Diaper Rash Remedy

This is a problem that all mothers will face at some point. For us, it only started when our little one started antibiotics, thanks to a revolving cold caught at daycare. Every time she takes it she gets terrible diarrhea. Its not pretty but its true. The result, no matter how fast you address it, diaper rash.
There are a number of creams on the market, Desitin, Balmex, A&D to name a few but my favorite is a homemade remedy that my great grandmother used: "burnt" flour.

How to Prepare:
Take your baking flour (we always use regular flour, someone asked if you can use coconut flour I don't see why not but I have never tried it) and place it in a skillet on the stove. We use a cast iron one because that's what my great grandmother used. Supposedly its better, I'm not really sure if that's true. Using medium-high heat continually move the flour around in the skillet until its is a nice 'brown sugar' brown. Keep moving it to ensure that the flour doesn't actually burn (in which case it will get hard). This browning process removes anything that would contain bacteria and increases absorbency, or at least Grandma Ethel claimed. Store in a sealed container (we always use a glass sealed jar).

How to Use:
When you see diaper rash, or any redness pat this on to the effected area with a pouf. I use a inexpensive soft makeup pouf. This can be used in place of baby powder and with a cream but it works, in my opinion, best on its own. If, however, the effected area is very raw, I would apply some cream* for soothing and then the flour. I sometimes pat some into the diaper itself as well.

Be warned though, that when they wet their diaper its going to look like rust dust (if you have never heard this term, its what urine looks like in a baby diaper when the baby is dehydrated- common in newborns especially those that are breast fed).

If your child is enrolled in daycare or a outside caregiver, make sure you let them know that you are using this alternative so they are not alarmed when they see it in the diaper.

If your child is prone to diaper rash, this is safe enough to use daily. And there's no known issues with flour as there is with talc powder so its safe for baby girls!



* My daughter doesn't tolerate ointments well so A&D is out for us. My mom and most moms seem to prefer Johnson &Johnson Desitin but, I actually like the cream Balmex best. Its firmer, and stays on her skin longer for better protection.)