth?
OKKiddo says
Is the Avalon organic cream with the zinc in it also ok for cloth diapers, or is it a no-no?
Thanks so much!
Nancy
Autumn Beck says
yes :)
OKKiddo says
Thanks Autumn!
BonneMaman says
I also use California Baby and have not seen any problems with my bumGenius diapers. It's soothing and creamy on Baby's bottom. Unfortunately, it's VERY expensive! Is there anywhere you can buy it in bulk to save money?
Crystal says
Do you know if Burt's Bees Diaper ointment is okay? If it's not can I just use a liner in the diaper and still use the Burt's product?
Autumn Beck says
I have used it with no problems to my diapers.
Amanda says
My two year old has had recurring yeast rashes since he was about 4-6 months old. We tried cloth diapering with him and used disposable diapers during the outbreaks, and finally just had to give up cd’ing. Since then, we have cycled through Nystatin, lotrimin, clotrimazole, miconazole, coconut oil- you name it, we’ve done it. One thing that has helped keep the yeast at bay is not giving him a lot of juice and/or fruit, letting him eat the Gerber graduate yogurt melts as much as he wants, and putting a layer of desitin on at every diaper change. I am also pretty vigilant about changing his diaper- Huggies has made a nice chunk of change off of us. The best remedy we have found is a combinatino of calamine lotion, miconazole, and a cortisone based steriod cream that was prescribed for us by a prompt care dr- he called it pink goop. THe pharmacist knew it by that term too, so it might be something to check out. It did stick around in our cloth diapers, but it did come out with some dawn and scrubbing.
irina says
i use bare organics diaper oitment and it works great! it smells nice and spreads like butter. its actually made out of beeswax, which apperently supposed to be good for the skin…bare organics is an ontario based company and you can order from them online at their website.
Cynthia says
Hi Autumn,
I have gotten a lot of great info here. I was wondering about the yeast problem. My daughter has a very bad rash and the doctor said it’s yeast related. If I am using a flushable liner with the BG, do you think I should still treat the diapers? If using GFSE, where do you put it? I have a front loader so I’m not sure if I should put it with the detergent or directly in the washer with the diapers at the beginning of the wash cycle.
Thanks
Anita says
Does anyone have any experience with Aveeno Diaper rash Cream?
I’ve used other Aveeno products but didn’t have the need to try the diaper rash cream, but am curious to know.
Autumn Beck says
In a previous reply to a comment I suggested 75 drops at least. Basically, a lot ;) Our bottle takes forever to drop out but I would want to make sure I had enough in the washer.
Stephanie says
My daughter had a yeast diaper rash and I took her off of cloth diapers until it cleared. I’ve resently put her back on cloth diapers and the rash has reappeared. I saw that you suggested putting Grapefruit seed extract in the wash. How much? and how many washes? I’m going to put her back on the cream. How can I do this while still using the cloth diapers?
Claudia says
I tried a small dab of both CA Baby and Burt’s Bees diaper rash ointments on a few different diapers I am sampling. The CA baby came out in the wash, the Burt’s Bees did not. I am interested in the BG pocket diapers. BG suggest using a stay dry liner when using diaper rash ointments. What do you think about washing the stay dry liners and cloth wipes (used to clean the diaper area and may get rash ointment on them) with the diapers themselves?
Autumn Beck says
So many of my readers have repelling issues with bGs that I would wash liners separately.
Lisa says
Great site! Thanks. We’re relatively new to CDing. My 3 month old son currently has what appears to be a yeast diaper rash. I put anti-fungal cream on with Butt Paste over top of it, then a liner inside the diaper for his naps. I didn’t know that certain creams would “ruin” the diapers. Do I have to strip the diapers in order to make them re-absorbent or is all lost?
Autumn Beck says
If you used a liner the diaper inner may have not been affected. If cream does get on the inner that does not come off in the wash you can try hand stripping with Dawn. I would just watch and see if you start having repelling issues (you can tell this if you get leaks all of the sudden).
Christen says
I use Charlie’s- a scoop full (that little cup that comes with it, I’m not sure how much it is) in the first cycle, then no detergent in the second cycle.
Christen says
Some previous posters have said they use Burt’s diaper cream with no problems. I used it a few times last week and after washing those diapers a few times, I can still touch the cream spots on the diapers and cream will come off onto my hand. Why am I having trouble and other people aren’t?
