Few things can trigger mommy-guilt like problems with potty training. My daughter didn't succeed with the potty until her third birthday. As if the delay weren't enough to cause me to feel mommy-guilt, she also quickly developed a "diaper" rash shortly after she stopped wearing diapers. Although my daughter said the rash didn't hurt much, it looked very severe. I thought I would die of mommy-guilt, and I was almost in tears when I called her pediatrician for advice.
If your child has gotten a rash while learning to use the potty, here is some information that may help you.
Keep your potty-learning toddler clean.
I made a huge mistake here because I parented "by the book." The late parenting guru Dr. Benjamin Spock wrote that it was unnecessary to wipe babies and toddlers after urination, and that a full clean-up is only necessary when the child has defecated. Although this contradicted everything that I understood about hygiene, I was dumb enough to take Spock's advice: I didn't worry if my daughter went pee-pee a few times without wiping herself afterward.
When I told my daughter's pediatrician Spock's advice, she ordered me to "throw that book away." Young children, particularly girls, need to be cleaned up every single time they use the potty. This prevents moisture and ammonia from causing rashes. Always remember to wipe your child from front to back to prevent infections.
2. Address accidents promptly. If your child has an accident while learning to use the potty, do not wait to address the problem. Some parents have reported success in forcing toddlers to wear wet underwear to make them aware of the consequences of lazy potty skills. However, this could lead to rashes, which are very painful. Forcing your child to tolerate a rash is not a fair way to handle potty accidents. Change and clean your child as soon as possible if she has an accident while learning to use the potty.
3. Use diaper creams and ointments. Ointments for diaper rash, particularly those containing zinc oxide, are just as effective for potty-learning rashes as they are for true diaper rashes. Check out a variety of zinc oxide-based diaper ointments, which literally begin eliminating rashes within minutes. When my daughter was a baby, I tried a variety of very expensive, organic, herbal diaper ointments, I found that these were far less effective than their cheap, zinc-based counterparts.
4. Look for signs of allergies. If your toddler started getting diaper rashes shortly after he started wearing big-kid undies, an allergy may be to blame. Some kids are sensitive to fragrances, alkaline compounds, and dyes used in laundry detergents and fabric softeners. This can lead to uncomfortable, itchy rashes known as allergic dermatitis. If your toddler's rash doesn't resolve with ordinary measures, try switching to a free-and-clear laundry detergent. If the rash resolves, stick with the hypoallergenic detergent. Also shy away from harsh soaps until the rash resolves.
5. Get in touch with a pediatrician. If your potty-learning child's rash is severe or doesn't go away within a few days of home treatment, contact her pediatrician. It's possible that an infection, such as candidiasis (yeast), is to blame. It is especially important to call if your child seems to be in significant pain or if you notice blistering or bleeding. These could indicate a very serious bacterial infection, which might require treatment with topical or oral antibiotics. Always follow your health care provider's guidelines when treating any condition at home.Few things can trigger mommy-guilt like problems with potty training. My daughter didn't succeed with the potty until her third birthday. As if the delay weren't enough to cause me to feel mommy-guilt, she also quickly developed a diaper rash shortly after she stopped wearing diapers. Although my daughter said the rash didn't hurt much, it looked very severe. I thought I would die of mommy-guilt, and I was almost in tears when I called her pediatrician for advice.
If your child has gotten a rash while learning to use the potty, here is some information that may help you.
Keep your potty-learning toddler clean.
I made a huge mistake here because I parented "by the book." The late parenting guru Dr. Benjamin Spock wrote that it was unnecessary to wipe babies and toddlers after urination, and that a full clean-up is only necessary when the child has defecated. Although this contradicted everything that I understood about hygiene, I was dumb enough to take Spock's advice: I didn't worry if my daughter went pee-pee a few times without wiping herself afterward.
When I told my daughter's pediatrician Spock's advice, she ordered me to "throw that book away." Young children, particularly girls, need to be cleaned up every single time they use the potty. This prevents moisture and ammonia from causing rashes. Always remember to wipe your child from front to back to prevent infections.
Address accidents promptly. If your child has an accident while learning to use the potty, do not wait to address the problem. Some parents have reported success in forcing toddlers to wear wet underwear to make them aware of the consequences of lazy potty skills. However, this could lead to rashes, which are very painful. Forcing your child to tolerate a rash is not a fair way to handle potty accidents. Change and clean your child as soon as possible if she has an accident while learning to use the potty.
Use diaper creams and ointments. Ointments for diaper rash, particularly those containing zinc oxide, are just as effective for potty-learning rashes as they are for true diaper rashes. Check out a variety of zinc oxide-based diaper ointments, which literally begin eliminating rashes within minutes. When my daughter was a baby, I tried a variety of very expensive, organic, herbal diaper ointments, I found that these were far less effective than their cheap, zinc-based counterparts.
Look for signs of allergies.
If your toddler started getting diaper rashes shortly after he started wearing big-kid undies, an allergy may be to blame. Some kids are sensitive to fragrances, alkaline compounds, and dyes used in laundry detergents and fabric softeners. This can lead to uncomfortable, itchy rashes known as allergic dermatitis. If your toddler's rash doesn't resolve with ordinary measures, try switching to a free-and-clear laundry detergent. If the rash resolves, stick with the hypoallergenic detergent. Also shy away from harsh soaps until the rash resolves.
Get in touch with a pediatrician. If your potty-learning child's rash is severe or doesn't go away within a few days of home treatment, contact her pediatrician. It's possible that an infection, such as candidiasis (yeast), is to blame. It is especially important to call if your child seems to be in significant pain or if you notice blistering or bleeding. These could indicate a very serious bacterial infection, which might require treatment with topical or oral antibiotics. Always follow your health care provider's guidelines when treating any condition at home.
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