wee ones

Your wee one’s skin is so perfect…until you take off that diaper to reveal a bright red, chapped bottom! No one wants their wee one to resemble one of those red bottomed monkeys on the National Geographic channel!

red bum be gone

Most every wee one gets a diaper rash, so don’t beat yourself up or assume something is wrong when they happen. But some rashes can be more severe than others and some wee ones are more prone to getting them. You can do your best to decrease the likelihood of rashes by first changing diapers frequently, especially getting to the poopy ones ASAP! Then you need to make some changes if necessary:

• new duty catcher All diapers are not created equally. They fit differently, absorb differently and have different fragrances and what not. Your sensitive little bum might need a little trial and error to find the right one. Also consider using cloth diapers. And when it’s diaper laundry day, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. This helps remove alkaline irritants.

• wipe it…wipe it good Stuffs gotta be gone and dry. Make sure all remnants of diaper surprise are removed and that little bum is dry as the Sierra desert. Also, consider giving that bum some breathing room and get a little fresh air before slapping on that diaper right away.

• consider h 2o When it comes to wipes, make sure they are unscented or just use water. Do your best to take the irritation out of everything that comes in contact with that sweet, little bum.

• defensive measures If rashes seem to be a common occurrence consider using one of the creams or pastes on the market to give your wee one a barrier of defense. And just like diapers, it might take some trial and error to find the one right.

Bum Spa Treatment

When a rash really flares up, consider a nice, warm bath with some added soothing help. Try two tablespoons of baking soda or 1/3 cup of ground up oatmeal and soak for 10 minutes. With the oatmeal bath, be aware that the tub can get very slippery, so be careful. After this mini spa treatment, make sure you dry your wee one well before re-diapering. Diaper rashes typically only require home treatment, but if the rash spreads to other parts of the body or starts to show signs of infection [such as increased pain, swelling, a fever, clear, fluid-filled blisters, pus in or draining from the rash], talk to your doctor.

in the mid-1950’s Harvard researchers determined nearly 90% of 24-month-olds in the US were successfully potty trained, but since disposable diapers were launched in 1961, the average age has increased to between 36 and 38 months

Potty time is a big deal for your tot. “Do you have to go potty?”; “Come on, let’s go potty.” ; “Yeah, you went potty!” Lots of daily focus it spent on when he goes and what he did. So, not being able to go can throw a real wrench in potty plans.

Times Are Hard

It is very common for tots to experience constipation or times of infrequent or unusually hard #2-s. And every tot’s “normal” bowel movement pattern is different. Some tots go daily, others weekly. If you notice changes in normal patters, stools that are hard and small or large and knobby, he is straining on the toilet or is holding in poop because it’s going to hurt if he goes, his tummy is bloated and/or sore or he starts having accidents with runny #2-s, it’s time to take some action:

• wash it out If your tot isn’t drinking enough fluids, the colon steals water from waste material and gives it to the rest of the body. Pushing the fluids can help get things moving.

• get movin’ Being active helps with digestion and gets the bowels moving. So get your tot out to play and run around.

• p’s for… Yep…poop! Consider natural laxatives like the four P’s: prunes, peaches, plums and pears. Eat ‘em, drink ‘em diluted or straight up and see if everything works its way out.

It’s important to do your best to relieve constipation when it hits as it can become a self-perpetuating problem: tot get’s constipated…it hurts to go…tot doesn’t want to go…tot holds on…stool gets harder, larger and more painful to pass. This is a bad cycle to get into. As you treat constipation also take into consideration your tot’s diet and what is currently happening in his life. Make sure he is getting enough fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And lastly, be aware that emotions can have an effect on intestinal function. If there is anything creating stress for your tot, it can cause constipation as well.