Give him an extra-long bath and allow him to play for a bit longer, if only to keep him out of a diaper even more. Every little bit of time out of diapers helps to heal the rash even quicker. The less time he sits in a diaper, the faster the rash will go away.

If your baby has a diaper rash, you have options. You can give him an extra-long bath and allow him to play for a bit longer, if only to keep him out of a diaper even more. Every little bit of time out of diapers helps to heal the rash even quicker. The less time he sits in a diaper, the faster the rash will go away.

If your child has a diaper rash, it’s important to take steps to help get rid of it. A good rule of thumb is for every 24 hours he spends in a diaper, the more healing time you’ll get.

You’ve probably realized that when you have a child with a diaper rash, it can be tough to get them out of diapers. If you’re concerned about the speed of healing, try these tips on how to get rid of a diaper rash in 24 hours.

A well-done bath or shower can help ease a diaper rash in the short term. But, it’s important to prevent diaper rashes in the first place. So use only a clean cloth or liner when they are nappies and never use any antiperspirant or body lotion on your baby’s skin.

Pictures of Severe Diaper Rash

The dreaded diaper rash. No matter how careful you try to be, the baby still ends up with red bumps on his bottom or even around the thighs. Whether from diarrhea, an allergy, or being in a diaper too long, nearly every mom has had to deal with a severe diaper rash.

I know I did. Even mild rashes often made changing diapers difficult, so much so that I practically had to wrestle my babies to stay put. Wiping felt excruciating, and hearing their cries made you wonder how much longer this rash is here to stay.

They were also extra fussy not just during changes, but throughout the day, too. After all, a rash on any part of your body can feel miserable. You can imagine how uncomfortable having one around your bottom—with a diaper on, no less—can feel.

There were times when, no matter what I had tried, the rashes either took forever to go away, or kept coming back.

How to get rid of a diaper rash in 24 hours

The causes for diaper rashes vary. Some babies may have severe diaper rashes due to allergies or skin conditions that are best discussed with a pediatrician. This article addresses common causes of and home remedies for diaper rashes.

In my case, thankfully, I learned a few tricks to get rid of common diaper rashes, quickly and effectively. The rashes also didn’t come back as often as they used to, keeping my babies happier and less fussy.

Read below or watch the video for strategies to cure your baby’s diaper rash:

1. Wash with water, not wipes

The ideal way to clean a diaper rash is with warm water, not baby wipes. Not only do wipes—even the sensitive kind—have ingredients that could irritate the rash, but the actual rubbing on your baby’s skin could make the rash worse.

Instead, use water, especially if the messes are mild.

Use flat cotton pads or a soft washcloth dipped in water to wipe most of the mess away, patting or at least gently wiping his buttocks. Think of the rash as a wound, something you’d be careful not to irritate further. You wouldn’t wipe a sensitive wound, and neither should you a diaper rash.

If even pads are making his fuss, carry him to the sink or tub to wash his bottom with your hand.

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2. Air your baby’s bottom out

Any contact with your baby’s diaper rash—including wearing diapers—runs the risk of irritating it even more. When you’re home, air his bottom out as much as possible.

For instance, do tummy time on an old towel on the floor, or place him on his back and drape another towel in front in case he pees.

Another option is to extend bath time. Give him an extra-long bath and allow him to play for a bit longer, if only to keep him out of a diaper even more. Every little bit of time out of diapers helps to heal the rash even quicker.

The less time he sits in a diaper, the faster the rash will go away.

3. Use a good diaper cream

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links, which means I will earn a commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase.

At some point, you’ll need to put your baby in a diaper once again. When you do, apply diaper cream to his rash as well.

Diaper creams and ointments can soothe his current rash so it doesn’t feel so itchy and irritating. It’ll also add an extra barrier on top of his skin so the rash isn’t in direct contact with the diaper. And finally, the cream will keep his skin from getting moist and making the rash worse.

The key to applying diaper cream is to make sure the area is dry before applying the cream. It’s this moisture that can make rashes worse, so keeping his diaper area dry is a must.

Now, which diaper cream to use? After talking with several moms, I compiled a few of our favorites below:

4. Change diapers frequently

Confession time: I wouldn’t always change my babies’ diapers in the middle of the night. If they only had wet diapers, I’d simply feed them when they woke up and put them back to sleep.

But with a diaper rash, regular and frequent diaper changes are important, even when you’re sleep deprived in the middle of the night. You want to avoid any moisture from making your baby’s rash any worse, and keep him comfortable while he sleeps.

At night, put him in a new diaper before feeding, even if he didn’t soil his diapers. Yes, even if it means you have to undo his whole pajama / swaddle / sleep sack ensemble.

