Diaper Rash Creams: My Favorites + 3 Tips For Avoiding Diaper Rash

This post was brought to you in partnership with Earth Mama Organics, California Baby, Triple Paste + Baby Bumco. These brands provided us with products for this post, but all opinions are our own. Thank-you for supporting the sponsors that help keep Momma Society going. :)

My sweet Isla had some seriously sensitive cheeks when she was a newborn—and by cheeks, I’m referring to her bum cheeks. For her first few months, I was buying different diaper rash creams left and right trying to find the best diaper rash cream to give her some relief. There were so many options out there and it made searching for the perfect one a bit overwhelming.

A few weeks ago, I asked the moms in the Momma Society Facebook group for their favorite diaper rash creams. With their help, I put my favorites, along with the top recommendations from other mommas, to the test to see how they sized up.

What did I discover? No two diaper rash creams are alike!

Here’s the lowdown on the diaper rash cream I tried and my thoughts on each of them

1. California Baby Diaper Rash Ointment: Out of the half a dozen different brands of diaper rash creams I tried, this one was one of the thinnest, making it very easy to spread. I like that it did not the typical diaper rash scent—rather it had a faint lavender smell.

2- A+D: This brand has a faint scent. It is fairly thick, which helps create a barrier on your little one’s bum. It is very affordable and easy to grab at the drugstore.

3- Boudreaux's Butt Paste: Boudreaux’s Butt Paste has a loyal following. I tried out the Original paste, but I have also tried their natural cream (green bottle) and a maximum strength (red bottle) in the past. It is light brown in color, which can be a little shocking at first. It offered medium coverage and had a faint scent. I like that it was easy to spread. This is a good option for a mild case of diaper irritation. It is also one of the most affordable options and received the most votes in the Momma Society Facebook group.

4- Triple Paste
 : Triple paste is another brand that a lot of momma’s swear by. It is not the thickest of the creams I sampled, but it does offer solid coverage. It is a bit pricier than some of the other drugstore options.

5- Earth Mama Organics Diaper Balm: Earth Mama’s diaper balm caught me by surprise—in a good way! It is very different from the other ointments I tried. The ingredients are all natural and organic, the texture is more like Vaseline than a thick cream. The scent is a lovely herbal smell versus the often pungent odor associated with diaper rash creams. It goes on clear and rubs on easily. It is a bit greasy, so a little goes a long way. It is made with calendula, so it also makes a great skin salve. I used it on my dry hands :) This has become my go-to when I start to notice a little redness on Isla’s bum. Safe for cloth diapers.

6- Desitin Rapid Relief: Desitin is probably the most well-known of diaper rash creams. It has one of those very identifiable (and strong) scents. Of all of the brands I tried, Desitin was the thickest cream and hardest to rub off. This could be helpful if it is a more severe case of diaper rash. Best to apply this one with a BabyBum Diaper Cream Brush or your fingers may linger with the scent of diaper cream for hours (speaking from experience here).

So which one is my favorite?

Depends on the situation. For minor irritation I prefer to go the more natural route and use Earth Mama Diaper Balm. When Isla is really looking chapped, I’ll pull out the big guns and go for something thicker like Boudreaux’s, A+D or Triple Paste.

2 quick tips for applying diaper rash cream

1-    The thicker the better. Our pediatrician likened the application of diaper rash cream on an irritated bum to icing a cake. If you know me, you know I like a lot of icing. Apply a thick coating!

2- Get a Baby Bumco Diaper Cream Brush. I’m not sure how it took me almost 4 years of applying diaper rash cream to finally try this brush out, but two words—game changer. This little silicone brush keeps your hands clean as you spread cream on your little one. When you are finished, you just wipe it off with a baby wipe. It even comes in a mini travel size!

 3 tips to avoid diaper rash

1.     Dry their bums after wiping

When it comes to diaper changes, we are often in such a hurry to put the next diaper on. Sometimes this can leave moisture in their diaper and cause irritation. A trick I learned from one of my besties  is to use the new diaper to fan their little bums a few times before putting the new diaper on them. This has really helped us!

2.     Change diapers often

It is easy to forget to change a pee diaper in our busy lives, but changing diapers often is the easiest way to avoid diaper rash. The wetness and acidity create the perfect environment for irritation.

3.     Use an ointment preventatively 

If your little one is prone to diaper rash, consider using a mild diaper rash cream preventatively—especially overnight.

What diaper rash cream do you swear by? I’d love to hear in the comments!