Help! My baby stinks

[nangari]

Hi all

I reconverted to cloth a couple of weeks ago and loving the novelty of it. I'm trying new things (waiting for some different types to arrive). Currently using Eenee Weenee Pouch Pants with microfibre terry and loving them. They don't seem to be very popular though. i'm not sure why they are hard to find apart from their website!. Anyway, I've noticed that my baby's bottom is now quite smelly and she often has little dots on her bum.

I'm thinking that perhaps the smell is from the washing process? The powder I use? The fact that I don't normally rinse and wash or wash then rinse again?

I'm also thinking that perhaps the dots are the start of fungal nappy rash? And perhaps this is contributing to the smell.

So I'm wondering if the solutions may be:
i) use a fragrance free washing powder?
ii) use vinegar in the rinse cycle?
iii) rinse them before or after the wash cycle?
iv) use liners

Any other ideas are appreciated

Cas

[Nicole_M]

Hi Cas,

I started using cloth a few weeks ago too. Mostly, I use GK pockets with their microfibre inserts, so a very similar system to yours.

I have no idea if it will help you but I use and low-fragrance, non-enzyme powder detergent at 1/4 strength; I do a cold water rinse first then a long cycle wash at 40-60 degrees (depending on how much BF poo is in there!) and dry everything in the blazing Dubai sun! We have no smelly, spotty bottom issues here.

I hope you can sort it out soon.

Kind regards,
Nicole

[~Gullygirl~]

Perhaps your daugher os reacting to the microfibre against her skin. I would use a micro fleece liner or even raw silk to clear her up at first and see if that makes difference. It is generally not recommended that you use micro fibre directly against the skin but I know weenees do make those fold ups for their pouches. (fwiw I never found weenees to work for us because the rise was too small in the largest size by the time my son was 6months and even before that I got leaks every time - but they do work for some).

[nangari]

Thanks for your tips. I have some flushable liners on the way so I will see if that makes a difference (not having the microfibre directly against her skin). I think I know what you mean about a short rise. Not having anything to compare it to (yet - I have some other nappies on the way, hopefully arriving this week!) I don't think we've got a problem. I'm really fortunate that my daughter is not a heavy wetter and she does very firm poo (hardly even have to wipe her bottom!). She really is the perfect candidate for cloth

[~Carolyn~]

it is not recommended that you use mircofiber directly on your bubs skin as it can interupt the balence of good things on the skin. I agree with the PP that try a silk liner. You might also need to change them more often and use water to wash your DD with- not wipes. Also might be worth your MCHN having a peak and making sure it isnt thrush.

I use fitted nappies, and only ever use mirrofiber in pockets, i dont even use them to boost fitteds as i find that hemp is far more useful.

hth

[Peach_Bums_Mum]

Im a fan of microfibre but never against the skin. I didnt know eenees had microfibre against the skin - weird!!

[Nettie H]

I always stick tea tree oil in the bottom of my dry pail, and even after they have been washed and dried they still have a nice tea tree smell. just a few drops will do.

[Jazuli]

Spots could mean thrush, wash all your nappies in hot hot water to kill the bugs and go to the chemist and get some thrush cream. Hope this helps.