As part of our series of natural diaper rash treatments, Coconut Oil is one of the top natural, effective diaper rash treatments.
Coconut Oil is a natural moisturizer that can help soothe the skin and promote healing and so is perfect to use on a diaper rash. You can either use it on its own, just rub a little in or you can make a lovely diaper rash cream with it. You can even pour a little into your baby’s bath for extra healing!
We go through the benefits of using Coconut Oil on your baby’s rash and how to make a Coconut Oil diaper rash cream!
What are the Benefits of Using Coconut To Treat Diaper Rash?
When it comes to skincare, Coconut Oil is a powerhouse. Here are some of the benefits of using Coconut Oil on the skin:
- Coconut Oil is naturally moisturizing and will keep your babies skin soft, supple and hydrated.
- Coconut Oil is anti-inflammatory, which means it helps reduce redness from irritated or dry patches on your baby’s bum, making it a perfect diaper rash cream.
- Coconut Oil is natural and contains no additives or harsh chemicals, which means it’s safe for sensitive skin types.
- Coconut Oil can help promote cell regeneration and collagen production which is essential to help repair skin damaged by diaper rash
- It has antimicrobial properties that may help fight rash-causing bacteria babies bum
- Coconut Oil is a natural, affordable alternative to rash diaper cream that can give you great results without exposing your baby to toxins and synthetic ingredients.
How to Use Coconut Oil for Diaper Rash
You can use Coconut Oil to help diaper rash in four ways:
- Apply a thin layer to the affected area after you have changed and cleaned their bum. It will act as a protective ointment. You can use this instead of zinc oxide or petroleum jelly.
- You can make a Coconut Oil spritz with apple cider vinegar to spray on the rash at each diaper change time. You can use this with a soft cloth instead of using baby wipes. Baby wipes are often very harsh and full of alcohol and preservatives and they can be a trigger for skin irritation.
- You can add a cup of Coconut Oil to babies bath to give a really soothing and healing warm water bath. This will help with any skin irritation and not just those in the diaper area.
- You can make a diaper rash cream with it and use it instead of shop-bought diaper rash cream for use in the diaper area. The antibacterial properties will help kill any bacterial infection which may be present.
- You can make Coconut Oil and oatmeal natural soap to cleanse your baby in the bath and at diaper change time.
How to Make An Apple Cider Vinegar & Coconut Oil Spritz for Diaper Rashes
This spritz is great for treating diaper rash, especially those caused by yeast infections. Apple cider vinegar is known for its ability to kill yeast infections and spores so this is a great natural treatment that will really help a baby’s bum get a lot better! If you wanted you could add in an essential oil like tea tree oil or lavender oil, but before using any essential oils always do a skin patch test before introducing to babies skin. To work out if your baby has a yeast rash, read our guide to different types of diaper rash.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup of Coconut Oil
- 1 cup of water
- Optional – lavender essential oil or grapefruit seed essential oil or vitamin e oil.
Instructions:
Mix all the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and then spritz onto babies clean bum at diaper change time. This is a great remedy for diaper rash as it will help to prevent infection, soothe soreness and promote healing of the affected area. The Coconut Oil creates a protective layer that helps protect against irritating ammonia and soiling. Always remember when putting on a new diaper to ensure you have allowed the baby’s skin to air dry first. This is a great on to have in your diaper bag for out and about diaper changes!
The apple cider vinegar helps to prevent infections and yeast from starting up on the affected area. If you have a really stubborn diaper rash or one that seems to be taking forever to shift, then you can use this spritz more often throughout the day as part of your healing regime. If you do want to increase frequency, then dilute the mixture with more water.
How to Make a Diaper Rash Cream With Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a diaper cream on its own but you can mix it with other ingredients to make it even more powerful! You can mix and match these depending on the type of rash your child has, or what you have in the house. There are no set ‘rules’, that’s one of the beauties of home remedies!
Ingredients:
- 50 grams of beeswax pastilles
- 60 ml of olive oil
- 120 ml of Coconut Oil
- 20 drops of lavender essential oil
Instructions:
- Melt the beeswax and coconut oil together in a double boiler.
- Once melted, remove from the heat and add olive Oil.
- Stir well until combined.
- Add lavender essential oil and stir again.
Pour into tins or jars to set up for storage. You can use at each diaper change time instead of shop-bought creams that will contain preservatives and other chemicals that you don’t want near your baby’s delicate skin.
