Diapers

Who's ever opened a new pack of diapers, headed out for the day, and suddenly realized that just-opened pack of nappies is still sitting on the changing table, while your diaper bag sits devoid of the things? Whether it's a missing diaper, dried out wipes, or delinquent sippy cup, rushing mamas have a tendency to run out the door with a half-packed bag lacking a few of their daily necessities. That's where the Nanny Caddy comes in. The tot-centric vending machines are filled with everything a diaper-changing mama may need – and more (including three sizes of diapers, Tylenol, toilet seat covers, hand sanitizer, and bandages). Currently located at several children's museums around the country, as well as a few zoos and amusement parks, the machines can save parents from abruptly ending a family outing when a diaper blowout occurs.

Have you seen, or tried, a baby-item vending machine yet?

Ouch! Diaper rash is a true pain in the bum—and as common as ants at a picnic. Caused by factors that include extended wetness, diarrhea, diet, and allergies, it shows up as inflamed, bright red skin on a baby’s rear end. Thankfully, over a thousand Circle of Moms members have shared their tricks for banishing the pesky rash, and here we're sharing 7 of the best.

1. Open Airtime

“The best remedy for diaper rash is to let your little one be diaper free for a few hours throughout the day,” advises Yesenia S., one of numerous Circle of Moms members who stress that open-air playtime is the fastest way to heal diaper rash.

2. Frequent Diaper Changes

Diaper rash is commonly linked to continuously wet diapers, so frequent changes are essential to prevention and healing. As Asawari S. recommends: “Make sure you change the diaper every 3 hours as a rule. The acidity of the wet diaper will add to the rash.”

3. Ointments

Every baby is different, so it’s no surprise that moms tout many different diaper rash creams as miracle workers. Still, some products receive consistently high marks, including Melanie B.’s favorite brand: Triple Paste. "It is THE BEST on the market…Both my daughters have eczema and sensitive skin, so Triple Paste has been a lifesaver, or should I say, a butt saver.” Others agree with mother-of-two Jessica S.: “I like the Bourdreaux Butt Paste, and not just for the funny name! It works better than anything else I’ve tried, and it’s really gentle on her skin. A lot of the other ones seem to burn if she has a bad rash.” Additional popular remedies include mixtures with Maalox (to neutralize the acid in your bub’s nether regions), or good old Vaseline.

4. Baking Soda and Corn Starch

If over-the-counter ointments prove unsuccessful, consider raiding your cupboard. Many moms swear by baking soda baths, while others like Lora J. recommend corn starch: “An old remedy is corn starch straight outta the box. It coats and soothes all in one.” Note, however, that if a yeast infection is involved, corn starch will worsen the situation.

5. Switch Baby Wipes and Diapers

“You may want to try different wipes and diapers,” suggested mother-of-three Stephanie S. “There may be an allergy issue. My LO is allergic to all but Huggies Supreme and 7th Generation.” Kim N. agreed: “Be careful about the wipes you are using during changing. If they are fragranced or infused with alcohol, they will irritate his skin even more.”

6. Check Baby's Diet—and Yours

Diaper rash often develops after a baby is introduced to solid foods, or when a breast-feeding mom eats certain foods. As Christine N. shared: “When my babies had bad nappy rash I tried to limit the amount of dairy products they ate as these tended to make them worse.” Acidic foods, such as citrus juices, are another common culprit.

7. Rule Out Other Infections

Be sure to consult your pediatrician if diaper rash lingers, spreads beyond the diaper area, or is accompanied by fever, blisters, boils, pus or weeping discharge. The rash may actually be a yeast or fungal infection, thrush or eczema.

Image Source: futurestreet via Flickr/Creative Commons

Consider yourself lucky if your child’s dad does diaper duty. In India, 86 percent of dads say they would never touch a diaper because it’s women’s work.

According to a survey* of 8,000 men and 3,500 women in Brazil, Croatia, Chile, India, Mexico, and Rwanda,  statistics on the issue of male participation in household duties from these six developing countries are pretty sobering. It's not only diapers that men shy away from, it's childcare in general. In Rwanda, 61 percent of the men surveyed consider it to be a women’s duty.

Gasp all you want, American moms, but these gender disparities, especially in diaper changing, hit closer to home than you might think. The question of who changes the diapers – and more to the point, who won't – is a hot topic in the Circle of Moms Children of 2006 community.

