Bad Diaper Rash..... I Need Ideas... It's My Fault

[Crystal]

I could be wrong..this is how I took her post...

She interviewed the parents who mentioned that the child was allergic to disposables; which she didn't take seriously (yes, that was a mistake).

Fast forward until today....she grabbed a disposable, not because she didn't believe the parent in the first place, but because she didn't think about his allergy...which I admit, she probably would have remembered had she taken it seriously to begin with.

I don't think this was a case where she consciously thought: "Oh, he's not allergic, I'm just going to use it anyway." I thought this was a case where, because she didn't really believe them to begin with, the whole thing was forgotten.

Original poster?

I see what you are saying. However she clearly stated that she did not beleive the parent and used a disposable anyway. I could be completely wrong, but from what I read in the OP she knowingly went against the parents specific instructions regarding the health related complications of disposable diapers.

I don't know, this kind of stuff just rubs me the wrong way. I am far from perfect, but I try to always give my parents the benefit of the doubt when they inform me about issues pertaining to the medical and emotional needs of their child. It really bothers me when other providers are intentional in going against the wishes of their parents. They are, after all, the child's PARENTS! They usually know what is best for their child.

Jen, I do appreciate your rational post

[Crystal]

To the OP, just curious, WHY did you put the disposable on if the cloth diapers were right there? It doesn't seem it would be any more inconvenient to me.

[Cat Herder]

I read the post to say "It's my fault" and "I am sorry".

Nowhere did it ask "please judge me and tell me what a horrible person I am".

[youretooloud]

I don't think this was a case where she consciously thought: "Oh, he's not allergic, I'm just going to use it anyway." I thought this was a case where, because she didn't really believe them to begin with, the whole thing was forgotten.

Original poster?

I wasn't being malicious. The allergy conversation was last April. When I was changing his diaper today, a daycare dad was walking in with his son and niece who were having a catfight. So, I just grabbed the easiest diaper at the moment which happened to be another kid's huggies. I knew they weren't T's diapers.. I knew it was Cs diaper, but I was just rushing. I didn't actually give any thought to the allergy at the time... I didn't actually give that any thought until I looked in his diaper.

As far as parents SAYING my kid is allergic, if you've ever read on any parenting board, you'd see how many parents will tell the provider their child is allergic to diapers, to get them to agree to the cloth. (again, that's not an issue here, since I, myself wouldn't use disposables on my own child) Or parents on parenting boards who choose not to vaccinate their kids, and will lie about the reason, so they can get into a school. (again, not an issue with me, since I don't require vaccines either)

[Crystal]

I wasn't being malicious. The allergy conversation was last April. When I was changing his diaper today, a daycare dad was walking in with his son and niece who were having a catfight. So, I just grabbed the easiest diaper at the moment which happened to be another kid's huggies. I knew they weren't T's diapers.. I knew it was Cs diaper, but I was just rushing. I didn't actually give any thought to the allergy at the time... I didn't actually give that any thought until I looked in his diaper.

As far as parents SAYING my kid is allergic, if you've ever read on any parenting board, you'd see how many parents will tell the provider their child is allergic to diapers, to get them to agree to the cloth. (again, that's not an issue here, since I, myself wouldn't use disposables on my own child) Or parents on parenting boards who choose not to vaccinate their kids, and will lie about the reason, so they can get into a school. (again, not an issue with me, since I don't require vaccines either)

Okay, maybe I read to much into your original post, so for that I do apologize. However, I feel that it is VERY important to always err on the side of caution when a parent claims allergies. Even if you don't beleive them....but then you could request a note from the Dr., just to have on hand, ya know.

Now, I do not read parenting forums, so I wouldn't know about what some parents claim to get a provider to do what they want, but even if I did I would still err on the side of caution.

Still, I will apologize for getting so upset, I just get a little peeved about this stuff.

[Crystal]

I read the post to say "It's my fault" and "I am sorry".

Nowhere did it ask "please judge me and tell me what a horrible person I am".

Oh, I hear ya. But like I tell my kiddos, Sorry doesn't make the pain go away.

[Cat Herder]

Oh, I hear ya. But like I tell my kiddos, Sorry doesn't make the pain go away.

We all know that... Nobody questions where your heart was..mine sunk a bit at first, too.

I just applaud her being able to admit a mistake publicly and ask assistance.

You and I both know many providers would lie like crazy to cover their own tushies. Sad but true.

Now thousands can learn from her mistake and also how to deal with it

Maybe someone will even post new information on this...in all my years I have never had a child "allergic" to disposable diapers....maybe this is becoming more common and something we all need to know more about??

[SilverSabre25]

Maybe someone will even post new information on this...in all my years I have never had a child "allergic" to disposable diapers....maybe this is becoming more common and something we all need to know more about??

Some kids who have persistant diaper rash are actually allergic to some of the chemicals in the diapers...either that or they have an undiagnosed food allergy/sensitivity. Pampers with DryMax have been a HUGE culprit of major diaper rashes...lots of people seem to be having terrible trouble with the DryMax stuff.

