As someone who changed his share of diapers (with one hand, no less) I can attest to the shock and horror of dealing with your baby's diaper rash. Back in the day it was a matter of if, not when, an infant would get a terrible rash, usually caused by way too much juice, not enough breast feeding, or being lazy about changing the diaper (I justified it by assuming that super asorbent diapers could hold 20 gallons of fluid). And when the rash hit, it was a matter of keeping baby dry, using the right ointment and being more vigilant about changing diapers when wet.
Along the way, diapers did get better at helping reducing the incidence and severity of diaper rash. " Infant diapering practices have evolved from the use of cloth (covered with plastic, impermeable over pants), to disposable diapers with a cellulose core and a plastic outer cover, to disposable diapers with highly absorbent polymers (known as absorbent gelling material and referred to as AGM diapers) and to AGM diapers with a permeable or 'breathable' outer cover."
The bottom line (no pun intended) is convenience. A recent WSJ blog about the displacement of cloth diapers with disposables put the shift in perspective:
"Cloth diaper options have also proliferated, as manufacturers make cloth diapers that are easier to change, with Velcro tabs like disposables. The jury is still out, however, on whether cloth is truly greener. While cloth diapers don’t hog up space in landfills like disposables, they suck up energy and water to launder. (A look at some of the research on the impact of cloth vs. disposables, and a review of some of the new easier-to-use cloth options, can be found in this Boston Globe article and this Wall Street Journal review.)"
So P&G launched a leaner diaper called DryMax to take up less landfill space and is more absorbent than Cruisers or Swaddlers.
In advance of the nationwide product launch, a handful of parents used facebook and twitter to claim that the new product was causing terrible diaper rash, and nothing else... not the poop, the pee or parental forgetfulness... Because parents have never tried to shift responsibility for things out of their control onto other people or corporations... It was probably not smart strategy for PG to simply switch a product parents like and trusted without a lot of advance notice or leaving the old one on the shelf. People don't like abrupt transitions.
But that has nothing to do with the specious claims that the new diaper is designed to cause diaper rash or the willingness of people to spread fear through the Web or the media to whip the fear up without putting the real risks or veracity into context....
Here's an example of one of 718 complaints on one website: "Both my kids had this same thing, but it was all over! Their leg area, butt, front end, just everywhere where the diaper touched."
A classic example of how a large corporation (P&G) is willing to produce and market a product that harms babies just to make a proft!
Except that complaint wasn't about Pampers Dry Max. It was about Huggies. In 2008.
Here's another: "My middle child had a similar problem with Huggies! However, he would get a rash in his entire diaper area. We used Pampers instead. After a few weeks I got brave and tried the Target brand, and they were fine.
My middle child was the only one that had a reaction to Huggies. (I have 3) So, yes, it is strange!
Since your son's rash is only around the elastic, maybe it's because he's hot. We've been in such a heat wave lately. "
www.mamapedia.com/article/anyone-tick-s-kids-have-rash-from-huggies
Want more? Here's one of a bunch blaming diaper wipes.
"Both of my girls developed diaper rash, I was using Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes hoping they were gentle enough. My girls would scream and bleed when I would change their diapers and I just thought the diaper rash really hurt. We quit using these wipes and their rashes have started to heal up. We are using organic wipes, and they really seem to be helping. I think the Huggies may have alcohol in them or something. "
www.viewpoints.com/Huggies-Natural-Care-Baby-Wipes-review-b908
If you want to read the complaints about Pampers you can go to, of all places a pro-cloth laundry site or the website of a law firm seeking clients who want to sue P&G for bottom abuse:
dirtydiaperlaundry.com/pampers-dry-max-being-investigated-by-the-cpsc/
www.krclassaction.com/Default.aspx
And here is the AP's very helpful reporting on the matter:
"The Consumer Product Safety Commission started an investigation this week following complaints of babies and toddlers suffering severe and persistent diaper rashes and blisters that resemble chemical burns..."
I am not a doctor or play one... but blisters like that on a baby's tuchus are likely impetigo. Much like the festering pustules that blister and persistently eat away at objective science, impetigo is very common. But at least impetigo it treatable. The fearmongering and willingness to transmit it as "fact" by the media seems to be spreading.
What's next? Blaming disposable diapers for autism?
You bet..
"If the increase of autism started in the 70''s then you should also consider what other medications, additives etc was introduced at the same time. Most children get vaccines so sure that would be on the list but since the 70s more children are in daycare, wear disposable diapers etc. These are just things that are involving the child not the home as a whole. Microwave ovens could be on the list too. Fact is that it''s an idea but by no means a smoking gun. A lot of children are forgoing immunizations because fear of autism. Whether they are making the right choice or not is yet to be seen. My son has a mild case of PDD-NOS. He wasn''t beaten or traumatized. He got his regular shots like my other two children did and they experienced no problems at all. For all I know living by the airport might have caused his PDD-NOS. It''s not the only disorder to have skyrocketed over the last 20 years."
