This is an update to a post originally published in 2009. Over the years the original has been highly referenced and I still receive comments on it 3+ years later.
Below you will see the original post with updated recommendations.
A few additional remarks to add:
- If the rash you are looking to treat is from yeast then treat the diapers with Grapefruit Seed Extract.
- If the rash is bacterial treating the diapers with TTO or bleach will work.
- If the rash is due to ammonia in your diapers you may choose to strip your diapers in a variety of ways.
- Funk Rock or RLR soak.
- Heavy detergent (Tide, Purex, ALL) wash for a deep clean.
- Vinegar soak if you have soft water.
- Add Calgon to your normal detergent for a better clean.
- If the rash is due to a sensitivity to the fabric then you will need to go shopping.
- If the rash is due to eczema you may not need to switch up diapers but that may be the end step after unsuccessfully tackling the rash with diet and creams.
- Are you using disposable wipes?? If a rash just won’t go away try using a baby washcloth and water for a week and see if the rash clears up.
- Read through this checklist from Earth Mama, Angel Baby on the Anatomy of a Diaper Rash!
No one likes a rash. No one likes repelling diapers. So when your little one gets a rash or you simply want to prevent them what are you to use?
Most “regular” diaper rash creams are not cloth diaper safe. This means that they create a barrier on the inner material and cause the diaper to repel instead of absorb moisture.
Thankfully, there are several cloth diaper safe diaper rash creams available online or in many grocery stores.
Cloth diaper safe diaper rash creams: *ones I’ve used
- *Growing Up Herbal: This is one you may not have heard of but I think it is wonderful. The diaper rash cream is great at calming down irritated skin from acidic poo, ammonia and dermatitis. I’m such a sucker for creamy goodness. Seriously, I horde these creams and ointments. Meagan Visser is the WAHM behind Growing Up Herbal. She sent me samples when the herbal line was still under her sister store name of Baby Swank, where she sells adorable Washcloth Bibs.
- *California Baby Diaper Rash Cream: can be purchased at many grocery stores and Amazon. Great aromatherapy scent. I have this thing about zinc oxide creams, as I apply them I immediately feel at ease as if they work faster and better. There have been cloth diaper users that claim this product leaves stains on their diapers. I have not experienced this yet.
- *Balm! Baby- Diaper Balm: I’ve become heavily dependent on the products made by Taylor House, Inc (THinc.) and love them all. The Diaper Balm is also a First Aid ointment. I’ve had many more occasions to use it on myself and the children’s boo-boos than on rashes.
- Bum Butter Diaper Rash/Barrier Cream: highly effective but not immediately available for purchase. She only makes this formula when the weather is at the highest low-80′s (as per Ewe Need It Facebook page). According to this it will be available late Sept/early October.
- * Angel Baby Bottom Balm: Use it on anything from bug bites to razor burn to yeast rashes. Very popular with many cloth diaper manufacturers. This company knows how to make great products.
- * Grandma El’s: Grandma El’s is my go to recommendation when someone needs a barrier ointment. I love the smell and wish it was gluten free so I could still use it.
- * MotherLove Diaper Rash and Thrush Ointment: Very versatile. I’ve used it on fungal spots with great success.
- * Bee All Natural Diaper Rash Salve: Quickly clears up rashes from ammonia or sensitivities. The tube can be difficult to squeeze the salve out of but it does fit nicely into a diaper bag.
- * Scarlet’s Naturals Hiney Honey Creme: You can read my glowing review here.
- * Thirsties Booty Love: An excellent choice to apply every night before bedtime. Booty Love ointment will protect baby’s sensitive skin throughout the night from moisture and ammonia vapors. Anytime I used a barrier ointment at night my children wouldn’t have a red bum in the morning if the diaper reeked of ammonia. Sometimes ammonia can’t be avoided but still needs to be properly washed out. Make sure you are rinsing well and using a deep cleaning detergent appropriate for your water type.
- * CJ’s BUTTer: I LOVE the spritz, especially the pixie pie scent! I use it after every diaper change. It keeps Camden smelling good and his skin soft and supple.
If you are at the store and wondering if a rash cream is cloth diaper safe (and you need to know right then!) check to see if it contains Cod Liver Oil. If it does, don’t use it with cloth diapers.
Don’t forget about the amazing healing properties of Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. You can buy it at most grocery stores, Amazon, or your favorite cloth diaper boutique.
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December 19, 2012 at 9:33 am
i am wondering if arbonne’s herbal diaper rash cream is cd safe? the company in general says it uses natural and safe ingredients, but that doesn’t necessarily equal cd safe. i’ve looked through the ingredients and don’t see lanolin, zinc oxide, petroleum, or cod liver oil…. however, it’s possible i missed one of these (it is a long ingredient list and those words start to run together after a little bit). do you know anything about this one? thanks!