Some kids react only to one brand or another. Some kids can only tolerate one brand. Some kids need chlorine free dipes like 7th Generation. Some kids only do okay with cloth. Some kids still have persistant rashes no matter what and no one can figure out why. (poster who mentioned kid being "allergic" to her own feces, the problem is much more likely to be a food allergy or sensitivity).

it's not the sort of allergy that a doctor is likely to look at and say "well, we did allergy testing and he came up allergic to disposable diapers"--it's more the type that through trial and error the parents linked the diapers to the bad rashes and can say, "that's an allergy". Like allergies to food dyes, or artificial colors, or what I did to get myself "diagnosed" with gluten intolerance. You take away the culprit, the symptoms improve, that's diagnosis enough

In reality, while it is probably going to get more and more common who have kids who have problems with disposable diapers, owing to the sheer number and variety and saturation of chemicals present in our daily lives, we are probably NOT going to see a vast increase in people figuring out that the cause of their kid's rashes is the diapers, not unless we see a vast increase in the awareness of issues like environmental allergies of this nature.

[e.j.]

I sent Mom an email and she said (she's so sweet)

"Oh, that's OK.. I actually thought he might get a rash anyway, because he ate a whole can of pineapple and half a can of Mandarin oranges all by himself yesterday"

I just got him up, and his rash is much better, just spotty and very red in some spots, but not as angry looking as it was.

Just wanted to say my son used to react this way to citrus fruits, too. He would get a painful, fire-engine red rash that would just start to go away until he pooped again and then we'd be right back to square one. This cycle would continue until the food finally left this system. While it could be the disposable diaper he reacted to, it could easily have been the fruit, as well. Try not to beat yourself up over the mistake. You're human and it could have happened to anyone. Sounds like the mom understands. I hope he's feeling better soon.

[DCMomOf3]

Maybe someone will even post new information on this...in all my years I have never had a child "allergic" to disposable diapers....maybe this is becoming more common and something we all need to know more about??

My ILs say my Dh was allergic to disposables... I am not sure I fully believe it, just like they told me he was allergic to milk. (he has milk with his cereal, has flavored milk and eats ice cream)

This in no way is a comment on the OP just referring to your question.

[momatheart]

Just wanted to say my son used to react this way to citrus fruits, too. He would get a painful, fire-engine red rash that would just start to go away until he pooped again and then we'd be right back to square one. This cycle would continue until the food finally left this system. While it could be the disposable diaper he reacted to, it could easily have been the fruit, as well. Try not to beat yourself up over the mistake. You're human and it could have happened to anyone. Sounds like the mom understands. I hope he's feeling better soon.

Sounds to me like mom is not phased that the rash happened due to the fruit he ate yesterday. I assume you told her that he was in a disposible diaper then you noticed the rash. Since she mentioned the fruit and thought he would get a rash from it anyway and doesn't mention concern over the disposible diaper being on him leads me to believe that the disposible diaper isn't the real problem to the rash. If that is the case for the rash this was a lesson learned for sure. Also, when the parents stated that he is alergic to disposible diapers did they also put this on the form regarding alergies and then state what happens? i believe that also has to be on his paper work as well.

[nannyde]

We are definitely going to see this more as time goes on because diapers change so dramatically from year to year in the quest to size them down and cheapen them down and make more money.

The diaper of today doesn't even resemble the diaper of ten years ago. Remember Drypers that cam in small, medium, and large?

This was a mistake and the real lesson in this is to ALWAYS tell the parents the mistake and tell them asap. NEVER try to hide your mistakes from parents. The act of hiding it most often compounds the problem.

Many kids have suffered horrible outcomes because providers stall calling 911, seeking medical care, or calling parents because they hope something magical happens in between the mistake and when the child is picked up. With something as serious as allergies you HAVE to tell immediately and get the parent involved in the immediate solution.

I have had the "kids allergic to paper diapers" to convince me to do cloth.

[morgan24]

There is a brand of diaper rash creamer only sold in MI and it's the best stuff to have on hand you can get it at www.bensonsbottompaint.com It is non toxic and can be used on other rashes. I have had it clear up a bleeding butt rash in a couple of days. I use it on the cracks I get on my thumbs and it heals them overnight.

[JenNJ]

Accidents happen and I am glad that the mom understood. I agree that waiting and trying to solve it on your own is a serious lapse in judgment. Allergies and injuries should be reported to the parents and proper authorities ASAP to help the child and cover your butt as well.

My daughter is allergic to the bad diapers they make today. She only doesn't react to the expensive non-chlorine, eco-friendly diapers. So we do cloth only with her bc it is way cheaper and easier than finding the environmentally (and human safe) disposables. I loath disposables. They are so toxic and awful for everyone's health, not just the kids!

[jen]

Accidents happen and I am glad that the mom understood. I agree that waiting and trying to solve it on your own is a serious lapse in judgment. Allergies and injuries should be reported to the parents and proper authorities ASAP to help the child and cover your butt as well.

My daughter is allergic to the bad diapers they make today. She only doesn't react to the expensive non-chlorine, eco-friendly diapers. So we do cloth only with her bc it is way cheaper and easier than finding the environmentally (and human safe) disposables. I loath disposables. They are so toxic and awful for everyone's health, not just the kids!

Hmmm...I may have missed a post, but I don't think she said that she waited.