Choosing the right diaper rash cream that is cloth diaper safe is important in order to maintain the effectiveness of your reusable diapers. Cloth diaper safe diaper cream does not contain zinc oxide or petroleum. Avoiding these ingredients is essential to prevent stubborn staining and absorbency issues in your modern reusable diapers.
Below is a detailed look at cloth diaper safe diaper cream. Scroll down to learn more about why petroleum-based creams are not recommended for use with cloth diapers.
Key Takeaway: Avoid products that contain Zinc Oxide and Petroleum.
Cloth Diaper Safe Diaper Creams:
Aleva Naturals Soothing Diaper Cream:
Aleva Naturals is a plant-based Diaper Cream that is Free of Zinc Oxide, Beeswax, Lanolin, and Perfume to provide comfort for your baby’s bottom.
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Angel Baby Bottom Balm:
Now known as Earth Mama Organics Diaper Balm. Earth Mama’s Organic Diaper Balm is a popular choice for parents seeking an effective, natural, and safe solution for diaper rash and overall skin comfort for babies—and even broader family use. Earth Mama is also available at Kinder.
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Badger Baby Balm:
Crafted with organic beeswax and castor oil to help lock in moisture, prevent dryness, and shield the skin from wet diapers. This product is also Gluten Free, Cruelty Free, Non-GMO and contains no mineral oil.
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BALM! Baby Organic Diaper Balm:
Made of an infusion of Mother Earth's most healing herbs into the most healthy oils, this healing balm provides soothing healing relief for irritated skin due to diaper rash. Leaves skin moisturized and nourished.
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CJ's BUTter Cream or Spritz:
CJ’s diaper rash cream absorbs quickly into the skin providing deep healing for most skin problems. Once you try it you will find that it will replace any number of products you are already using for a wide variety of purposes.
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Coconut Oil:
While coconut oil is generally safe for occasional use with cloth diapers, it can sometimes leave grease stains or feel drying to a baby's skin.
DoTERRA Diaper Rash Cream:
Crafted with Lavender, Carrot Seed, and Tea Tree essential oils, DoTERRA diaper rash cream helps balance and soothe the skin, while rich Muyao shea butter works to moisturize, leaving the skin soft and smooth. Non-nano zinc oxide creates a barrier to protect from excess moisture, preventing diaper rash before it starts. Note this product does contain zinc oxide that can cause staining on textiles.
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Dr. Bronner's Organic Magic Balm:
Dr. Bronner's Organic Magic Balms are formulated with organic beeswax to protect against cold, wind clothes that rub you raw. With organic jojoba, avocado hemp oil for extra moisture.
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Earth Mama Organic Diaper Cream (Top Choice 🏆 )
Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm is a thoughtfully formulated diaper cream without zinc, petroleum, preservatives or artificial fragrance to help soothe baby's sensitive diaper area. Earth Mama is also available at Kinder.
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EmBeba Natural Diaper Rash Cream
A natural, effective, and safe solution to diaper rash and skin irritation. Trust us to provide the best organic diaper rash cream for your baby's delicate skin.
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Emily Diaper Skin Soothers
Era Organics healing ointment for babies
100% Natural baby eczema cream to support immediate soothing relief, accelerated recovery and long-term skin health with a Satisfaction Guarantee!
Esembly Everyday Balm (Top Choice 🏆 )
Esembly Everyday Balm is an organic, hydrating balm to nurture and protect delicate baby skin. Blended with all the benefits of organic coconut oil and beeswax, it has an ointment-like consistency that is hydrating, smooth, and luxurious.
Ever Eden Natural Diaper Rash Cream
This product has been discontinued.
Grandma El's Diaper Rash Ointment
Formulated to provide fast-acting comfort, this diaper ointment creates a breathable barrier to keep your baby’s skin protected, smooth, and irritation-free.
GroVia Magic Stick (Top Choice 🏆 )
The convenient stick applicator makes it easy to apply the balm precisely where it's needed, and the mess-free formula means that you won't have to worry about getting your hands dirty. Plus, with a subtle, pleasant scent, our diaper balm stick is a pleasure to use. Keep your baby comfortable and happy with our natural diaper balm stick.
Currently discontinued.
Kinder Cloth Diaper Co. Bum Balm (Top Choice 🏆 )
Our zinc-free, petroleum-free balm contains a calming herbal blend of calendula and lavender to reduce inflammation, and heal and restore damaged skin. Beeswax keeps moisture away by providing a gentle and effective barrier to the skin.
La Petite Creme French Organic Diaper Balm (Top Choice 🏆 )
La Petite Creme selects only the finest organic ingredients from nature to make their products. When it comes to what we put on our babies' delicate skin, less is more.
