COVID-19 Advisory
If you or your child has COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough or shortness of breath) or other COVID-19 concerns, call your child’s doctor or visit Children’s Online Urgent Care.
If you or your child has COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough or shortness of breath) or other COVID-19 concerns, call your child’s doctor or visit Children’s Online Urgent Care.
Genes are the blueprint of all living things — they determine the color of our hair, our height, how big our ears are and can be the underlying cause of some diseases.
While COVID-19 has changed much, one thing remains true — flu season is coming. Getting the flu shot for your child is the best thing to prevent them from getting sick.
As a pediatrician, I often hear that my newest patients are suffering from diaper rash. Fear not, parents –– though it’s never fun to see your baby uncomfortable, diaper rash is common and easily treatable. Read on to learn what causes diaper rash and what you can do to treat and prevent it.
Simply put, diaper rash is a skin irritation. It’s most common in babies from about 3 weeks to about 1 year old but it can happen at any time a diaper is worn. It causes redness on areas of the skin that come into contact with a diaper and it can be uncomfortable for your baby.
Diaper rash has a few common causes:
Babies will soil diapers about every 3-4 hours. Make sure they aren’t sitting in a dirty diaper longer than necessary. When your baby has diaper rash, be vigilant about diaper changing. They may need their diaper changed more frequently.
When you change your baby’s diaper, make sure you don’t use wipes that contain fragrance or alcohol, which can dry and irritate skin. You can also cleanse the skin with water and a gentle cleanser (soap free!). Use a soft cloth to pat dry (don’t rub!) or air dry.
If you use disposable diapers, look for absorbent diapers that will keep skin drier longer. If you use cloth diapers, change diapers frequently and make sure you wash them with in mild, baby-safe detergents. Rubber pants over diapers can promote a hot, moist environment, which can irritate skin.
Lastly, don’t secure your baby’s diaper too tightly, especially overnight when your child may be wearing the diaper a little longer. When your baby’s diaper is too tight, it can cause chafing.
You can use pastes or jellies to soothe irritated skin and prevent urine or feces from coming into contact with your baby’s skin. The brand isn’t important but I tell parents to look for products that contain zinc oxide or petrolatum and are fragrance free.
If the baby’s diaper area is irritated, a daily bath can help remove debris, irritants and even bacteria. Make sure to use a mild or soap-free cleanser.
A little time without a diaper can help. Put your baby on a dry, soft towel for a few minutes.
Although diaper rash can be uncomfortable for your baby, it generally will go away within a few days. You should call your pediatrician if the rash looks infected. Symptoms of infection include:
If the diaper rash is severe or has developed into a fungal or yeast infection, your pediatrician may prescribe an antifungal cream or cream with steroids.
As always, check in with your pediatrician with any question about your child’s well-being.
Genes are the blueprint of all living things — they determine the color of our hair, our height, how big our ears are and can be the underlying cause of some diseases.
While COVID-19 has changed much, one thing remains true — flu season is coming. Getting the flu shot for your child is the best thing to prevent them from getting sick.
Kids are not just little adults and that matters when it comes to treating an illness, caring for an injury and prescribing medicine.
Tips to ensure your child will be safe when they head back into the classroom this fall.
For kids with complex medical conditions, there are many things to consider before heading back to school during COVID-19.
We all know masks are a simple way to help stop the spread of COVID-19, but it can be a challenge to get younger kids to wear them.