“My husband hates changing our daughter’s diapers,” says Kim B. “Especially when they are more than wet. But he also isn’t her biological dad and I cut him some slack because of it. However, when we have our own children, I know he will have a problem with it and make up any excuse to not have to do it.

Erin L. says her husband started out with good intentions but pooped out on the diaper changing a month after their son was born: “He seemed to get hit with a lot of poopy diapers and he essentially stopped,” she reports. “He only changes if I’m away or I complain enough. I think my mom said my dad rarely ever changed them too.”

Lynette B. may have put it best when she said, “I think dads should change diapers. I don’t see why it should be any different for the dad then the mother. Who ‘enjoys’ changing diapers? I don’t know of anyone who jumps up and says ‘oh please, please, please can I change the next one"

So moms, how do you get dads to become part of the changing crew?

The International Men and Gender Equality Survey was coordinated by the Washington D.C.-based International Center for Research on Women and Brazil’s Instituto Promundo.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, POPSUGAR.

Ellen Pompeo may live in Tinseltown, but the mom of one — daughter Stella Ivery, 1, — hasn't allowed success or the bright lights of Hollywood to shake her sensibilities. The Grey's Anatomy star answered a few of my questions as she promotes Huggies campaign to diaper babies in need.

LilSugar: There’s a big debate about whether or not it’s possible for a woman to truly "have it all" — a career, a marriage, and children. What’s your opinion and how do you manage?

Ellen Pompeo: I do think it’s possible to have it all. However, I don't believe the definition of having it all means the same thing to everyone. Just because someone chooses not to have children doesn't mean they don't have it all. Just because a woman decides to be a stay at home mom doesn't mean she doesn't have it all. "Having it all" to me means being fulfilled and that should be determined by the individual not society. As far as managing goes. That's always a tricky question for me because I would seem a little out of touch if I didn't acknowledge the fact that I have a great job and am very lucky to be able to afford a little help. That being said I am a big fan of a strict schedule. Stella's mealtimes and sleep schedule happen at the same time every day and everything gets planned around that. Also a couple of days a week I set aside time to prep food. Veggies, brown rice...etc... so making meals takes less time and there are always things in the fridge ready to work with.

LS: On Grey’s Anatomy, Meredith and Derek are having a hard time getting (and remaining) pregnant. The storyline is reflective of what a lot of couples go through. How do you feel about your character having this struggle?

EP: The infertility issue certainly is a relevant one. One of the conversations I had with Shonda was about the fact that we have an opportunity here and what do we want to do with it? It’s very important to me to not ONLY portray the angst or desperation one would feel in a situation like this. I want Meredith's journey to be multifaceted and hopefully some sort of enlightenment happens along the way. What you end up seeing in the final cuts of the episodes is an entirely different story!

LS: Hollywood is experiencing another baby boom. With all the paparazzi and interest in famous families, is it difficult to raise Stella in such an environment?

EP: I don't think there's a baby boom. People have always had babies. The boom is the tabloid media’s obsession with famous people's children and pregnant actresses. It is predatory and creepy. I'm a big girl and I can deal with being stalked by paparazzi — it’s a very small price to pay for all the perks that come along with this life, but it’s unfortunate our society is obsessed with exploiting innocent children.

LS: Fill in the blank. You know you're a mother when?

EP: You know you’re a mother when you get excited about poop!

To see how you can help babies in need, read more.

Motherhood can be a mind-boggler! LilSugar reader modernmommy is looking to make the switch to cloth but has some questions. She looked for some advice in The Mommy Club.

I really want to give cloth diapers a try for my newborn. I have heard many moms tell me horror stories about cloth diapers just leaking everywhere and ruining clothes. I want to give it a try but before I jump on the cloth diaper wagon, I wondered if anyone had a brand they preferred that hopefully leaks less and isn't terrible expensive to maintain. Right now, I am using regular diapers and feel so guilty every time I throw one away. Please help me out!

Do you have a treasure trove of parenting suggestions? Start sharing your advice and tips in our The Mommy Club! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.

First came denim, then came Cynthia Rowley, and now we have monogrammed disposable diapers! Taking their cue from classic diaper covers, Baby Chix's initial diapers ($1.50 each), add some personalization to one of the most viewed parts of a new baby. Given the number of nappy changes a newborn goes through on a given day, the diapers could be a sight for sore eyes. Available in both pink and blue for every letter of the alphabet, the diapers are only offered for the smallest babies out there, making them a great hospital gift for the mama who's seen everything!