Teething and Diaper Rash – What’s the Connection?

Babies are a delight, indeed. However, as they grow up, their bodies undergo many essential changes; one is teething. Many parents wonder if a diaper rash is related to teething. The answer to this worrying problem is both yes and no. While diaper rashes are not uncommon in infants and toddlers, a severe rash with irritation and clingy behaviour in the baby could create a genuine concern among the parents. If the baby goes through the teething process, the parents might conclude that teething is the direct cause of the diaper rashes. Let’s understand teething diaper rash briefly.

Can Teething Cause Diaper Rash?

The first pair of teeth in toddlers, usually the lower central incisors, starts to erupt when the baby is about six months old, with the final pair of second molars erupting when the baby has turned 30 months and above. This process is not so comforting for both, the parents and their offspring, as babies may show some direct symptoms related to teething, like:

• Pain and irritation.
• Excess drooling.
• Disturbed sleep pattern.
• Facial rashes on the cheeks.
• Ear-rubbing.
• Biting on hand and objects.
• Irrational sucking.
• Gum-rubbing.
• Change in appetite.
• Mild fever up to 101˚ F.

Parents may also suffer from insomnia and stress due to teething symptoms in their babies. Some lucky babies don’t go through as much discomfort and get through it rather easily. While the baby may take more than 30 months to grow all 20 baby teeth, the eruption window for each tooth is only a week-long. It starts four days before the eruption day and ends after three days.

Now coming to diaper rashes, every three in four parents in the US confirmed that their baby was suffering from some sort of diaper rash. These rashes could be small pink or red spots to more severe and harsh rashes. This symptom is mostly found in babies age 9 to 12 months old. The main cause of these diaper rashes are:

• Delays in changing the diapers.
• Antibiotics.
• Diarrhoea.
• Bacterial or yeast infection.
• Prolonged exposure to moisture, urine, and stool.

This proves that diaper rashes and teething don’t share any common symptoms, and teething is not directly associated with diaper rashes in infants. However, during the teething process, babies go through salivation, and this excess drool in the baby’s tummy can upset their stomach and cause some diarrhoea, which is a major cause of diaper rash. Another suggested reason is that during teething babies chew, suck, and bite on objects that may be contaminated with bacteria, which may upset their digestion. Apart from these indirect reasons,  there is no prudent symptom for a diaper rash while teething.

Tips to Help Baby Protect Against Nappy Rash While Teething

Now that we are aware of what causes teething and diaper rash, let’s talk about some preventive measures to help you with keeping your baby’s soft and sensitive skin safe.

• Timely diaper change: Excretion and urine can make the diaper moist & acidic, and excessive exposure to moisture and faeces can damage a baby’s sensitive skin. Therefore it is important that you change their diapers as soon as they are soiled.
• Use warm water to clean: Instead of using alcohol wipes, use warm water and a moist washcloth or baby wipes to gently clean your baby’s bottom. Scrubbing too hard on the bottom can cause further damage to the skin.
• Use ointments: Some babies suffer from rashes regularly. Using an ointment can give some relief to the skin and help it to recover faster. Zinc based or petroleum-based barrier creams are often recommended by paediatricians.
• Let the bottom breather: Allow your baby to enjoy some breeze, as the air dries the skin naturally and prevents any bacteria from collecting. Also, try not to fix the diaper too tightly to avoid any chafing.

FAQs

1. What Is the Fastest Natural Remedy to Treat Diaper Rash?

The fastest natural remedy to treat diaper rash is to keep the affected area clean and dry. Change your baby’s diaper frequently, use mild soap and water to clean the area, and let it air dry. A thin petroleum jelly or coconut oil layer can also help soothe and protect the skin. Consult a paediatrician if the rash persists or worsens.

2. How Long Does Nappy Rash Last?

The duration of nappy rash can vary depending on its cause and severity. Mild diaper rash can usually clear up within a day or two with proper care and treatment. However, if the rash is more severe or caused by a fungal infection, it may take longer, up to a week or more, to fully resolve. It’s essential to continue proper diaper hygiene and consult a healthcare professional if the rash doesn’t improve within a few days.

It is now apparent that there is no absolute reason to believe that infants get a diaper rash due to teething. Diaper rashes are caused due to prolonged exposure to faeces and moisture, diarrhoea and bacterial infection, and infrequent diaper changes. Measures like frequent diaper changes, use of ointments, and keeping the skin dry can be useful to prevent diaper rashes. Additionally, if there’s no reason for a rash to appear, and the rashes are not cured in a day or two or become severe from mild, immediately consult a doctor.

References/Resources:

1. Wake. M, Hesketh. K; Teething symptoms: cross sectional survey of five groups of child health professionals; PubMed Central; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC128949/; October 2012

2. Teething; Seattle Childhren’s; https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/a-z/teething/

3. Teething Doesn’t Cause Fevers — and Other Myths To Sink Your Teeth Into; Cleveland Clinic; https://health.clevelandclinic.org/teething-signs-and-symptoms/

4. Diaper rash; Mount Sinai; https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/diaper-rash

5. Sweeney. K;  How to Heal Your Baby’s Diaper Rash; Children’s Hospital; https://www.chla.org/blog/advice-experts/how-heal-your-babys-diaper-rash

Also Read:

Teething Fever in Infants
Baby Teething Myths and Facts
Natural Remedies for Diaper Rash in Babies