Autumn Beck says
That is odd. What detergent are you using and how much? Depending on your answer, I would say to add Dawn to the wash.
Cathy says
I’m new to cloth diapers – literally started this weekend and have lots of questions. Regarding the post on Nystatin use: my son is on Nystatin oral drops; I haven’t noticed a rash developing, so haven’t used any rash cream. Would there be yeast in his diapers/Do I need to use the GFSE in the wash to get yeast out of the diapers? I use chinese pre-folds.
Autumn Beck says
I would keep an eye on his diaper area. If a rash does develop I would treat the diapers. Let me know if you have any questions.
janny says
Hi, I was wondering if I should use a liner if on a BG or HH diaper if I use coconut oil for rash cream. Does coconut oil work well?
Autumn Beck says
If I was going to use coconut oil I would use a liner. What type of rash are you thinking it is? BG and HH have different inners so most likely not an allergy. Perhaps yeast is the problem and in that case I would make sure to treat the diapers properly. You can continue to reinfect the child if the yeast remains in the diapers.
Jodi says
Any suggestions for getting the buildup of diaper creams off a bumgenius? I have washed them many times but it is still there and is affecting the absorbancy of the diaper.
Thanks for the suggestion of the Grape Seed Extract. My daughter has chronic yeast/diaper rashes. I am going to try this in our next round os washes.
Autumn Beck says
Drop a few drops of Dawn directly on the inside of your bGs and work in with your thumbs. Continue to work it a good while then rinse rinse rinse. This should remove the buildup.
catharine says
If you havent tried it yet you should try some organic virgin coconut oil….its safe for cloth diapers smells WONDERFUL and got rid of my little ones diaper rash over night. oh its cheap too…I paid $5 for a 14oz jar
Dawn says
I use Northern Essence Bum Butter. I like it alot. I used to use dixie babies but ran out. I loved dixie babies the most though.
Christen says
How much grapefruit seed oil do you need to use to kill yeast? I usually wash about ten diapers on the small load setting.
Autumn Beck says
We use Nutri-biotic brand GFSE and it has suggested uses with amounts to add in. It doesn’t give an amount for the washing machine but based on the other values I’d say atleast 75 drops. That would take a while to drop in but it may be too dilute if you use less.
Kimberly says
Autumn,
I got the Method baby Squeaky Green Diaper Cream. Is this the one you recommended as safe with cloth diaper (Bum Genius)?
Rebekah says
Autumn, thanks for this site! We’re starting to have our first real rash issue and didn’t know what cream was good for the diapers .. so I checked here first and as always I found what I needed to know! We’ve been using Burt’s Bees without a problem for the last week. I think we may have had some buildup that was causing the rash and washed everything with tea tree oil and vinegar to strip anything off and kill any germies left behind! I just picked up some GFSE and will try that if we have problems in the future but I have added it to my homemade all purpose cleaner .. I never knew it was such a germ killer powerhouse!
Serenity says
I use Burts Bee’s with 0 problems and have for over a year. It’s my favorite. I have tried a few different kinds including Weleda and havent have a issue either. Is it petroleum based that case the most problems?
mommy2gav says
According to Bio-kleen’s website, they have a Citrus Laundry Liquid that includes GFSE.
http://biokleenhome.com/products/household/laundry
Autumn Beck says
Fantastic! I have never looked at any of their other products besides Bac-Out. If I was trying to really get rid of a yeast problem I’d add more GFSE. You never know how much they put in there, kwim?
mommy2gav says
Will detergent containing Grapefruit Seed Extract work? This is our second go-round with Nystatin and I am ready to be done with it!
Autumn Beck says
I would think so. I’d love to know the detergent name. I bought some GFSE but haven’t used it in the wash (no need) but would be interested in a detergent to have on hand. Are you doing any probiotics?
Heather says
I already posted on this but I have another question. Our pediatrician gave us nystatin for my son’s off-and-on prickly red bottom and I haven’t ever used it because I didn’t know if it was ok for cloth. Does anyone know??
Autumn Beck says
You need to use a liner when using Nystatin. Also, I’d recommend picking up some Grapefruit Seed Extract from the health food store to add to your wash. The yeast will stay in your diapers and continue to reinfect your son. You need to kill the yeast.
Crys says
Sometime when BAKING SODA is used in the wash, the ph balance can get a little askew and cause skin to break out. A simple fix is to put a little white vinegar in a downy ball and toss it in.