Lhamour Baby Balm
This Natural Baby Balm provides gentle, soothing care for your baby's skin, featuring hypoallergenic ingredients perfect for your little one's head to toe nourishment. Hand made in Mongolia.
Lusa Organics Booty Balm
Lusa Organics booty balm treats diaper rash, irritated skin, sores, sunburns, cuts, and scrapes. Gentle formula is perfect for any skin type and will help heal and moisturize your babies skin and help prevent more sores or chaffing.
Mambino Little Bottoms Diaper Balm
Specially formulated for delicate baby's skin and helps by creating a moisture repellent barrier. Made with colloidal oatmeal and natural antioxidants is very effective and will not leave a messy residue.
Matys Multipurpose Baby Ointment
Made with a moisturizing combination of coconut oil, jojoba oil, Vitamin E, this petroleum-free ointment helps your baby's sensitive skin stay hydrated without allowing wetness irritation.
Mother Love Diaper Balm
Organic Diaper Balm is clinically tested for irritation. This natural diaper rash cream helps to alleviate diaper irritation and restore yeast balance with anti-fungal and antibacterial herbs.
Noleo 3-in-1 Diaper Care Baby Cream
A gentle yet effective formulation that includes only 5 essential, natural safe ingredients, our diaper rash cream for baby skin also leaves your baby's bottom with an invisible line of defense from redness and irritation
Ora's Amazing Baby Salve and Diaper Rash
This salve is carefully crafted using the utmost care and trusted INGREDIENTS such as organic calendula, burdock, and coconut oil, to yield an effective balm for your baby.
Pipette Baby Balm
All the goodness of an ultra-moisturizing balm, in the convenience of a stick you can apply on the go. This vegan, fragrance-free balm stick works wonders on dry little cheeks, chapped lips, rough patches, and sensitive spots, comforting and hydrating parched skin and leaving it kissable soft and smooth.
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Pooter's Skin Therapy
This all-natural, organic soothing balm combines coconut oil, shea and mango butter, and essential oils to naturally treat and prevent eczema.
Pooter's is no longer in business as of 2024
Punkin Butt Bottom Balm
Punkin Butt’s Bottom Balm uses all natural ingredients to provide relief from rashes and skin irritation around the diaper area and protects the skin from wetness and chafing to avoid irritation.
Thirsties Booty Love
Use Thirsties Booty Love diaper ointment between diaper changes and after baths to soothe and prevent diaper rash. Contains certified organic oils to moisturize and nourish your baby’s sensitive skin and natural herbs to relieve dry skin and rashes.
Thrive Market Organic Baby Balm
Organic Diaper Balm quickly soothes your little one's tush with certified organic botanicals.
Tubby Todd All Over Ointment
A balm for everything! Our rich, creamy ointment made from plant-based ingredients like Jojoba Esters and Camellia Leaf Extract to naturally moisturize and soothe sensitive skin.
Zoey Naturals Diaper Cream
Formulated with Zinc Oxide and Kaolin Clay, both add hours of skin protection for your baby's bottom. Plus, we've infused plant based nutrients like coconut oil and beeswax that help soothe and heal skin quickly.
Don't see the brand you're looking for in the full list of cloth diaper safe diaper rash creams above? Check the ingredients list for Petroleum and/or Zinc Oxide.
Why Petroleum-Based Diaper Creams Are Not Cloth Diaper Safe
Petroleum-based diaper creams can lead to absorbency issues and repelling when used on textiles. Synthetic fibers, such as microfiber, are particularly prone to build up based absorbency issues. Petroleum is oil based and can cause build-up that affect the diapers' ability to absorb moisture.
However, Petroleum Based diaper creams can be used with natural fibers like cotton, bamboo, and hemp, as they will wash out in a good wash routine that uses hot water. However, at Kinder, we recommend choosing one of the petroleum free options listed above to avoid any preventable diaper cream build up in your cloth diapers.
Using a Disposable Diaper Liner as a Barrier
To prevent the transfer of diaper cream onto the cloth diaper, some families like to use disposable or reusable diaper liners. Liners can be used as a barrier between the diaper and the ointment. This can help minimize the risk of staining from Zinc Oxide as well as reduce the likelihood of the cream affecting the absorbency of the diaper.
In summary, when selecting a diaper cream for cloth diapers, it's important to opt for products that do not contain zinc oxide or petroleum to prevent staining and absorbency issues. By choosing cloth diaper safe creams and using a disposable or reusable liner as a barrier, parents can ensure the longevity and effectiveness of their cloth diapering routine.