Taking care of a toddler's tush

As a baby grows and becomes more mobile as a toddler, his/her butts are no longer soft and kissable as they were when he/she was a baby. The reasons that contribute to this is that your toddler starts eating more chunkier food he/she starts having more bigger and stickier stools. Also most toddlers do not like to have their diaper changed lying down as they are more happy standing erect as they start walking.

Also too much time in a damp diaper or poopy one will irritate the sensitive skin at the toddler’s bottom Too much time in damp drawers, or poopy ones, can irritate the still-sensitive skin on your toddler’s bottom and cause a nasty case of diaper rash/rashes.

Here are ways to take care of a toddler’s tush and protect it from diaper rash/rashes:

1) Ensure that you change your toddler’s diaper more often; it would be best to change it first thing in the morning, after naps and at other times when you suspect her/she is wet or dirty. Wipe your toddler clean, pat dry and then ensure you apply a diaper ointment or cream before putting a fresh diaper. This acts as a preventive and treatment method.  

 
2) Ensure that you avoid soaps and scented wipes if your toddler’s bottom is susceptible to rashes. It is best to use plain water for pee clean-ups and use unscented, alcohol free wipes, washes, soaps and lotions for poops.

3)  It is advisable to give your toddler some bare butt time; diapers trap moisture and too much moisture could affect a toddler’s bottom. A little air time around 10 to 15 minutes when he/she roams about diaper free in a fully washable area will not only prevent diaper rash from appearing, but will also help a diaper rash to disappear.

4) Do not stick to one type of diaper and try different types; some may be more absorbent while others will be lesser. Super-absorbent brands of disposable diapers trap too much moisture and could cause rashes, while switching to a less-absorbent disposable or to cloth diapers is soothing to that tiny toddler tush. Changing to either one or the other often helps soothe the tiny toddler’s tush. 

5) Watch out for rashes on your toddler’s bottom that will not go away or reappears in a few days; the rash could be a bacterial or fungal infection. Your pediatrician’s help could be taken in this regard.

Signs of some serious rashes are:

Your toddler could have candidiasis, a fungal infection if your toddler’s skin in the bottom turns bright red, especially after a course of oral antibiotics like an ear infection.

 
He/she could be having seborrhea dermatitis if his/her bottom has deep red skin with yellow scales.

Your toddler could have intertrigo, a type of yeast infection if there is redness in the folds of the skin and there is oozing of white or yellow matter.

Lastly your toddler could be having impetigo if your toddler’s bottom has blisters that seep, ooze and then crust over. 

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