December 20, 2012 at 5:45 pm
zinc oxide is the main ingredient (according to the Arbonne website). that doesn’t mean it can’t be used with all cloth diapers. use a liner to prevent staining or buildup if concerned.
November 4, 2012 at 12:03 am
Thanks for all this great information! I’m expecting #2 in Dec. and am diving into cloth diapering. I’ve already purchased some newborn fitted Kissaluvs as well as the Flip system. I’d like to make a homemade rash cream/oil. I’ve seen on your other posts that coconut oil is fine and from what I understand washes out without any extra steps. What about unrefined shea butter? almond oil? grapefruit seed extract?
November 4, 2012 at 8:01 pm
unrefined shea butter is used by Delish, a cloth diaper safe company, so it’s good. grapefruit seed extract is great for the wash. almond oil can be added in a small amount to cloth wipes wash and comes out fine.
November 3, 2012 at 9:37 am
Quick question about liners- we use flushable liners for daycare since it’s easier on them. Is this enough if I think they will really load it on her? Or should I layer a stay dry liner under the flushable liner?
November 3, 2012 at 12:07 pm
if it is cloth diaper safe then the flushable liner is fine.
October 16, 2012 at 1:38 pm
I have used grandma el’s and right afterwards my diapers experienced repelling issuses and havent been the same since. I strip them then 2 wears later they need stripped again. I use calgon and little love buns detergent. one cold rinse presoak, hot water wash and two cold rinses and still can not get my routine down
September 27, 2012 at 9:01 pm
My poor little one seems to have a constant rash wherever the diaper touches him. He seems SO sensitive to moisture. We have been using an assortment of things and have not had much luck. We have been using CJs BUTTer cream (coconut lime scent) and really like the feel and smell of it. I ordered the CJs BUTTer PLUS spritz…it is the one that is the yeast formula. I do NOT like it. I find the spritz to be very runny and the PLUS only comes as unscented which is a misnomer…this stuff stinks! We have been using the California Baby and it seems to do a good job at helping to clear up the rash and we haven’t noticed any staining. We tend to put a thin layer on rather than gooping it up. We also use Earth’s Best Non-Petroleum Jelly. Based on the ingredients, I think it is CD safe. We also use a thin layer.
September 26, 2012 at 11:05 pm
Wondering if Benson’s Bottom Paint is okay to use. We live in the town that is homebase for it which would make it easy to procure. I’m also curious about Miracle II Neutralizer Gel would work? Its said to be perfect for cuts, etc and I’ve used it with success to keep acne at bay.
September 27, 2012 at 11:23 am
you would need to take the same precautions you would with any cream that contains petrolatum and zinc oxide. be aware that staining or repelling *could* occur depending on your diapers. another note, i would do more research on the safety of the ingredients contained in Benson’s.
September 23, 2012 at 11:47 pm
I have been using Hylands Diaper Ointment. I have not seen it mentioned on this site.
September 24, 2012 at 2:06 am
I haven’t seen it before but I will look it up.
September 24, 2012 at 2:08 am
looked it up… from what i can see it has lanolin and petrolatum. these can be safe but could also cause staining. not that i’m a stain freak but if you start noticing repelling you may want to use a liner.
September 18, 2012 at 10:31 am
our favorite cloth diaper safe cream is booty butter by jessica. This stuff is amazing!
September 11, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Question- so is Burts Bees Baby Bee ok? I have to go read the label but I’ve been not using it for fear of repeling.
September 13, 2012 at 10:39 pm
Burt’s Bees works great for some (me in the past) and causes issues for others. That is the case for many creams with zinc oxide in them.
September 11, 2012 at 6:57 pm
You need to add to this list, Lasinoh Lanolin! It’s useful for more than just the early days of breastfeeding. The lanolin will melt off the diaper in a hot wash, and it has cleared up my baby’s blister in just a day.
September 11, 2012 at 12:35 pm
just a note to ALWAYS dilute grapefruit seed extract!! thanks for the update!!
September 11, 2012 at 12:37 pm
& do you have a list of just the ingredients that are cloth diaper safe? it seems like most oils & beeswax are, but it would be nice to know for future reference!!
September 11, 2012 at 11:42 am
I highly recommend the CJs spritz. We ran out so I sent CJs tub to daycare, big mistake. They never caught on to a little goes a long way so just from so much being used, we had oil build up which led to repelling. The spritz they can easily use! Grovia Magic Stick is another they love using too (just isn’t effective on my daughter)
September 11, 2012 at 11:03 am
Amazing results with Tender Tush from Young Living. A tiny bit goes a long way and I haven’t had trouble with it in the diapers.
