Diaper Rash???

[Big Hearts]

One of my dcg showed up today with such a bad rash she is bleeding. The dad dropped her off and said she has a bit of a diaper rash and gave me extra diapers and zinc cream. (Side note I think is relevant she was gone for a week to Toronto from Winnipeg MB on a road trip. I think she was sitting in a dirty diaper the whole way home.) She has been with me four months now and once w week gets a rash for a day or two. My question is how do you tell the parents to see a doctor? I feel bad telling parents how to care for their child but this is bad...if she is bleeding and uncomfortable then what should I do? Is this normal? I have children of my own and never have they been this bad. I feel so bad for this little girl.

[Inspired by Reggio]

I would just explain 'While it is normal for children to get diaper rashs on occasion ~ I am concerned about the frequency and severity of the ones she gets and would just wondering if you could get her into the Dr for confirmation that the rash is not something else at the root such as an allergy to something or a contagious/viral thing she is working though'.

You could if truly concerned ask for a 'reentry form' that states clearly from the Dr the rash is not 'contagious' and poses no risk to any other child in care?

[mamabear]

I have a family with a lil one like this. It breaks my heart every time I change her diaper When I justbring it up with dcmom she jus says oh, she's going through another teething cycle. Whatever that means. Or she'll say, yeah, her urine is really acidic right now. I don't get that one either. Sooo, I just change her more often and always use zinc and vaseline. Funny though how it's always worse on Monday's when she's been home for 2 days.

[Momof4]

I have a friend who has a child like that in her daycare and she always feels so bad for the little girl. It's pretty normal for them and they are trying different creams to find one that works better.

I had a little boy in my daycare with very sensitive skin and his parents finally went to the doctor and gota prescription for a strong medicated cream and he cleared up. Maybe you could suggest that to the parents?

[Mamma_Mia]

My SIL used Denestin (available at shoppers) and it worked wonders on my nephew. Everything else was working but not very well. He had a bad rash for over 2 weeks and with using the denestin it took 2 days for it to be all gone!

Also one of my fellow dcp swears by Burnt Flour. You litterally in a clean frying pan stir around some flour until it gets a brown colour and use a salt shaker. apply at every diaper change.

[Sandbox Sally]

Poor little girl. That's AWFUL.

Desitin is zinc oxide, just like the other stuff. It's a little thicker though, so it stays on better for protection. What this little one might need is chlotrimazole, which is an antifungal. You (rather, the baby's parent) can get it over the counter under the brand name Canesten or Lotrimin. It's used also to treat athlete's foot or a yeast infection in women, so if mom can't find it in the baby aisle, tell her to go to the foot care aisle or the feminine care section.

[playfelt]

Was going to suggest the same as Alphagetti - clotrimazole works wonders. Using it now on a child in my care. Parents said he is prone to yeast infections and yes he is raw, red, bleeding. This was prescribed by the doctor. You want the one that says it is for athlete's foot, ring worm or jock itch - not the one that says for vaginal yeast infection in a woman because it is external not internal. It won't be in the baby aisle. Also the store brand works just as well for cheaper.

The doctor can also prescribe a similar cream that is basically a mixture of clotrimazole and cortizone but must be used sparingly. There is also something called Butt paste that is fantastic.

[Big Hearts]

Thanks everyone

[apples and bananas]

I don't think you ever tell a parent to seek a doctors advise. I think that is crossing the line. However, If the child is not well enough to come to care based on your policies ... that you can tell them.

[crafty]

I just want to say that it may not be just because the parents leave her in diapers for too long. Some children are very very sensitive, I know because mine were. Maybe it was because my husband and I have skin diseases but they would get very severe diaper rash so mush so it would bleed and it would be frequent as well. I would let them sleep completly naked (Boy Have I washed towels and blankets ohmy), left them diaperless for hours and hours, had a prescription cream, I always used washcloths to wipe them never wipes, tried different types of diapers, different types of cream, even detergent...it would still get bad before it got better. What did work best for me is a bath in crushed wheat 2 times per day.