excema bums and mcn

[xtml]

do you girls know if anything is safe to use on bums for moisurising/cleaning that can come into contact with mcn without liners? i like to use baby lotion/sorbelene to wipe clean a messy bum, and paw paw lotion on any red spots, but now i've got nice new cloth nappies (my first pockets-greenkids) i'm wanting to be careful. what about aloe vera gel?

[~Kim~]

Hey hun, congratulations on becoming a convert

What about some cammomile tea? Nice and soothing. COld of course.

[Gigi]

there's a proviso about paw paw cream

there's one by Lucas in the red tube or tub
it's petroleum based
only use it if you are using liners

there's one by Simmons in the yellow tube
it's NONpetroleum based
that one is fine to use without liners.

that's the clincher, if you use the nappy rash cream WITHOUT a liner, you need a NON PETROLEUM based cream - other wise that interferes/messes up your MCN from an absorbency point of view.

Now - about excma and babies bottoms.

Many kids that have sensitive skin (incl excma), find it difficult to tolerate synthetic fabrics next to their bottom. The way to use MCN on these kids is to find nappies with natural fibre inners.

The majority of pocket nappies, including Greenkids, use a SYNTHETIC fabric for their inner. Greenkids and many other popular brands, use SUEDECLOTH which is 1000% synthetic.

It is possible to buy MCN with natural fibre inners, or majority natural fibres.

e.g the Swaddlebee Pocket nappies, you can buy them with organic velour inners. This is 80% cotton adn 20% polyester.

My child started rashing up with synthetic inners back in January, at 12 months of age (after wearing synthetic inners before that, no probs.

So now, she wears predominantly natural fibre inner nappies, usually fitted and wool covers at home, and synthetic inner pockets for outings - BUT i lay inside them, a double layered flannelette liner - so natural fibres are against her wet zone.

You need ot change them more frequently with natural fibres against their bottom, but it's worth it, to have no nappy rash.

Other things with skin reactions and MCN
- use sensitive washing powder and use half the amoutn you use for clothes
- at nappy clean up time, use a wet flannel, not commerical baby wipes
- after clean up, if at home, leave baby naked, to air and dry completely before you put next nappy on them
- if you are able, give them some nappy free time each day
- avoid soap and bubblebath, there are soapfree alternatives at chemists and health food shops
- covers that breathe the most are fleece and wool, the more ventilation you have, the less likely nappy rash is. The WHY WOOL link on the nappycino home page has a great explanation for how wool does that. i got to test this out last summer, in 45 degree heat, and it really does work.

if you want some brands of nappies that have natural fibre (or close to it) inners, just say and i'll give you a list. (fitteds, pockets, aio's).

It's really inexpensive to sew up double layer flannelette liners at home (if you sew).

[xtml]

wow gigi you're a fountain of knowledge! i cant believe the red tub pawpaw has petroleum in it. here's me in my little fantasy world thinking i'm using fermented pawpaw when infact i'm using vaseline - what a ridiculous optimist i am, as if pure fermented pawpaw would look smell and keep so well. i thought i was pretty savvy about products, now i know i need to examine my assumptions and do better research.

i looked for the yellow one but the health food store was shut and chemist doesn't stock it. otherwise i'm right with aloe vera gel.... i wanted to avoid HAVING to use liners, on those occassions when i really need to slather his bum in gunk, sure; but when he's his usual wriggly giggly twisty rolly polly self, the easiest option is best- like velcro closing pocket (or aio / ai2, neither of which i own yet).

so the nappies i have have synthetic inners, but so far he's ok with them. i see that may change in the future, so i wont get rid of my wool covers and cotton nappies yet(thanks for the tip, i probably would have if you hadn't warned me). i have a swaddlebees but i hate snaps: my fingers aren't co-ordinated so it takes too long to do up. if i'm going to buy more pockets i might wanna consider getting the natural fibre inner ones, so yes please, tell me which ones they are.

how do you avoid getting your wool covers ccovered in poo? i was only using them at night as there's lesss chance, but lately he paints them yellow every time. its a bugger washing and relanolising them. my guess is good fitting fitteds? i wish i had a sewing machine...

[Gigi]

wow gigi you're a fountain of knowledge!

not really, i just soak up trivia and regurgitate it!

i cant believe the red tub pawpaw has petroleum in it. here's me in my little fantasy world thinking i'm using fermented pawpaw when infact i'm using vaseline - what a ridiculous optimist i am, as if pure fermented pawpaw would look smell and keep so well. i thought i was pretty savvy about products, now i know i need to examine my assumptions and do better research.

"when we know better, we do better"
i keep telling myself that, cos every day, i learn something new, that makes me CRINGE about what i had been doing previously! so i can relate.

i looked for the yellow one but the health food store was shut and chemist doesn't stock it.

i've seen it available online, i think ECOBABE was the web store i saw it at, maybe if you google "Simmons paw paw" and click on STOCKISTS or something?

otherwise i'm right with aloe vera gel.... i wanted to avoid HAVING to use liners, on those occassions when i really need to slather his bum in gunk, sure; but when he's his usual wriggly giggly twisty rolly polly self, the easiest option is best- like velcro closing pocket (or aio / ai2, neither of which i own yet).

i know other people who swaear by the MOO GOO moisturiser too, another very natural brand (only available online in that state i'm in).

so the nappies i have have synthetic inners, but so far he's ok with them. i see that may change in the future, so i wont get rid of my wool covers and cotton nappies yet(thanks for the tip, i probably would have if you hadn't warned me).

I hung onto ours cos i read a "MCN and Gastro thread", but it came in handy for other reasons too.

i have a swaddlebees but i hate snaps: my fingers aren't co-ordinated so it takes too long to do up. if i'm going to buy more pockets i might wanna consider getting the natural fibre inner ones, so yes please, tell me which ones they are.