The same is true for the daytime—follow the clock and change his diapers every few hours, more frequently than you usually do. Maybe you change after every nap, or every two hours. Perhaps you put him in a diaper with a wetness indicator so you can easily see if he has peed.

A clean, dry diaper is the next best thing to being bare-bottom. Regular and frequent diaper changes will help make that happen.

Learn what to do when your baby keeps peeing through the diaper at night.

5. Switch diaper brands or sizes

Sometimes it’s the diaper itself that could be making the rash harder to go away. Every diaper is different, so that even if one baby is fine in one, another could find the same diaper irritating.

If the rash doesn’t seem to go away or keeps coming back, one option is to switch to a different diaper brand. Buy a few in small packages at first to see if it makes a difference before getting a larger box. Consider cloth diapers, which tend to be more comfortable and gentle on skin.

Another option is to move up a size in diapers. Sometimes we forget how quickly our babies grow and overlook the signs that they’re ready to size up. If your baby has elastic imprints on his skin, or securing the diaper seems tight, it may be time to get the bigger size.

Conclusion

No parent wants to see the dreaded redness of a diaper rash. We instantly cringe when we open that diaper, knowing what we’ve got stacked against us.

At least now, though, you have the tips to help even severe rashes go away quickly and effectively.

Washing with water instead of wipes can reduce irritation. Using diaper cream and changing diapers frequently can soothe and prevent the rash from getting worse.

Keeping your baby diaper-free as often as possible will minimize diaper use and help the rash go away faster. And finally, changing diaper brands or going up a size can be a long-term solution for those rashes that simply won’t go away.

Now diaper changes can be quick and simple once again—no wrestling required.

Get more tips:

How to Relieve Diaper Rash Pain Fast

All right, fellow diaper changers, this article is for you: the brave, the unstoppable, the fearless, and the strong-stomached. I chose this oh-so-important topic to discuss today because even I, supermom of two toddler boys who are self-proclaimed professional poopers, have spent well over a week trying to get rid of a bad diaper rash. However, I believe I have come close to the art of eliminating diaper rash. Not only that, but through my experiments, I have also narrowed down the remedies to a few simple treatments that seem to work the best. And the best part? They are completely painless for your sweetie’s bottom.

Step 1: Avoid Using Baby Wipes on a Diaper Rash

And by ‘avoid’, I mean don’t do it.

Using diaper wipes can irritate the diaper rash, and can even cause them to bleed and become much worse. Not to mention the fact that it really hurts the baby’s bottom! Even using a damp paper towel as a substitute, though it will reduce the stinging, could still irritate the rash.

So my tried-and-true recommendation is to man up, get some warm water running in your laundry room sink, and hold the baby’s bottom underneath the faucet, letting the water wash away the poo with little to no irritation!

Step 2: Hold All Creams and Pastes

First, soothe the baby’s bottom with a warm bath. You’d be surprised how big of a difference a 10-minute soak makes on a diaper rash. In fact I’d recommend letting baby sit in the bathtub or sink after every diaper change on day one of the rash (if you have the time). You don’t have to wash the baby down or break out the shampoo or anything, so don’t panic. Simply let him or her sit and play for 10 to 15 minutes. Just check out the happy smile on my kid’s face after his rash-soothing bath!

My toddler after his rash-eliminating bathtub soak. See, much happier! (Ignore the forced smile. I promise. He's happy.) — My toddler after his rash-eliminating bathtub soak. See, much happier! (Ignore the forced smile. I promise. He’s happy.)

Step 3: Wrap the Baby in a Towel and Commence Snuggling

(Okay, this part is optional. But my boys love post-bath cuddles.)

Step 4: Throw away Your Desitin and Your Butt Paste

And save your A&D for another injury. Because the product I am about to share with you is going to change your life. This product is called Bag Balm. I have included a picture and a link to where you can purchase the product for pretty cheap below. However, I just run to my local CVS.

Bag Balm is a product that originated in 1899 in order to soothe the hands of farmers who had been milking cows all day. In today’s day-and-age, the balm’s uses are endless. Apply Bag Balm to your baby’s bottom after every warm bath and diaper change.

Step 5: Sprinkle Your Baby’s Bottom with Baby Powder or Baking Soda

After applying the Bag Balm to the baby’s diaper rash, sprinkle his or her bottom with baby powder or baking soda. This will help keep the Bag Balm from drying or rubbing away.

Follow Up the Next Morning

If, by the next morning, your child still hasn’t completely gotten rid of the rash, sit him or her in a warm bath mixed with baking soda. If you call your doctor, he or she will probably recommend purchasing Lotramin, which is an over-the-counter rash and athlete’s foot creme. I have never had much luck with this, but that doesn’t mean you won’t!

Thanks for reading! May you have a wonderful and rash-free day!

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

How To Get Rid of a Diaper Rash in 24 Hours