Day 344 - What to Pack in the Diaper Bag

Today's first time parenting tip - Keep only the essentials in your diaper bag

We got two diaper bags when our son was born. One was a gargantuan that was more like a duffle bag, and the other was a smaller, easier to carry version. It also has sequins and a woman shopping on the side of it, so you can imagine I love carrying THAT around.

Guess which one we use more? The smaller one. We can fit all the stuff we need into it, and we don't have to spend an hour packing whenever we want to go somewhere.

Here's what every diaper bag should have for those daily trips out of the house:

• Small first aid kit


• Small kit with a thermometer, dropper, scissors, squeegee


• Changing pad


• 5 diapers


• Baby wipes


• 1 change of clothes


• 1 feeding of breastmilk or formula and 1 jar of baby food (if on solids)


• 1 cloth diaper


• Needed prescriptions or medicine


• Diaper rash creme, if needed


• 1 book


• 1 small toy or rattle


• Card with pediatrician, poison control and emergency contact numbers


• Bib and spoon if your baby is on solids


• 1 ziploc baggie of Cheerios or Goldfish

If you've got this, you should be covered for most situations you run int when you're around the neighborhood.

Parenting, Diaper, Bag, Pack, Essential

Day 336 - Pampers Vs. Huggies

Today's first time parenting tips - Pampers are the best kind of diapers for preventing bowel blowouts. Every bit as disgusting as it sounds.

Usually I'm pretty brand agnostic. If there are two biggies out there, like Coke and Pepsi, or McDonald's or Burger King, I switch between the two pretty freely. There's rarely a discernible difference that makes me want to pick one over the other.

Maybe you're thinking the same way about diapers. Which one to choose? Huggies or Pampers? Both probably the same, right?

Wrong. We bought a box of Huggies instead of the usual Pampers (we usually buy based on coupons or sales, and Pampers just always seems to be cheaper). We've never had a problem with bowel blowouts (no explanation needed), chafing or discomfort before.

Once we threw those Huggies on, we got all three. Stuff would leak, his legs would be red and raw, and sometimes he just seemed generally uncomfortable. I don't know why it was or what's different, but there was a definite change from one brand to the other.

Now he's back in Pampers, and he's back to normal. So if you're trying to choose between the two and want a recommendation from me, I say Pampers.

Anyone else had a similar or different experience?

Parenting, Diaper, Pampers, Huggies, Nappy

Day 309 - Yeast Infection in Infants

Today's first time parenting tip - Treat a yeast infection with an anti-yeast cream

So the diaper rash we thought our son had turned out to be a yeast infection. It's a little bit different from a diaper rash and it can also spread to their mouth as well. Here's how to tell if your dealing with a yeast infection:

• Bright red rash


• Small red pimples around the edge of the rash


• Redness or irritation in the folds and creases of their skin

It's caused my the moist, dark diaper area that is constantly replenished by bowel movements. Yuck.

When treating a yeast infection, get an anti-yeast cream and use it with a diaper rash cream if you like. You should make sure to keep their hands and yours extra clean so you don't spread it to their mouth. You may also want to boil their bottles and nipples to get rid of any yeast that may be on them.

If your baby has an oral yeast infection, they will have milky crusts on their tongue or gums that won't scrape off. You need to treat this as well.

If there are yellow, puss filled bumps or the symptoms don't go away after 3 - 5 days, call your pediatrician. And if they begin to develop other symptoms like a fever or fatigue, take them in as well.

Reference: Web MD

Parenting, Rash, Yeast, Infection, Diaper

, Cure

Day 301 - 4 Ways to Get Rid of Diaper Rash

Today's first time parenting tip - Try a variety of solutions to stop diaper rash

It's that red rash on a baby's bottom and the scream they let out when you go to wipe them that makes diaper rash a lot less fun than a picnic for both you and the baby.

Diaper rash is caused by the skin down there being damp for a long period of time. The skin gets red, irritated and your baby won't be happy when you wipe them. To help get rid of diaper rash you can:

• Let them crawl or walk around diaper free as much as possible let the air down there do it's work. Of course, if they have to go to the bathroom...


• Use baby powder or talcum powder


• Use a diaper cream like Boudreauxs Butt Paste


• Change their diaper every hour, and once in the middle of the night. This will keep them from staying damp for a long period of time

How do you get rid of diaper rash? Comment away!

Parenting, Diaper, Rash, Prevent, Cure