September 11, 2012 at 11:01 am
Do you recommend using a liner with these creams or is that not necessary?
September 11, 2012 at 1:44 pm
not necessary to use a liner with cloth diaper safe creams. however, if you like to really lather it on then you should
September 11, 2012 at 10:49 am
Can I just put a plug in for plain old unrefined coconut oil. Nothing fancy, easily available at grocery and health food stores and the single most effective rash/redness treatment we have ever used!
September 11, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Do you find coconut oil to cause any repelling, etc? What detergent do you use to wash?
September 11, 2012 at 9:59 am
I have used Baby Ganics non-petroleum Protective ointment. I have not been all that happy with it. I dont think it workds all that great. I got it at babies r us. I thinl it is cloth diaper safe. I can’t use lavender so many of the other creams I can use.
September 11, 2012 at 9:54 am
Just an FYI, Aveeno is tested on animals. So, if you are sensitive to that, then I would try something else
September 11, 2012 at 9:22 am
On the cloth diapering board there’s been talk of California Baby changing their formula, and it causing sore bottoms. I don’t have personal experience with it but I thought you’d want to know!
September 11, 2012 at 2:53 pm
I heard this but didn’t really notice a difference until my daughter started saying that it “hurts” when we put it on. So I switched to the Aveeno Naturals (since I was in a hurry, I wanted something easily available) and that seems to work for her. I was a little worried about repelling since it seems to be a new product and I couldn’t find much info about it with cloth diapers, but I haven’t had any problems. I also checked the label and if I remember correctly it had about the same concentration of zinc oxide as CA baby, so I figured it would be OK. I didn’t know to check for cod liver oil, though- will have to do that when I get home.
September 15, 2012 at 9:00 pm
I have used california baby recently and my baby screems when we put it on her bottom. I have tried about 3 times and the same thing each time. I felt so bad we had to give her a bath to calm her down. We tossed it and are looking for a new option. We use coconut oil in the kitchen so I am trying that next.
September 29, 2012 at 8:37 pm
We have had the same thing with the new Cali Baby rash cream. I love their other products and used the cream with no problems on my son who is now 5. When I put it on my daughter with just the tiniest red on her bum, she screamed immediately and I couldn’t get it off fast enough. I switched to Burt’s Bees which seems to be working well. So far no staining/repelling and hopeful that will continue.
September 11, 2012 at 9:04 am
Thanks for the great update! I am struggling with the same type of harsh, open, bleeding, all over rash that my son had only now with my daughter! They both have strong ammonia pee and the doc said it was not yeast. But I stripped and boiled the dipes anyway, to no availe. I have put her in disposables and desitin and came back…
So a friend of mine mentioned People’s paste and I ordered this (the same thing only a couple added ingredients and it’s already mixed) called Comfrys healing Salve http://naturesown.ecrater.com/p/5620166/comfrey-salve-2oz-jar
Excited to try it!! Customer service has been awesome! I ordered the 1 oz and its out of stock so she upgraded me to the 2 oz at no charge plus some free samples!
Last thing I ordered to try is bentonite clay powder but I’m not sure how cloth diaper safe that is! I may just put a liner on to tr it
September 11, 2012 at 8:23 am
I’ve been having good success with GroVia’s Magic stick. My little one gets heat rash easily but keeping her bum coated with the stick has kept it at bay. It is also great that it is in stick form so it doesn’t get my hands dirty!
I have had staining and coating problems with California Baby. Loved the smell and it worked well for my daughter but it was not good for our BG Elementals.
September 11, 2012 at 8:13 am
I have a question about Grandma El’s containing gluten- I have recently adopted a GF lifestyle, but have been using Grandma El’s and am curious if you would mind sharing a little bit of information on the subject? I must be missing something! Thank you
September 11, 2012 at 10:31 am
I have an extra sensitivity to gluten due to the form of Celiacs that I have (Dermatitis Herpetaformis). I can’t use any products that contain gluten.
September 11, 2012 at 7:51 am
Angel Baby Bottom is by far the best. The other thing I learned is for very watery infant poop, fleece remnants are much more effective as a diaper liner than the paper liners. I fought my son’s yeast rash for 5 wks before finding Angel Baby & the fleece liners.
September 11, 2012 at 7:27 am
I just wanted to mention Aveeno rash cream. I know it’s mainstream and not wahm made. But if you’re in a pinch and at Target / Walmart and need something like yesterday this works wonderfully. I’ve been cd’ing for 5+ years and this has never left a buildup on my diapers. And I’ve used every kind of diaper from flats to aio’s. hth