Did you know there are TWO sorts of closures for Swaddlebee pockets?

the sized PUL outer SB pockets come in an organic velour inner. (make sure you don't buy the OLDER style, which has the microfleece inner, they're on sale at the weewuns).
The SB pockets come in EITHER aplix or snaps closures, so just get the aplix closure (if that brand is a good fit on your bub otherwise).

If wider crotch nappies suit your bub, the OSFA Swaddlebee pocket and the new Organic BumGenius pocket, both come with organic velour inner. You can get both with aplix closure.

The Happy Hempy (available at darlingsdownunder) is another pocket to consider, but that one is a pocket that needs a cover.

I've had both whizz kidz and dragonflymagik MCN custom made with natural fibre inners (e.g velour) so it's worth asking - they make ai2's. I am sure many WAHM's would make you items with natural inners if you asked e.g bits for bots, possum pouches (who make the kester kovers AIO).

The Widdlewuns (on ozebaby) - i know their a12 NIGHT nappy is natural inner (sherpa), not sure about their a12 day nappies - might be another place to ask.

how do you avoid getting your wool covers ccovered in poo? i was only using them at night as there's lesss chance, but lately he paints them yellow every time.

Is this a teething poo time for your DS? If you have other night cover options (e.g flongies, fleece covers), i might give the woollies a rest until the teeth are thru. If wool is all you got for night covers, yep, a well fitting night nappy should do it.

There are not any night nappies i can think of that have leg gussets, but some night fitted nappies, you can turn the leg frills INWARDS and that helps with runny poo stage. You can do that with very baby, whizz kidz, cute tooshies, mandy macs, lots of nappies. What sort of night napppies do you have?

its a bugger washing and relanolising them. my guess is good fitting fitteds? i wish i had a sewing machine...

i would suggest a wool pocket called Ecobubs, that is washable. I don't actually know which of your kids this night nappy question is all about, but if it's for the seven month old one, the wool pocket might be a go-er.

Also i read ages ago, of a washable wool cover made by Rumperoos.

and you might consider SPRAY LANOLIN - you spray it on the item inside out, massage it into the item, and it's done. This is the alternative to soaking the item in a solution of woolwash and lanisoh.


me too, i've made my stuff borrowing a sewing machine, but i have a very ancient overlocker, can't wait until i have a sewing machine of my own (soon i hope).

hth

[xtml]

wow gigi, THANKS!

i'm going to buy a sewing machine today!!!! on sale at spotlight.... just gonna start off making some simple things like boosters, and maybe some fitteds for night, but i'm seriously in love with pockets! i got some fleece ones that finally arrived the other day and they work! dry baby, dry bed, heavy nappy.

sewing can be my new hobby. at the moment all i seem to do crreative wise is cook (yesterdays creation: carrot walnut coconut blueberry cake)... you see my problem!

[xtml]

oh yeah i forgot to say: i got the simmons paw2 - it's great! hard to believe its safe to use on mcn but if you say so, then it must be.

my swaddlebees must be the organic velour one, coz it takes a while to dry on the line. but they are narrow trhough the crotch! i have only used it twice so don't have a clear picture yet on how effective it is.

in terms of night nappies, i have begun using the fleece and its great, but we did have a tiny bit of a pooslosion this morning. a washable wool pocket sounds too good to be true, but i looked on ecobubs and there they are! they are pricey (except for the ones on sale which a gorgeous for a girl!)... might have to keep my eye on that site.

all my mcns are for use with the baby, actually. my 2.5 year old is nearly tt (as in not at all, but soon) and does toxic waste poos (shudder). he uses sposies sparingly. baby Mylo's getting more solids into him these days and it comes out the same way. i don't have a laundry in the house (it's outside, downstairs in the dark and cold) so need a strategy for de-pooing before dry pailing now its not nb poo anymore.

hey a thought... do ya reckon its possible to turn a cover into a pocket? i'll post the question in the sewing section, see if anyone's done it successfully. once again gigi, thanks heaps for sharing your wisdom

[Gigi]

i don't have a laundry in the house (it's outside, downstairs in the dark and cold) so need a strategy for de-pooing before dry pailing now its not nb poo anymore.

XTML - i have two words for you - LITTLE SQUIRT!!!!! This is a wonderful gadget that means you are dropping a sopping but poo-free nappy into the drypail.

If you can change a tapwasher, and have the tools to do that, you are equipped to install a LIttle Squirt.

i would not be without mine! makes MCN very do-able if getting the poo off the MCN is not an issue.

Some babies do these formed roll off poos - well i guess a LS is not much needed if your bub is like that. but if your bub does messy, paste like poo (like mine does STILL), then the LS is worth every cent!!


ECOBUBS

darlingsdowunder have plain blue ones for $30 (their stripey ones are dearer).
boorai have red/white striped, blue/white striped ones for $30
nurture nappies also sell them
but i just noticed, they have microfleece inners, just be aware of that. I know you said your bub is not reacting to it now.
I would not bother with the ecobub insert, put that money towards a bamboo trifold instead, you'll get better value out of that.

WHen you say that ecobubs are on sale, in girl colours - did you realise that was for a DAY Ecobubs, not a night one (on the Nurture Nappies site)? THe day one is made out of PUL for the outer. THe night one uses WOOL for the outer. So two different things. Just clarifying that, incase you buy a PUL one by mistake.

have you seen the fleece pockets at bits for bots? they use malden mills 300wt. not marketed as night pockets, but using the fabric that is great for night MCN. THat is a good product at a good price. Put a bamboo trifold in there - brilliant.