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/07/health/main3684105.shtml
Along the way, diapers did get better at helping reducing the incidence and severity of diaper rash. " Infant diapering practices have evolved from the use of cloth (covered with plastic, impermeable over pants), to disposable diapers with a cellulose core and a plastic outer cover, to disposable diapers with highly absorbent polymers (known as absorbent gelling material and referred to as AGM diapers) and to AGM diapers with a permeable or 'breathable' outer cover."
The bottom line (no pun intended) is convenience. A recent WSJ blog about the displacement of cloth diapers with disposables put the shift in perspective:
"Cloth diaper options have also proliferated, as manufacturers make cloth diapers that are easier to change, with Velcro tabs like disposables. The jury is still out, however, on whether cloth is truly greener. While cloth diapers don’t hog up space in landfills like disposables, they suck up energy and water to launder. (A look at some of the research on the impact of cloth vs. disposables, and a review of some of the new easier-to-use cloth options, can be found in this Boston Globe article and this Wall Street Journal review.)"
So P&G launched a leaner diaper called DryMax to take up less landfill space and is more absorbent than Cruisers or Swaddlers.
In advance of the nationwide product launch, a handful of parents used facebook and twitter to claim that the new product was causing terrible diaper rash, and nothing else... not the poop, the pee or parental forgetfulness... Because parents have never tried to shift responsibility for things out of their control onto other people or corporations... It was probably not smart strategy for PG to simply switch a product parents like and trusted without a lot of advance notice or leaving the old one on the shelf. People don't like abrupt transitions.
But that has nothing to do with the specious claims that the new diaper is designed to cause diaper rash or the willingness of people to spread fear through the Web or the media to whip the fear up without putting the real risks or veracity into context....
Here's an example of one of 718 complaints on one website: "Both my kids had this same thing, but it was all over! Their leg area, butt, front end, just everywhere where the diaper touched."
A classic example of how a large corporation (P&G) is willing to produce and market a product that harms babies just to make a proft!
Except that complaint wasn't about Pampers Dry Max. It was about Huggies. In 2008.
Here's another: "My middle child had a similar problem with Huggies! However, he would get a rash in his entire diaper area. We used Pampers instead. After a few weeks I got brave and tried the Target brand, and they were fine.
My middle child was the only one that had a reaction to Huggies. (I have 3) So, yes, it is strange!
Since your son's rash is only around the elastic, maybe it's because he's hot. We've been in such a heat wave lately. "
www.mamapedia.com/article/anyone-tick-s-kids-have-rash-from-huggies
Want more? Here's one of a bunch blaming diaper wipes.
"Both of my girls developed diaper rash, I was using Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes hoping they were gentle enough. My girls would scream and bleed when I would change their diapers and I just thought the diaper rash really hurt. We quit using these wipes and their rashes have started to heal up. We are using organic wipes, and they really seem to be helping. I think the Huggies may have alcohol in them or something. "
www.viewpoints.com/Huggies-Natural-Care-Baby-Wipes-review-b908
If you want to read the complaints about Pampers you can go to, of all places a pro-cloth laundry site or the website of a law firm seeking clients who want to sue P&G for bottom abuse:
dirtydiaperlaundry.com/pampers-dry-max-being-investigated-by-the-cpsc/
www.krclassaction.com/Default.aspx
And here is the AP's very helpful reporting on the matter:
"The Consumer Product Safety Commission started an investigation this week following complaints of babies and toddlers suffering severe and persistent diaper rashes and blisters that resemble chemical burns..."
I am not a doctor or play one... but blisters like that on a baby's tuchus are likely impetigo. Much like the festering pustules that blister and persistently eat away at objective science, impetigo is very common. But at least impetigo it treatable. The fearmongering and willingness to transmit it as "fact" by the media seems to be spreading.
What's next? Blaming disposable diapers for autism?
You bet..
"If the increase of autism started in the 70''s then you should also consider what other medications, additives etc was introduced at the same time. Most children get vaccines so sure that would be on the list but since the 70s more children are in daycare, wear disposable diapers etc. These are just things that are involving the child not the home as a whole. Microwave ovens could be on the list too. Fact is that it''s an idea but by no means a smoking gun. A lot of children are forgoing immunizations because fear of autism. Whether they are making the right choice or not is yet to be seen. My son has a mild case of PDD-NOS. He wasn''t beaten or traumatized. He got his regular shots like my other two children did and they experienced no problems at all. For all I know living by the airport might have caused his PDD-NOS. It''s not the only disorder to have skyrocketed over the last 20 years."
www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/01/07/health/main3684105.shtml
