Is Your Child's Diaper Rash Coming from Daycare?

When looking for daycare for your child did you ask the potential provider what is your diaper changing policy? If you answered "no" then read on as you will find out why one of your top questions to ask is "What is you diaper changing policy?" Daycare diaper changing routines may lead to sever rashes, infections or worst.

When reviewing daycare diaper changing policies, most daycares state they will change diapers every 2 hours. However, this is not correct and the fundamental problems is that should your child have a bowel movement right after a changing, which care givers state children normally have a bowel movements in a fresh dry diaper, this leads us to the next question "does the childcare provider allow the child to sit in the bowel movement for the next two hours?" The answer in most cases is yes.

For example, a woman came into the center and stated that she would like to move her child from the current child care facility because she did not feel that the staff there was cleaning the child properly. When asking the parent why they felt that way, the parent stated that ever since the child had gone to the current center she notice that there was a rash that had started and for the past several weeks now had begun blistering on the child's bottom. When asking the mother what the her child care's diaper changing policy was, she replied ever 2 hours.

The Mayo Clinic states the following:

• Irritation from stool and urine. Prolonged exposure to urine or feces can irritate a baby's sensitive skin. Your baby may be more prone to diaper rash if he or she is experiencing frequent bowel movements because feces are more irritating than urine. 

Therefore, should you leave a child in a diaper for several hours there is a high potential for the child's skin to become severely irritated leading to bleeding and blistering. However, this does not have to be the case Carla Wooten Owner and Operator of Tiny Tykes Child Care in Ocala, FL states that diapers must be changed after each bowel movement regardless of if the child was just changed. "We tell the parents when they enroll to be prepared to go through 6 or more diapers per day along with an adequate supply of wipes because we will not allow children to sit in a soiled diaper." - Carla Wooten

Wooten went on to state that she had seen several children over the years that had been brought from other centers with extreme cases of diaper rash or other irritations only to see those systems remedied in a few short days just by having the diaper changed after each bowel movement. "It's amazing when you place a child in a fresh diaper right after a bowel movement how affective it is in safe-guarding the child from diaper rash and infections. And, the child is so much more happier and productive." Carla Wooten

However, please keep in mind that other issues can cause diaper rashes as well so by knowing the diaper changing policy at your current child care provider it better help you to figure out the cause should it arise. 

For instance, the Mayo Clinic states that the following can also cause diaper rash symptoms as well: 

• Introduction of new foods
• Irritation from a new product
• Bacterial or yeast (fungal) infection
• Sensitive skin
• Chafing or rubbing
• Use of antibiotics

For more informations vist: Mayo Clinic

Do you have a story to share about diaper changing? Please comment below with any tip and tricks to help prevent diaper rash or irritations, which can also occur from food and other allergies.