Struggling to know what’s the best rash cream to soothe your baby’s botty?
As a Mum, I die a little inside when I see my baby in pain. Seeing my baby’s face screwed up in agony is the worst feeling in the world.
It doesn’t matter how much care we take with their sensitive skin; most babies will suffer from nappy rash at some point. The best thing for baby's skin is plenty of fresh air and nappy-free time, but that’s not always realistic as having to keep mopping up the mess nappies are meant to catch is not a pleasant job! Luckily there are many products out there that can soothe baby’s bottom as well as help to heal the rash.
I find the worst time for nappy rash is at night when the nappy is being changed less often. This is also the worst time for them to be afflicted as it can interfere with their (and your!) sleep.
So, keep reading if you want to know which are the best nappy rash creams out there, as reviewed by parents and caregivers.
Features of the Best Baby Nappy Rash Cream
When shopping for a nappy rash cream, it's important to look for a product that not only soothes your baby's irritation but also helps to heal and prevent future rashes. Here are some of the best features to look for:
Zinc Oxide
This ingredient is known for its ability to protect the skin and promote healing. Look for a cream that contains at least 10% zinc oxide, as this is the optimal concentration for treating nappy rash.
Natural Ingredients
Many parents prefer to use natural products on their baby's sensitive skin. Look for creams that contain natural ingredients like calendula, chamomile, aloe vera, and coconut oil. These ingredients are soothing and gentle on the skin, making them ideal for babies.
Fragrance-Free
Fragrances can be irritating to a baby's sensitive skin, so it's best to choose a cream that is fragrance-free. Avoid creams that contain artificial fragrances or essential oils, as these can cause further irritation.
Easy to Apply
When your baby is in pain, the last thing you want is a difficult-to-apply cream. Look for a cream that is easy to spread and won't leave a greasy residue on your hands.
Long-Lasting
A good nappy rash cream should provide long-lasting protection and relief. Look for a cream that is thick and stays in place, even after your baby moves around.
By choosing a nappy rash cream that contains these features, you can help keep your baby's skin healthy and comfortable. Remember, prevention is key, so make sure to change your baby's nappy frequently and provide plenty of nappy-free time.
How We Choose the Best Nappy Rash Creams
We know that anything you put on your baby’s skin will be absorbed in just a few seconds (even if it is zinc oxide-based, which sits on top of the skin) and so my team have read through thousands of user reviews and star ratings and spoken to tonnes of Mums to find the best products out there for soothing baby’s bottom and help the whole family get a good night’s sleep.
As well as recommendations from other parents, we cross check facts with medical advice including the NHS so that our recommendations are safe for baby to use and medically recommended.
Some of the advice given here is not widely available so may surprise you!
Sudacrem Antiseptic Healing Cream
Why Parents Love It
Sudacrem is the majority of Parent’s go-to when it comes to sore bums and bits. It’s in every first-time parent hamper, its used in maternity wards and chances are you’ve got a pot of this sitting in your bathroom cabinet already!
The water-repellent base means that it sits on top of baby’s skin to form a barrier between your baby and the nappy, preventing the nappy rash from worsening. It contains antiseptic and anaesthetic which has numbing properties, easing the pain nappy rash can cause.
Sudacrem is a multiuse product and has been recommended for use on stretch marks to reduce their appearance, as well as being useful for soothing your skin after plucking your eyebrows, using to protect your hands from fake tan, relief from stings and bites, reducing redness from pimples and even as a cheap primer for your make up base!
What You Should Know
Sudacrem has been around since 1931 and that thick white consistency comes from active ingredient zinc oxide, which forms a barrier preventing moisture from sitting against the skin.
The second active ingredient is anhydrous hypoallergenic lanolin which is an emollient that soothes and softens skin. The antiseptic and anaesthetic properties come from benzyl alcohol.
Sudacrem is perfect to use when baby is in pain, but it is not a mild cream that should be used every day on baby’s sensitive bottom, due to the anaesthetic and shouldn’t be used on chapped or broken skin due to the zinc oxide.
ABC Arbonne Baby Care® Nappy Cream
Why Parents Love It
ABC Arbonne Baby Care® Nappy Cream is the perfect nappy rash cream for your baby's sensitive skin. It is specially formulated to help treat and prevent nappy rash while deeply hydrating the skin.
I have been using this nappy cream on both of my children since they were born and have found it to be very effective, gentle on baby's skin and not too heavy or thick. The rich formula glides on easily and creates a water repelling moisture barrier to help reduce skin surface irritation.
What You Should Know
ABC Arbonne Baby Care® Nappy Cream is a great choice for parents looking for a natural and vegan nappy rash cream. It is enriched with chamomile and aloe vera to soothe and protect the skin. It is also free from parabens, phthalates, and other harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin. The cream is suitable for all skin types and is a great choice for babies, rashes, and treatment.
Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment
Why Parents Love It
Bepanthen won Silver for Best Baby Skincare Range/Product at the Motheru0026Baby Awards 2019 and is trusted by parents as a preventative cream which is mild enough for everyday use. It is free from colours, fragrances, preservatives and antiseptics so you know there are no nasties being absorbed into baby’s skin.
As a preventative cream, Bepanthen has been clinically proven to help keep nappy rash at bay and it contains Provitamin B5 to help keep baby’s skin hydrated and it has more uses with tattooists often recommending it to protect fresh tattoos and doctors suggesting it for chapped skin on hands and elbows, so even more reason to have a stash on hand!
What You Should Know
Bepanthen comes in a tube so is easy to apply without getting it all over your hands, especially if your little one is a bit of a wriggler at nappy change time! Like Sudacrem, it has a thick consistency which helps it stay in place.
