Awkward Moment Over...Baby Powder

[Unregistered]

Registered but logged out for this post...

Today dcg arrive after spending 5 day at home ( she is here 3 days only). She has redness in the diaper area, not a rash, but it looks mostly like an irritation due to sweat, and not perspiration... not huge deal.. I notified Mom, ad I went on with my day...

As I always do with all diapered babies, I use baby powder (cornstarch, scent free) at each diaper change, especially now that is getting hot here, and they sweat quite a bit..

Today at pick up I was explaining Mom about the redness, and after I said " the baby powder helped to keep her dry...etc", she looks at me and said "oh, really? we never use baby powder unless we have a prescription or an order by her doc to use it"...

I didn't know what to say, and I think I was left there with my mouth open for a few seconds, thinking within myself if today we truly need prescription or permission to use plain, baby powder...

I had my son almost 4 years ago... did something change since then? I used tons of it with him, and I've been using it in my diaper changing routine with the daycare kids...

FYI: this are first time parents, with a "I have no clue" kind of attitude...


How many of you use baby powder without big issues?? I'm still thinking about it...

[Little Star75]

I always used it with all my kids (own) I don't use anything for daycare kids unless I have something signed by the parent stating is ok. I have a specific form I use for sunscreen, diaper rash or they can bring their own.
I would get each parent sign off for you just to be on the safe side Kwim

[youretooloud]

I've always used it. For 35 years, i've used it. I used on my kids, and they are adults, and both are fine.

I take it to the beach and that's how we get sand off.

I MAKE talcum powder occasionally too. (corn starch and powdered zinc)

But, mostly, I just use the regular cornstarch powder by whatever baby brand happens to be on sale.

[Unregistered]

I have a paper that parents take home at sign up with a list of approved creams, ointments, sunscreens etc that I'm allowed to use on the kids - it is approved by licensing, and made by a pediatrician - if is not on that list, I need a doctor's note, if they don't want me to use, I still need a doctor's note..

My Mom used baby powder on us as well, and we were not born yesterday...

[EchoMom]

I've never used baby powder on my DS or DCKs, ever. I was under the impression it was an outdated practice that wasn't really safe. Could be wrong, just what I thought I've heard and so I've never used it, never seen a need for it.

[proudmommyofthree]

I have 3 kids of my own, my oldest is almost 18, and I never used it. I remember my oldest daughter's doctor telling me not to use it because it can cause bladder infections. So I never did. None of my daycare families use it either.

[MarinaVanessa]

Well I've heard that there is no proof that baby powder prevents rash or moisture build up and that it can cause UTI's. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you not use it (or that if you do that you use cornstarch-based baby powder like yourtooloud uses) but that's because of the possibility of it being inhaled, not really for any other reason.

I've never heard of anyone purposely not using it unless with a Dr's note though. I personally don't use baby powder of any type, not even on my kids. Never have and don't think that I ever will but that's just because I don't believe that I have to use it, you know ... unnecessary. But then again I don't use OTC medication and stuff either. Maybe they're like that also KWIM.

[Greenplasticwateringcans]

Registered but logged out for this post...

Today dcg arrive after spending 5 day at home ( she is here 3 days only). She has redness in the diaper area, not a rash, but it looks mostly like an irritation due to sweat, and not perspiration... not huge deal.. I notified Mom, ad I went on with my day...

As I always do with all diapered babies, I use baby powder (cornstarch, scent free) at each diaper change, especially now that is getting hot here, and they sweat quite a bit..

Today at pick up I was explaining Mom about the redness, and after I said " the baby powder helped to keep her dry...etc", she looks at me and said "oh, really? we never use baby powder unless we have a prescription or an order by her doc to use it"...

I didn't know what to say, and I think I was left there with my mouth open for a few seconds, thinking within myself if today we truly need prescription or permission to use plain, baby powder...

I had my son almost 4 years ago... did something change since then? I used tons of it with him, and I've been using it in my diaper changing routine with the daycare kids...

FYI: this are first time parents, with a "I have no clue" kind of attitude...


How many of you use baby powder without big issues?? I'm still thinking about it...

I didn't use it on any of my four children and have never been requested to use it on a daycare child.

Eleven years ago I was told it is not recommended to be used, not that I was, and I've never heard it mentioned again.

I sometimes see it in stores.

[EchoMom]

I would agree with the PPs and add that I too have never had a DC family that used baby powder.

I was of the understanding that baby powder wasn't recommended anymore because it's not good to be inhaled.

Also, that even using the cornstarch is bad if the baby is actually having a yeast rash because the cornstarch then is feeding the yeast.

[Play Care]

I did have one family send in some cornstarch baby powder for diaper changes. They have two boys, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference (most of the negative things I've read are geared toward girls)

In my state we don't have any specific permission for topical creams and I used to use them as needed. But in the last couple of years I've stopped unless specifically requested by parents.

[nannyde]

I've never used baby powder for my son or day care kids.

[MissAnn]

OK....can't believe I'm going to tell you this. Slightly off topic.

One day we went to Pigeon Forge. We had a foreign exchange student at the time who wanted to go to Dollywood. We left early in the morning. I like to put a little baby powder in my undies....just to feel a little fresh. LOL Anyway, we arrived in Gatlinburg and ate at a pancake place. We walked in and I plopped myself down on the chair.....then POOF! I big cloud of baby powder surrounded us! I don't "do" baby powder any more!

[mamac]

OK....can't believe I'm going to tell you this. Slightly off topic.

One day we went to Pigeon Forge. We had a foreign exchange student at the time who wanted to go to Dollywood. We left early in the morning. I like to put a little baby powder in my undies....just to feel a little fresh. LOL Anyway, we arrived in Gatlinburg and ate at a pancake place. We walked in and I plopped myself down on the chair.....then POOF! I big cloud of baby powder surrounded us! I don't "do" baby powder any more!

[rmc20021]

40 years ago when my oldest kids were little, it was the thing every parent used on their babies. Some time after that it became an issue with particles getting into the lungs so some people went to using the cornstarch.

Personally, I don't like using any type of powdery substance on infants because from what I've observed, when it gets wet, it will clump in the creases and cause a worse problem.

[Lianne]

I don't use powder with every diaper change but I use it in exactly the situation you described.

eta I use cornstarch baby powder