The first time my son got a diaper rash while teething I didn’t really take note of it. It was true that he didn’t normally get diaper rashes, but he was a baby after all, they had to happen sometimes, right? The second time he got a diaper rash while teething I thought it was odd but still didn’t assume there was a relationship between the two. That was until I mentioned it in conversation with another mom and she told me that the two occurrences could be related. I wasn’t sure I believed it – what did TEETHING have to do with a rashy bottom? Apparently, more than I realized.
Does teething cause a diaper rash?
As it turns out, teething does not exactly cause a diaper rash, but some studies suggest that it can contribute to it. The link between the two lies in increased drooling. When a baby has a new tooth erupting through their gums, they generally experience an increased production of saliva. This helps the teething process by providing lubrication for the new teeth breaking through the gumline. In addition, your baby may be gnawing on items more than typical as pressure can help relieve irritation from teething, and simply the act of chewing itself contributes to the generation of extra saliva.
Of course all of this extra saliva has to go somewhere, so your baby likely ends up swallowing lots more saliva than normal. This extra saliva can disrupt your baby’s digestive system, in turn having an adverse effect on their stools, resulting in diarrhea which is a risk factor for developing diaper rash. In addition, the extra saliva can also aggravate the skin on your baby’s face causing it to become dry and reddened as well, so it’s a good idea to wipe away any drool when you see it.
How do you know if teething is contributing to your baby’s diaper rash?
It’s hard to truly know if teething on its own is contributing to your child’s diaper rash, but it’s important not to simply write off diaper rashes that occur in teething babies as a symptom of gaining some new choppers. In fact, teething can occur simultaneously as many other new life events that may disrupt your child’s digestive system. For instance, teething often takes place in tandem with the expansion of a child’s solid food palate which doesn’t always sit well with little tummies. In addition, the exposure to new viruses or bacteria on a young immune system may contribute to a brief increase in diarrhea which in turn irritates baby bottoms.
How to Prevent and Prevent Diaper Rashes when Teething
As you may have picked up, loose stools are a prevailing risk factor for developing diaper rash. Any wet diaper though – from pee or poop – can cause an uncomfortable friction between your child’s skin and their diaper, which manifests as a rash and contributes to the skin becoming overly dried out. Therefore, the true key to diaper rash prevention is keeping your child’s skin dry.
You can do this by regularly changing their diaper, as often as every two hours and immediately if they’ve had bowel movement. Use a mild, fragrance-free baby wipe or warm water and a soft cloth to clean the area and pat the skin dry with a towel before putting on a new diaper. My child’s pediatrician also recommended giving my babies some diaper-free tummy time on a towel to allow the skin to breathe a bit before replacing a new diaper. Finally, applying a barrier of diaper cream can provide a protective layer to the skin and prevent over drying of the skin and chafing.
How to Treat Diaper Rashes when Teething
So, what if you follow the preventative measures above and your baby still ends up with a diaper rash? As many parents know, a diaper rash can be difficult to stop once it’s in motion. Fortunately, there are additional steps you can take to treat diaper rash. My children’s pediatrician recommended keeping a constant layer of diaper cream on their bottom and not to wipe the affected area that is covered in cream as you are changing the diaper. Instead, he suggested that I simply pat it and then add more cream. The action of wiping can aggravate the already inflamed skin and cause it to become more irritated so if at all possible, resort to gently patting it. Also, increasing the amount of diaper-free time your child has is one of the quickest ways to eradicate diaper rashes – just make sure to put towels down or be ready to clean up some messes!
Finally, if you feel that you are not able to improve your child’s diaper rash be sure to take them to the pediatrician for additional guidance. The last thing you want is for your baby to be suffering from an uncomfortable diaper rash AND a painful teething episode! Always err on the side of caution and seek medical consul when in doubt.