Diaper rash is a common concern for many parents, especially during a baby’s early months when their skin is so sensitive and prone to irritation. It's not just a challenge for parents of multiples—any parent can relate to the distress of watching their little one suffer from red, raw skin. For Singaporean triplet mom Hozanna Ngoh, diaper rash became all too real when her babies fell ill.
At six months old, when the triplets had just started going out more frequently, her little ones suffered from diarrhea lasting two to three weeks. This led to severe diaper rashes that left everyone in tears.
“It was heartbreaking,” Hozanna recalls. “I cried along with them a few times.”
Through trial, error, and advice from friends and healthcare professionals, Hozanna developed practical hacks that not only soothed her triplets’ delicate skin but have since become her go-to routine. Here, she shares her diaper rash survival tips, tried and tested in the trenches of triplet parenting.
1. Underpads for Easier Cleanup
Diaper changes skyrocketed to as many as 10 times a day during the worst of the diarrhea episode. To streamline the process and minimize mess, Hozanna started using disposable underpads. “These were a game changer,” she says. “They made clean-up so much easier when dealing with multiple blowouts.”
2. Gentle Cleaning with Water and Cotton
Cleaning sore, rash-covered skin was one of the hardest tasks. While washing at the sink was recommended, it was impractical with three crying babies.
“I used a syringe or a portable bidet to gently flush the poop off their skin,” Hozanna explains. For more delicate areas, she relied on wet cotton balls, half-dabbing and half-wiping to avoid further irritation.
For larger, non-irritated areas, she occasionally used Huggies Water Wipes but avoided regular wipes due to their potential to worsen rashes. Over time, she transitioned to a spray bottle of water for her boys, while her daughter’s more sensitive skin required sticking to cotton balls.
Pro Tip: Even now, after cleaning, Hozanna often brings the babies to the sink for a final rinse—though she admits this might change soon as the triplets get heavier!
3. Zinc Oxide Creams for Healing and Maintenance
Hozanna swears by zinc oxide creams for healing diaper rash. “Desitin Maximum Strength was a lifesaver when my daughter came home from the hospital with a rash,” she shares. Later, she discovered Sudocrem and Bepanthen.
- Sudocrem: Used when the skin starts to look pink or red, especially after difficult-to-clean messes.
- Bepanthen: Applied regularly for maintenance, particularly for her daughter, who tends to poop more frequently.
To keep things hygienic, Hozanna transfers Sudocrem from its tub into a travel-size pouch or tube for easier application.
4. Letting Skin Breathe
During the height of the diarrhea episode, Hozanna experimented with diaper-free time. “We let one baby lie on an underpad without a diaper to air dry and rest the skin,” she says. Though managing three diaper-free babies wasn’t feasible for long, she adjusted by switching to Huggies Naturemade diapers, which allowed for better airflow.
She also made small tweaks, like leaving the bottom of onesies unbuttoned to provide extra ventilation and using a mini tripod fan to help dry their skin after cleaning.
5. A Personalized Approach
Through the experience, Hozanna learned that each baby’s skin responds differently. Her daughter’s sensitive skin required stricter protocols, such as cleaning more thoroughly after frequent poops and reapplying creams at every diaper change.
Hozanna’s Takeaway Tips For Diaper Rash
Parenting multiples means facing challenges on a larger scale, but as Hozanna shows, it also builds resilience and resourcefulness. Here are her top tips for managing diaper rash:
- Be prepared for messes. Keep underpads and easy-clean tools handy.
- Choose gentle, effective cleaning methods. Water and cotton balls are your best friends for sensitive skin.
- Use the right creams. Zinc oxide creams are essential, and finding one that suits your routine makes all the difference.
- Airflow matters. Whenever possible, let the skin breathe.
- Adapt to each child. No two babies are the same—adjust your care to their individual needs.
"Initially, we were completely out of our depth. The more we cleaned, the worse the diaper rash seemed to get, and since the diarrhea had to run its course, we felt helpless watching our babies cry in pain. But with three babies going through the same thing, we quickly had to learn what worked. We developed a standard protocol for managing diaper rash, including tracking diaper and poop changes to monitor how often they were cleaned and whether the skin was getting irritated. The key is to act early to prevent the rash from progressing to an open wound, which makes the healing process longer and more painful for the baby. Thanks to diligent care and following this system, we haven't had another severe episode since."
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A big thank you to Hozanna Ngoh for sharing her invaluable insights and real-life experience in managing diaper rash with triplet babies. We hope that her practical tips offer comfort and equip other parents (multiples or not) with the tools to handle this common yet distressing issue.
For more real-life stories and parenting hacks from parents of multiples, check out our Spotlight series on Multiples Matters!
Article cover image by Emma Bauso