Autumn Beck says
Karen, bumGenius recommends that you use a liner with any diaper rash cream.
Autumn Beck says
Tanya, it is possible that your little one could have a fleece allergy. It’s not as common as other allergies but it happens. Do you have any prefolds or diapers with inner material of something other than fleece? You can tell if the rash is from the fleece by stopping using it for a couple of days. Did you buy your GADs new or used? Your wash routine doesn’t sound like it would cause problems but you never know! Sometimes it takes trial and error to figure out what is best all around with your cloth diapers and your baby.
Karen says
I had major repelling issues when I started using Bum Genius diapers so I am reluctant to use any rash cream. However, my LO does get rashes often and I’d like to know if the “cloth diaper-safe creams” are also safe on BGs. Thanks.
Nicole says
I have used both the California baby and Arbonne ABC diaper rash creams without staining or repelling.
Tanya, I haven’t used the Arbonne on the GAD diapers, but I have used them on Thirsties and prefolds and haven’t noticed any staining!
Missy says
We use Badger’s Baby Balm. It works great and we haven’t had any repelling issues.
Missy
Kristen says
Thank you for posting this entry! I’m expecting my first child in May and plan to use cloth diapers. My concern has been what to do about diaper rashes and cream. I will note these brands! THANKS!!!
Trish says
Hi Autumn ~ I’m wondering what makes a diaper rash cream cloth diaper un-friendly. Are there certain ingredients to avoid when choosing a diaper rash cream? We haven’t had any problems with diaper rash while cloth diapering ~ frequent changing seems to be the key there. But if I were to need a diaper rash cream it would be good to be informed as to what I need to look for and what I need to avoid. :)
Blessings,
Trish
Deirdre says
When we ran out of California baby, we tried Aveeno. Nasty staining that I have been unable to get for months!! It was great on the rash, but dreadful on the diapers. Thank you for the info on Method’s cream, I have wondered but haven’t ventured to do the research.
Tanya says
Hello,
Funny that this was ur topic 2day by lil girl just got a really red diaper rash & I didn’t know if it was the CD’s I was using (GAD’S) or maybe the way I was washing them…I am doing a cold pre soak & washing with hot water with about 1/4 scoop of country save and a lil bit of baking soda & a couple droops of tea tree oil then I also have it on the extra rinse cycle as well….do u think i need 2 strip them already??? I don’t know what I am doing wrong :(
I am new 2 cding, so I have lots of questions still….but I used arbonne diaper cream seams 2 b taking the rash away but do u think it is ok 4 the diapers??
Thank u & Blessings,
Tanya
Autumn Beck says
Many moms have not had a great experience with Aveeno. They claim it leaves stains.
I too have used Burt’s Bees with zero problems. I probably still have some buried somewhere that I’d use if I came across it.
Cornstarch powders are okay for NON-YEAST rashes. If it is a yeast rash the cornstarch will feed it.
When choosing a diaper rash cream avoid any that contain cod liver oil. Also I stay with organic or natural brands. Brands like Balmex and Boudreaux’s are NOT cloth diaper safe. When in doubt use a fleece liner or cute up a receiving blanket.
Hildie says
I tried Magic stick which is a cloth diaper safe ointment. My baby developed a terrible rash, she turned all pink… And she was fine when I applied it (I applied it just as a test).
I would love to hear about a ointment that’s safe both for cloth diapers and for sensitive babies. One with no essentials oils.
kelly says
Thanks for all of your help as I’m just starting out! :)
Allie says
I had also heard that Aveeno was cloth diaper safe…do you know if this is true?
Heather says
I have used regular and medicated cornstarch baby powder (Johnson’s or Burt’s Bees) and never encountered any trouble with my diapers. I haven’t used any creams since we started CDing, but the powder usually wards off any signs of a rash coming on!
Michelle Thomas-George says
I have used on occasion Aveeno. Is it safe for cloth? I notice a white stain but it fades after a few washes.
rebecca says
I use Burt’s Bees. I was told that it would cause repelling, but it was all I had and we NEEDED to use a cream, so we tried it with a homemade contour (just in case) and we had no issues. Have continued to use it when needed, and have never had an issue.
I think it is the cod liver oil in most creams that causes problems. Burt’s Bees has the same ingredients that some cloth diaper websites have in the diaper cream recipes.