My son is not prone to frequent diaper rashes, but he has suffered from them on occasion. I have had the opportunity to try a variety of diaper rash ointments and lotions. Some I received at my baby shower, others I purchased myself. A couple of these were samples from the doctor’s office. Here are the ones that seemed to work the best and cause the least discomfort for baby.
Top Diaper Rash Creams for Babies
Aveeno Baby
I expected Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Diaper Rash Cream to be the most mild diaper rash cream. The Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Diaper Rash Cream is “Pediatrician Recommended” and Aveeno products are typically mild on sensitive skin areas.
One of the best features of this diaper rash cream for parents is that the lotion is fragrance-free. The ingredients are natural, and include oats essence and natural willow herb. The active ingredient is zinc oxide.
My son is not fond of this particular diaper rash cream, and he told me “hurts” when I put it on. He did not react this way to some other diaper rash creams.
Balmex
Balmex is the diaper rash cream that seems to work the best for most diaper rashes. In the past three years, it is the one diaper rash lotion that I have had to replace in my baby’s medicine cabinet.
Balmex is mild and effective for minor skin rashes. Balmex contains 11.3 percent zinc oxide. The Balmex diaper rash also contains aloe and Vitamin E.
CVS Vitamin A & D Ointment
I have also used CVS Vitamin A & D Ointment to soothe diaper rash. This diaper rash cream looks like Vaseline, and it contains 53.4 percent petroleum. It also contains Lanolin.
The CVS Vitamin A & D Ointment is effective as a diaper rash cream, and it does not seem to irritate my son when applied. The only issue with the CVS Vitamin A & D Ointment is that it contains cod liver oil. Anyone who has seafood allergies needs to be cautious when handling this diaper rash cream.
I like to call the Vitamin A & D Ointment the stinky cream. It really has a strong odor, even through a diaper and clothing.
Desitin
I have used trial-sized packets of Desitin, which is similar to Balmex. It has a sort of refreshing peppermint smell. It contains 10 percent zinc oxide, plus aloe, Vitamin E and petroleum. Desitin works well, similar to Balmex.
Jock Itch Cream
Under the advice of our pediatrician, I once used jock itch cream on a small rash spot on my son’s bottom. The rash spot was near his tailbone. She advised using the jock itch cream because she thought the rash might be fungal. The jock itch cream did not help. I would not recommend trying the jock itch cream as a diaper rash cream unless the doctor is certain the rash if fungal.
Mimyx Cream
The one stubborn rash my son had that was not treatable with any of the above lotions, including the jock itch cream, was also not affected by a prescription-level diaper rash cream. The pediatrician, in a trial-and-error treatment regimen, gave me a sample of Mimyx cream. She wanted to try this in case the rash was caused by a allergic reaction to something.
After a week of applying this diaper rash cream four times a day, the rash did not budge. Eventually the rash went away, without any diaper rash lotions.
Each baby will react differently to a diaper rash cream. Try one diaper rash cream consistently before switching to a new one. Using too many brands and types of diaper rash creams at the same time may further irritate the skin.
A warm oatmeal bath and frequent diaper changes will also help.
