How to deal with nappy rash

My 18-month-old son had a stomach bug recently, leaving him with diarrhoea and, consequently, a very severe case of nappy rash. With upwards of six dirty nappies a day, each of which were of the ‘burning’ variety, it was almost impossible to keep it under control.

I used my old favourite, Sudocrem, at every change, and after talking to my health visitor, I also followed these top tips on how to deal with nappy rash:

* Allow some nappy-free time: as anyone who has mobile children will know, the very idea of allowing an 18-month-old with diarrhoea to run around the house without a nappy is almost too much to bear, so I opted for nappy-free nap times.

That way, any mess was contained in one place, and limited as he was less active. I put a dark-coloured towel over the mattress and prepared myself for the extra washing. The effect on the nappy rash was instant – I could see a clear improvement with each nap, so it was well worth the extra effort.

* Cleanse with cotton wool and water instead of baby wipes. That way, your baby’s bottom is free from any chemicals or alcohol that could irritate the sore parts. It is easier than it sounds, even when you’re out.

All you need is a pack of cosmetic cotton wool pads (these leave no fibres behind like balls can) and an empty sports drink bottle that you can fill with water – the sports cap makes it easy to operate with one hand and less likely to spill if knocked over.

* Keep them cool. Even though going nappy-free isn’t practical all the time, wearing only a nappy (i.e. no trousers) helped too, as this kept the area cool and stopped sweatiness from making things even more sticky and uncomfortable than they already were. It also helped me notice as soon as the nappy was dirty so I could change it straight away.

* Give them a nice soak in the bath. When the skin was so sore it brought tears, the first thing I did was sit my son straight in a warm (not hot) bath. This stopped the tears instantly, making us both feel better, and meant that the area was thoroughly clear of all irritants before putting some cream and a clean nappy back on. And of course, a bath every day before bed made sure that nothing was left on the skin that would cause further soreness over night.