Babies have very soft and sensitive skin. Your baby’s skin has special needs, particularly in the baby’s diaper area. From their birth until they are potty trained, your little ones are prone to skin rashes and other skin issues.
It is extremely important to prevent diaper rash. Diaper rash is a skin issue that appears around the diaper area including the bottom, legs, and inner thighs.
One of the effective ways to avoid diaper rashes is to let your baby’s bottom air dry while removing the wet or dirty diaper and putting on a new one.
But how long should I let my baby air dry? It is an important question asked by parents. In this article, we will discuss this topic in detail.
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How long should I let my baby air dry?
You can let your baby air dry for a couple of minutes before putting on a new diaper. After cleaning your baby, dab off the skin of your baby with a soft towel. Then let it air dry for 1 to 2 minutes so that the skin is completely dried before you put on the new diaper. You can also softly pat the skin with the back of your hand to boost the process of air drying. It is also good to air bath your baby’s bottom for 10 to 15 minutes to expose the diaper area to air. The longer a baby remains diaper-free, the better. If you often put on the new diaper on moist skin, your baby may get diaper rashes. When it comes to air drying after a bath, it is good to use a towel to dry your baby instead of letting them air dry as it can cause your baby to catch a cold.
Why it is important to let your baby air dry?
Diaper rash occurs due to the growth of fungus, yeast, and bacteria. They are significant contributors to diaper rash and they thrive in damp or moist environments.
To avoid diaper rash, it is important to gently wipe the baby around the diaper area after changing the diaper. After your baby’s bottom is cleansed, let it air dry before fastening a new diaper on your baby.
Air drying is a great way to heal and soothe existing diaper rashes and prevent them from occurring. Put the baby on an absorbent pad or open diaper to avoid messes.
You can also use a blow-dryer on the cool setting to create the same effect if you don’t have much time. Let your baby’s bottom catch a breeze as it is a good way to naturally avoid diaper rash.
While many times it is fine to just put on a clean diaper right after cleaning the baby, if the skin is too moist too often, your baby will get a diaper rash.
However, it is more due to waiting for too long to change a wet or soiled diaper rather than putting on a new diaper too soon. Ensure that you clean all the pee so the moisture is from the wipe.
You can also use some baby powder if it begins to bother your baby. There are unlimited baby powders and rash creams out there.
If the baby’s bottom is wrapped in a damp and hot diaper for a long time the irritants in the urine and feces can damage the skin of your baby. It can result in redness of the buttock and even diaper rash.
Thus, try not to wrap your little one in diapers if they have rashes as it is the best way to prevent your baby’s red butt and rashes.
Conclusion
How long should I let my baby air dry? After properly cleaning your baby, ensure to give your baby’s bottom at least a couple of minutes to dry before putting on a new diaper.
Fastening a new diaper on moist skin often can lead to diaper rashes. It is good for your baby to let him air dry for 15 to 30 minutes before fastening a clean diaper.
If the weather is warm, it is best to allow your baby’s bottom to hang in the air for a few hours every day and often let the baby’s buttock in the sun to avoid skin contact with pee and poop, reducing the chances of red ass. If the rash doesn’t go in 2-3 days, contact your baby’s pediatrician.