Posted by Bugs&Roo at 6/6/07 11:54 p.m.

Persistent rashes was the main reason we started ECing my second daughter ("Roo"). My first daughter ("Bugs") had rashes pretty much from the day she was born. They were bad and wouldn't go away with any treatment I tried. And I tried everything. I switched systems, and even went to disposables for a little while, which is completely against my nature. I was mortified that someone might see me buying disposable diapers! Anyway, Roo was born when Bugs was 22 months old. I decided to take advantage of the time off work and potty train Bugs when she was approaching her second birthday. Lo and behold, her rashes went away! 2 years of different creams, doctor's appointments, testing, and the like didn't do anything for her rashes. She just needed freedom! It was at that point I started looking into this weird hippie potty training thing I heard about once on the internet. I read a few websites, checked a book out from the library, and then a few days later she peed on the potty. I was hooked. She was 7 weeks old then and we're still keeping up with it at 12 months! Roo still gets rashes (but not nearly like when I first started EC), but I think my girls have sensitive skin and that is something they'll deal with all their lives. In fact Bugs has an appointment with an allergy/asthma/excema specialist in the morning with the results of her allergy testing. She has excema on the back of her neck, her "knee pits," and of course a little on her bottom and vulva (Partly to blame on nighttime incontinence I think). So I'm thinking that may be why Roo suffers from rashes as well, because even with constant naked time and dry diapers 100% of the time, the rashes never are completely gone. It is so difficult to deal with.

Anyway, that's my novel about how I got into EC. I recommend you check out a new book "The Diaper-Free Baby" by Christine Gross-Loh. It is excellent.

As far as diapering goes, have you tried a more breathable cover, like wool or fleece? They worked well for my kids and they're great for overnight, especially wool since it is so absorbent and waterproof. Also have you experimented with different fabrics? Supposedly bamboo is good for skin and I know there are some diapers out there made from bamboo fabric. Also have you tried stripping your diapers? Perhaps diaper buildup is irritating her skin. Anyway, a few more tricks to try. (PS-- the only diaper creams that ever made a difference in my kids were the ones containing lavender as an ingredient-- like Burt's Bees or Weleda)

Posted by K.C. Ridihalgh at 6/13/07 9:36 a.m.

Thanks B&R -- good tips - I'll look into the wool covers, do you think they'd be too hot for summer? Also, how do you "strip diapers"? I use a biodegradable detergent, which I think can build up on the diapers. So, that might be a good thing to try. Thanks!

Posted by Bugs&Roo at 6/13/07 12:56 p.m.

Wool is not nearly as hot as one would think! It is quite breathable and is much cooler than a regular PUL type cover, because plastic can't breathe but wool can. Also wool is antibacterial so you only have to wash it once a week or so, with a wool wash (NOT woolite, use one like Eucalin with natural lanolin in it instead) or with dish soap and then soak it in lanolin for a while (you can buy Lansinoh brand anywhere, just dissolve in a cup of warm water and add to a sink full of tepid water, and add your cover and let it sit).

To strip diapers, what you do is put them in your washer on the hottest cycle possible and watch it. Are there any bubbles when it is being agitated? If there are, keep putting it in hot cycles until there are no more bubbles. Then you'll know all the buildup is gone from your diapers. Then use only a tiny bit of detergent for your diapers to keep the buildup at bay for as long as possible. I have to strip my diapers about every 3-4 months. If you have a front loader, I'm not sure how you would strip those. Check out the diapering forums at Mothering.com and I'm sure some of the ladies there will know how.

PS I also picked up my copy of "Perfect Madness" at my library yesterday :)