As Bepanthen doesn’t have a zinc oxide base it can also be used on chapped and broken skin, so it’s a great alternative for very bad nappy rash.
Wendela Calendula Nappy Change Cream
Why Parents Love It
Wendela’s vegan diaper rash cream is free from all the nasties that we want to soaking into our baby’s skin so is a firm favourite for parents that are conscious of what we put into baby’s body via the skin and is also dermatologically tested.
Wendela is zinc-oxide based so works as a natural barrier cream and is highly recommended by parents around the globe as a half-way house between the stronger, antiseptic creams such as Sudacrem and the milder, every-day use creams such as Bepanthen and is very competitively priced. With other natural ingredients it is formulated to care for baby’s skin and support its natural functions.
What You Should Know
Wendela’s comes in a tube so is easy to apply without making a mess and is mild enough to use on a newborn’s skin. Parents also report that it has a lovely smell and is very reasonably priced. It was shortlisted in the 2019 Motheru0026Baby Awards Best Baby Skincare Range/Product category.
Wendela use a team of midwives and pharmacists to perfect their recipes and claim that this nappy cream helps the development of healthy skin for your baby.
FAQs
So, what is the best nappy rash treatment cream? It can be difficult to make a choice when there are so many options available and each one is slightly different but they all promise the same thing, a redness-free baby bottom that we all want to see!
With products advertising their healing qualities, we don’t always know if there are hidden nasties that will soak into baby’s skin causing lasting damage to their little bodies or strong ingredients that we’d avoid if only we knew better.
For that very reason we have put together a host of information below to help you make an informed decision based on your beliefs and parenting style that you can utilise below.
What causes nappy rash?
If you’ve ever wondered what the number one cause of nappy rash is then the simple answer is…nappies! Nappy rash is caused by prolonged exposure to moisture or wetness which is a common side effect of wearing nappies. So, unless you fancy trying the age-old nappy-free method of trying to catch your baby’s waste, there is a high likelihood your baby will have nappy rash at some point in their lives.
Nappy rash may also be caused by a reaction to a specific laundry detergent, particularly if your baby is in cloth nappies, prolonged exposure to wee or poo, not properly cleaning the area at nappy changes or even some alcohol-based baby wipes.
Which is the best nappy rash cream for sensitive skin?
If your baby has a mild nappy rash or sensitive skin then it’s a good idea to opt for a cream with natural ingredients such as Wendela’s, and veer away from the stronger creams such as Sudacrem.
Vegan creams are also great to prevent nappy rash on baby's delicate skin.
What is best for severe nappy rash?
The best way to treat nappy rash that is severe, then applying a cream with an antiseptic such as Sudacrem will help ease their pain. Antiseptics work by numbing the area its applied to so it’s important not to keep using once the cream once the rash has cleared up.
The best way to help clear up baby's nappy rash according to NHS is exposure to as much air as possible. If it is practical to leave your baby nappy free for some time each day, this will help the rash clear up.
Other things you can try are:
· More frequent nappy changes and ensuring you change the nappy quickly after any poos
· Giving your baby a daily bath to help keep the area clean. Be sure to be very gentle when drying their bottom so as not to aggravate the rash or cause unnecessary pain.
· Not using soap, body lotions, bubble bath or talcum powder on the affected area.
· Using alcohol-free baby wipes (water-based wipes are best or even a clean towel with warm water and no soap).
· Ensuring your baby is wearing the correct side nappy that isn’t too tight, which could worsen the rash, or too loose so you get spills.
What are the best nappy rash creams specifically in the UK?
Most nappy creams are now available world-wide but the best-selling nappy cream in the UK is Bepanthen according to Amazon. Sudacrem appears on the list at number 7 and Wendela’s also makes the list at number 10.
Which is the best nappy rash cream for broken skin?
If the skin on baby’s bottom is broken or chapped, then you should avoid heavy creams such as Sudacrem and stick to more natural creams such as Wendela’s. While skin naturally absorbs what is put onto it, chapped skin can allow ointments into your baby’s bloodstream.
As such, vegan options such as Wendela's or Metanium nappy rash ointment are best as they include only natural ingredients that are less likely to cause a reaction in your baby. Look for active ingredient shea butter which a natural anti-inflammatory, helping to soothe even the most sensitive skins.
Should you use nappy rash cream at every change?
With many opposing views online and nappy cream companies promising it is safe to do so, this question has more than one answer.
Considering all the research that went into this article, my resulting opinion is that a rash-free bottom should be left natural and cream-free on general nappy changes. There are creams which claim to be mild enough to use at every change (but also the heavier cream producers claim to be fine to use daily, so I feel that the seller isn’t always best placed to make this decision).
If your baby is prone to nappy rash, then a mild preventative cream (such as Bepanthen) can be used daily or at every nappy change.
Is it Ok to use an antiseptic based cream like Sudacrem at every nappy change?
Despite claims on their website that it is mild enough for everyday use, my personal opinion and that of other Mums I have consulted with, is that a heavy-duty cream like Sudacrem should be kept for nappy rash emergencies only. Unless you want your little one to have a constantly numbed botty!
Conclusion
So, with all of the information, which is the best nappy cream?
I believe the nappy rash treatment creams presented above cover all bases and provide a good variety based on the thousands of reviews, ratings and opinions gathered.
I hope you find this article helpful and gives your baby some relief from what must be a very painful experience.
All you need to do now is tap the relevant button to check the price on your favorite, given your circumstances and rest easy knowing your baby isn’t sleeping in pain.
Thanks for reading!
