Applying diaper cream takes four steps: clean the skin, let it dry, put on a layer as the label directs, then fasten a fresh diaper and wash your hands. The details worth slowing down for are the drying, the amount and keeping the container clean. This guide covers each step in order, so a grandparent or sitter can follow it as easily as a new parent.
What to have within reach first
Set everything out before you lay your baby down. Once they are on a raised surface, a hand stays on them, so anything you need must already be within reach. Have these ready:
- The cream, with its cap already off or its lid loosened, so you are not wrestling with it using messy hands.
- A clean spatula, if your cream is in a tub.
- A tissue or spare wipe for your fingers and the nozzle afterwards.
- Whatever you clean and dry with: wipes or damp cloths, plus a soft dry cloth for patting.
- A fresh diaper, opened out, on a changing pad or another flat surface.
A disposable pad is one way to keep the surface clean. Obyfgily Disposable Baby Changing Pads, 13 x 18 in, 100 Pack is one option.
Step 1: clean gently
Take off the used diaper and clean the whole diaper area with wipes, or with a soft cloth and warm water. Wipe from front to back, use a fresh part of the wipe for each pass, and dab rather than scrub. Hard rubbing is the thing to avoid, especially on skin that already looks pink. The baby wipes collection has plenty of choice if you are still deciding what you prefer.
Step 2: let the skin dry
This step is easy to skip in a hurry, and just as easy to get right. Pat the area with a soft, clean cloth, including inside the creases at the tops of the thighs. Then give the skin a moment to air while the fresh diaper is already underneath your baby.
To check, touch the skin with the back of your fingers. It should feel dry, including inside the creases. Many labels tell you to clean the area and let it dry before applying, so check what yours says.
Step 3: apply a layer as the label directs
Wash or wipe your hands, put a portion on your fingertip or a clean spatula, and spread it over the areas the label names. Look on the label for how much to use and whether to leave a visible layer or smooth it in, then follow that wording. A thin film and a thick layer are different instructions, and they differ from product to product.
A few practical points:
- Keep the tip of the tube off the skin, and do not dip a spatula that has touched skin back into the tub, so nothing goes back into the cream.
- Spread gently over the skin and avoid pressing hard.
- Keep cream off the diaper's sticky tabs, because it can stop them holding.
- Check the label for any areas to avoid, and keep cream away from your baby's eyes and mouth.
Creams differ. Zincofax Cream 15% Original 130 Ml is one option, and its label is the place to read how that product is meant to be used.
Step 4: fasten the fresh diaper and wash your hands
Wipe any cream off your fingers before you touch the tabs. Bring the fresh diaper up and fasten it as the maker's instructions show, so that it sits snug at the waist and legs without pressing into the skin. Close the cream container before you pick your baby up, then dress your baby and put the used diaper where it belongs. Finish by washing your hands with soap and warm water.
Keeping the tube or tub clean
A cream container is handled in the middle of a change, often with messy hands, so it helps to plan how you will handle it at each stage.
- Before the change: open it with clean hands and rest the cap or lid upside down on a clean tissue, not on the changing surface.
- During the change: take what you need in one go where you can. If you need more from a tub, reach for a second clean spatula, not the one that has touched skin.
- After the change: wipe any smears off the nozzle, the rim and the outside with a tissue, close it firmly and put it back out of your baby's reach.
- Between changes: store it as the label directs, clean and dry a reusable spatula so it is ready for next time, and where you can, give each child their own labelled container.
When you need a new one, the diaper rash creams and ointments collection lists the range.
When a routine is not enough: ask a professional
A good routine cannot answer every skin question. If your baby's skin looks raw, broken, bleeding or blistered, if a rash is spreading, or if it is not improving, ask a doctor, nurse or pharmacist. Bring the cream you are using, so they can read the label.
Shop this guide
- Aquaphor Baby Multi-Purpose Ointment, Fragrance Free, 85 g (ships via Amazon)
- WaterWipes Sensitive+ Newborn & Baby Wipes, Unscented, 720 Count (12 Packs) (ships via Amazon)
- Susurration Changing Pad Cover, 33 in x 17 in x 7 in, Beige and Brown, 2 Pack (ships via Amazon)
- Happy Baby Cream Grass-Fed Beef Tallow, Jojoba, Calendula, 60ml (ships via Amazon)
- See all: Diaper Rash Creams & Ointments
- See all: Baby Wipes
- See all: Changing Pads & Covers
Prices are on each product page. Free shipping on orders of $100 or more within Canada.
Common questions
How much cream is a layer?
Labels describe the amount in their own words, and the wording differs between products, so go by the label on your cream. If the wording is not clear to you, ask your pharmacist to show you what it means for that product.
What if my baby will not keep still?
Open the cream before you start, put everything within arm's reach, hand your baby a small toy and keep one hand on them. A container you can open with one hand makes this easier.
Can I use my fingers?
Clean, dry hands are a good tool for a tube. For a tub, a spatula keeps the cream cleaner, because fingers that have touched skin do not go back into the tub.
Not sure which cream or wipes to start with? Ask us on the contact page and we will help you choose.