a simple DIY :: all natural diaper rash cream

My first born used to get the worst teething diaper rashes.

I’m talking acid to the skin, red and raw bottom every time a tooth would poke through the skin.

It had everything to do with teething, and although doing very bland, almost flu like diet changes while she was teething helped tremendously; she would still end up needing some help to heal up her bottom most of the time. My second has gotten a few related to molars coming through, and recently with her canine ones as well so I’ve been making this great cream that clears it right up almost overnight!

I’m going to be right up front and just mention I’m not a doctor – so if that wee one has something going on that you have never seen before, most definitely take them in for the doctor to take a peek. After the first couple of “new mama” times I brought my first born in I felt like somewhat of a pro, and spotting what needed to be done was pretty simple.

This diaper rash cream will cover all of your bases. Whether its red and sore from wetness, bumpy and yeasty from fungus, or painful and red from bacteria (poo) laying on the skin – every ingredient in this cream will not only address the issue, it is completely safe, non toxic, and gentle.

60 percent of what we put on the skin absorbs into the body. Have you seen the ingredient list on some of those diaper creams? No thank you. This works BETTER than store bought – believe me I have tried THEM ALL.

You’ll need:

• Small container with a lid
• ½ cup pastured lard or tallow (best wetness barrier you will EVER find!) (OR if you just don’t have access you can use Crisco – great wetness barrier – not a huge fan of how/what it’s made of, but it works while you are finding a source of tallow or lard.DO NOT USE CRISCO IF YOU CLOTH DIAPER – IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE CLOTH – lard is fine though!)
• ¼ cup coconut oil (antifungal, soothing, healing to the skin)
• 5 drops tea tree oil(antibacterial)

1. Melt the lard and coconut oil together in a pan.
2. Pour into the container and add the tea tree oil.
3. Put the lid on a gently shake together.
4. It will stay liquid while it is still warm but will solidify to more of a cream as it comes to room temp.

Tips:

1. The best thing for diaper rash of course would be AIR. So obviously let baby air out that bottom as much as you can. I used to lay her down bare bottom in front of a baby DVD or read books to her on my chest with her bare bottom out 😉
2. This diaper cream with the LARD ingredient is safe for use on cloth diapers. For more info, read THIS.  IF YOU ARE CLOTH DIAPERING – Crisco is NOT recommended FYI.
3. After you’ve wiped baby’s bottom up, let it dry out completely before putting this cream on – you don’t want any wetness left on that skin. I usually had baby books by the diapering area – one for her to look at, and one for me to “fan” her bottom with 🙂
4. This amount worked for me – sometimes I had some left over after a week of teething and I would just store it in the fridge until she needed it again.
5. The diaper cream takes on the scent of the tea tree and coconut oils – I love it!
6. For less severe diaper rash (like maybe just a little redness after a poo or something) I just use straight up coconut oil to soothe and heal – works great!
7. Coconut oil is cheapest for me on Amazon.com. You can find the tea tree oil at your local grocer or on amazon – it is cheaper at the store for me.

YOUR TURN!

How goes the teething diapers at your home?! Let me know if you try out the cream and how you like it!

This post was shared at Real Food Freaks Freaky Friday, Too Many Jars In My Kitchen’s Fill Those Jars Friday, Butter Believer’s Sunday School, and Real Food Forager’s Fat Tuesday!