MagicMum.com

Hi all,

I'm late in the game to cloth nappies, and just started using them with my 23-month-old. He didn't get nappy rash at all frequently with disposables, but in the 3-4 days I've been using cloth a nasty and persistent rash has appeared.

What am I doing wrong?

Daytime, I'm using Flip organic inserts in various PUL covers (mostly bought in the states, brands like Blueberry and Capri), with fleece liners to wick moisture away and flushable liners to catch the solids.

Nighttime, he's in Tots Bots Bamboozle Stretch with hemp doubler, again with a fleece liner and flushable liner, again in a PUL cover.

At each change I was using the Weleda Calendula ointment, as this is what I used with disposables and it seemed to prevent rash.

In total I'm changing him 4-5 times a day.

Should I be changing him more? Do I need more breathable covers? Should I be using a different nappy cream?

I've reverted to disposables until his rash clears but I really want to make cloth work for us! Thanks in advance for any ideas.

when you soak the nappies are you using t tree oil in bucket it helps also perhaps change nappy cream or put on more it may be being absorbed by nappy not skin . Alo i chnge when ever wet or soile not stick to 4 a day ,if its wet it comes off .

I would say its a reaction to washing powder more than cloth nappies. When they are wet it can cause some children to have red rashes.

No need to soak flip inserts or pul covers - you will damage the covers if you soak, and soaking flip inserts will only soak the smell in.

How much powder are you using? What is your washing routine?

The nappies should smell of absolutely nothing - zilch.

_________________
http://www.babame.com/site/index.html - Online baby shop. Don't forget we price match
http://www.fluffheaven.com - Specialist cloth nappy site

The nappies are brand new, and have been washed a few times in a non-bio wash I got at the health food store called Attitude. It's liquid, here's a link:
http://cleanattitude.com/en/site/produc ... grapefruit

I don't soak the nappies, they get dry pailed then put in the wash with a bit of the detergent, first a pre-wash at 30, regular wash at 60, and an extra rinse.

I'll try changing the detergent to see if it helps.

Thanks for your replies!

Too much detergent can cause a build up on the nappies, I only ever used a tablespoon on a full load and 1/2 that in a half load, plus an extra rinse to remove all possible residue.
He may be cutting teeth which can make their urine extra acidic so it could also be that - or a combination.
I found when they got really really bad bums I had to put them into disposables for a couple of days until it cleared up as it was the only thing that would work.

To me it seems like a lot of liners and cream. Is it possible that the cream is blocking the liquid from soaking through the liners? Not sure that you would need a liner and a fleece liner. One or the other perhaps? I never use cream either unless she needs it and that is normally for one night as teeth are coming through. I don't use liners either (yes, very lazy!!) but I do use pocket nappies which are lined with fleece already (fuzzi bunz).

Could be washing powder too. I use normal, run of the mill powder and don't bother with a pre wash or rinse unless I see extra suds when it is rinsing. I like to keep things really easy!!

Hope you figure it out. Not nice when it isn't working.

could be trush use the tee tree .to soak nappies in .

Pull (the plastic type cover of flips and fuzzi bunz etc) will not withstand soaking in tea tree so be careful. It will start to peel and no longer be water proof. If you think it is thrush try washing with a bio powder and wash at at least 60 degrees.

Soaking is not reccommended for nappies and neither is tea tree oil, as Lisa says it can affect the elastic and waterproof of some nappies

very strang nappies and wraps sites ll over the world recomend it as did the one i bought mine from 8 yers ago ,as it is an excellent antibacteril ,also lavender and gernium ,guess they are wrong . How ever my nappies re still perfect so are my plastic wraps ,inserts ,absorbency still going strong . nd also washed on 60 degree wsh every couple of washes. I hve lwys found it to work rarley hd rashes r .thrush on babys bum

It's not reccommended because it can cause repelling, which in turn can lead to sore bums and the reason being that the correct amount to use is impossible to guess, therefore it is better to leave it out - water and oil don't go together.

sorry what is repelling ?

It's when a layer - be it build up of cream/detergent/oils - adhere to the cloth and stop the wet penetrating through, it sits on the surface instead of being absorbed, so results in leaky nappies and/or sore bums.

OH i recon you would have to use quiet bit in 7 years iv never even had to buy new incerts 3 kids in them you use 10 drops in big bucket nd I never use conditioner [ i think they cause huge damage ] I also use soap nut insted of washing powder and vinigar [white as a softner ] sop nuts re fab i love them xx

Hi there,

Some great advice already. Particularly about the 2 liners, it sounds like it may be causing sweating

I find that my lo doesn't really get nappy rash as I don't put any cream on unless there is...although I am sure I read somewhere that you shouldn't use nappy rash cream with cloth nappies. In any case, when my lo has nappy rash I use this amazing stuff that a friend brought over from Canada. I have had it for 18months and am only half way through, you only need a little as it goes a long way, just as well as it is pretty expensive but I would buy it again and again and have convinced other friends with its power too. Here is the link http://www.grassrootsstore.com/Butterfl ... p/1650.htm

The other to do maybe is let him run around in the nip, fresh air is great for rash.

Best of luck!

Soaking and tea tree are recommended for old fashioned nappies like cotton but will cause havoc with wraps or pockets or all in ones. If you read most manufacturers notes you will void warranties for using essential oils - this is definitely the case for flip and bumGenius!

Two liners, could be heat rash as suggested?

As I said when you wash the nappies they should smell of nothing.

_________________
http://www.babame.com/site/index.html - Online baby shop. Don't forget we price match
http://www.fluffheaven.com - Specialist cloth nappy site

Am gaining some headway on the rash situation - after it cleared I started using cloth again yesterday. He started getting more and more rashy as the day went on, again using the Flip Organic pre-folds in the PUL covers. I left out the fleece liners and just used a disposable liner, and changed him about every 2 hours.

At night I put him in a Bamboozle Stretchie with a disposable liner with a fleece wrap. In the morning - no rash!

SO, today I thought maybe it could be the brand of disposable liners, so I switched to a different brand. Still a bit rashy by the end of the day, so tomorrow I plan on using the Bamboozle Stretchies with the PUL covers to try to figure out if it's the Flip pre-folds or the PUL covers that are bothering his bum. I'm sorta hoping it's the pre-folds, as I think it will be difficult to find day-time fleece covers that will fit under clothes!

It really is trial and error, isn't it?

Glad to hear you seem to be making headway. It certainly can be trial and error but when you find what works for the baby is is great and very satisfying. Keep trying and let us know how you get on