A baby's sore bottom is often caused by wet nappies that have been in contact with the baby's sensitive skin for too long. The skin on the bum is red, with blisters or even torn. A sore bottom is an unpleasant thing that you want to spare your baby if possible. But if it does happen, you should know how to treat the baby's skin quickly to relieve the pain.
What causes a sore bum?
A baby's bottom usually gets sore if a wet nappy is left on for too long. The ammonium content in the urine irritates or even inflames the skin. With environmentally friendly cloth nappies, sore bottoms occur more often than with disposable nappies, because disposable nappies absorb urine better and keep the moisture away from the baby's skin.
It is also possible that the washing powder has not been completely washed out when washing the cloth nappy and irritates the skin. Some babies have allergic reactions to detergent residues that come into direct contact with the skin. It is better to rinse the cloth nappy thoroughly after washing.
How do you prevent a sore bottom?
It is best not to allow the baby's delicate skin to become irritated in the first place. The most important preventative measure is to change nappies frequently. For newborns, this can be as often as every hour.
Always change the nappy as soon as the baby has passed out. Faeces are much more aggressive than urine and irritate the skin almost immediately after they come out. Also, faeces cannot be absorbed by the nappy and therefore remains in direct contact with the skin
If possible, always change the nappy before going to bed. You should not put your baby to bed with a full nappy.
When changing the nappy, gently wipe the bottom with baby wipes or warm soapy water. Be sure to use special baby soap that has been adapted to the sensitivity of the baby's skin. Also make sure that you do not rub the bum, but gently dab it.
How do you treat a sore bum?
If a sore bottom does occur, you can let the baby walk around without a nappy for a while after thorough cleaning to allow air to reach the sore areas.
If this is not possible, or as an additional measure, there is special nappy cream that can be rubbed onto the bottom, which treats the sore areas and at the same time forms a protective film between the wound and the moisture in the nappy.
Some mums also like to apply antiseptic products to the sore bottom to kill the bacteria. It is important to make sure that it is a baby-friendly product that does not bite or pinch.
In the worst case, you should go to the paediatrician and get a medication, because some babies simply have sensitive skin and normal treatments are useless.