This diaper rash cream will help to soothe and heal the affected area as well as prevent any further infection. The lavender essential oil is great for this as it has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which will help to reduce any inflammation or pain.
How to Add Coconut Oil to a Baby’s Bath
Ingredients:
Coconut Oil
Instructions:
Add a tablespoon of Coconut Oil to the baby’s bath and give them a good soak. This will help to soothe and heal any diaper rash, and if you combine with vitamin e to heal irritated skin from diaper rash that they may have. Coconut Oil will also help to protect their delicate skin from becoming dry and cracked due to contact with nappies that may contain irritating chemicals, soaps or detergents.
How To Make An Coconut Oil And Oatmeal Soap
This is a lovely natural soap that is really soft and safe for use on the tiniest infant! For a younger baby, you can cut out the baking soda and don’t add in any essential oils. For an older child you can be a bit more liberal by adding in some essential oils for a nicer scent. This soap is actually great for any moms or toddlers for washing hands without getting itching from hand lotions!
Ingredients:
- ½ cup of Coconut Oil (virgin coconut oil is best)
- ¼ cup of olive oil (or shea butter if you want a more moisturising soap)
- ¾ cup of water (or tea – I like chamomile as it’s healing and soothing)
- ½ teaspoon of bicarbonate soda
- ½ cup of oats (rolled or quick-cooking are both fine, but make sure they are finely ground)
Instructions:
- Mix the Coconut Oil, olive oil and water together in a small saucepan.
- Bring to the boil and then remove from the heat.
- Add the bicarbonate of soda and oats and stir well until everything is combined.
- Pour into a loaf tin or silicone moulds and leave to set for 24 hours. Once hardened, remove from the moulds and cut into slices. Store in a sealed container or wrap each slice individually to prevent them drying out. You can use this as baby’s soap, but be very careful around their eyes as it may sting if they get any in there!
This Coconut Oil and oatmeal soap bar are perfect for those with sensitive skin, or for babies who are suffering from a nasty diaper rash. The oats will help to soothe the area while the anti-inflammatory properties of Coconut Oil will help to protect it and promote healing.
How Long Does It Take for Coconut Oil to Work on Diaper Rash?
How quickly you can expect the rash to clear up will depend on how severe it is and what else you are using in addition to Coconut Oil. If your baby has a really bad rash, then it may take several days for their skin to heal completely.
Is Coconut Oil Safe for Babies?
Yes, Coconut Oil is safe for babies. It has been used as a moisturiser and remedy for centuries. Use virgin coconut oil or cold-pressed coconut oil to get the most benefits out of it though, as this will contain more beneficial nutrients than other types of Coconut Oils.
How often should I use Coconut Oil as a diaper rash cream?
You can use Coconut Oil treatment as often as you like. If your baby has an especially stubborn diaper rash or one that seems to be taking forever to shift, then you can use this spritz more often throughout the day as part of your healing regime. If you do want to keep using it regularly, then try applying once every three days or so.
Is Coconut Oil Safe to Use With Cloth Diapers?
When it comes to using Coconut Oil with cloth diapers, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. For one, not all Coconut Oils are created equal. The type of Coconut Oil you use will affect how well it works as a diaper rash treatment. Second, you’ll want to be careful about using too much oil – a little goes a long way. Finally, it’s important to make sure the oil is fully absorbed into the baby’s skin before the diaper is back on.
Also, when washing you need to wash on HOT to ensure there is no oils or fat left in the diapers as this might cause them to repel.
Changing diapers frequently is really important, and more so that the type of baby’s diaper that you use. Cloth diapers don’t cause diaper rash!
For safe and effective treatment to treat baby’s diaper rash, always allow the babies skin to dry to start the healing process. Applying coconut oil to diaper rashes will help but keeping baby dry and giving plenty of diaper free time is just as important.
The Bottom Line
Diaper rash is common in babies and can be very irritating for parents. You don’t have to resort to using harsh chemicals or soaps on your baby’s skin when they get diaper rash, though! Coconut Oil works wonders at soothing the area and healing it up quickly.
Coconut Oil will also protect their delicate skin from becoming dry and cracked due to contact with nappies that may contain irritating chemicals, soaps or detergents. I highly recommend trying this out before turning back to harsher treatments – you’ll save money while still providing a healthy environment for them!
