Nappy rash is a painful, bothersome condition that most babies will develop at some point in the first 18 months. Expert midwife, Nikki Khan, has developed some easily adopted tips to ensure your bundle of joy is protected as much as possible:  

Parenting on Female First

Parenting on Female First

  1. Changing nappies before and after a feed is crucial to help prevent the onset of nappy rash. Get in this routine and stick to it—you and your baby will be thankful you did.
  2. Give your baby plenty of ‘nappy-free’ time. The circulation of air around your baby’s bum will give it the chance to breathe.
  3. Watch out for lovely smelling soaps, detergents and wipes. These may smell nice, but the ingredients may be harsh on your baby’s skin, causing irritation to delicate areas, accelerating the onset of nappy rash.
  4. If you are lucky enough to have a baby that sleeps through the night, always put them down with a clean nappy. This is a no-brainer really—the longer your baby sits in a dirty nappy, the more prone to nappy rash they will be. The chemicals in urine and poo irritate the skin, not to mention the fact that a full nappy is uncomfortable for you little one!
  5. Use a barrier cream whenever possible. I recommend Sudocrem Care & Protect, which creates a protective barrier, but also conditions the skin and guards against infection.  
  6. If using water to clean your baby's nappy area, use a soft towel or cotton wool to dry and be sure not too rub too hard as this will irritate the skin.
  7. Finally, avoid using talcum powder when changing your baby’s nappy as this can cause further irritation by blocking skin pores. It also does not protect against bacteria urine and poo as a barrier cream does.  

Nikki went into nursing straight after school and has been a practicing midwife ever since – for over twenty years now having followed in her Mother’s footsteps.  Nikki had been a midwife for seventeen years before she gave birth to her own child and feels she garnered a very useful insight into the whole ‘child-birth’ experience.

For more information visit http://www.nikkikhan.co.uk/ 

by for www.femalefirst.co.uk

Tagged in