Cloth with Kiana — Dealing with Yeast

Before we get into dealing with yeast infections while using cloth, let's take a quick look at what they actually are.

Yeast infections are the result of an overgrowth of a fungus called Candida. Like many other microorganisms, this fungus is present in the human body normally. It populates places such as one's skin, the digestive system, the mouth, and the genital area. Yeast plays an important part in maintaining a healthy microbiome until there is too much of it.

What are some causes of a yeast infection?

• Chronic stress.
• Excess moisture.
• Hormone imbalances.
• Antibiotics.
• Prolonged time between diaper changes.
• A weakened immune system.
• Damaged skin.

Sometimes it can be hard to ascertain whether your kiddo has a yeast infection or a simple diaper rash, especially if you're a new parent. To identify a yeast infection, look for:

• Dotted or pimpled red skin. (Big flag here! Diaper rash is typically smooth/flat irritated skin.)
• An unresponsiveness to typical diaper rash treatments.
• Skin outside of the diaper area being affected.
• Moderate to severe itchiness.
• Skin that is cracked, oozing, or deep red/purple.
• Tender, red skin in the folds and creases of the diaper area.

Now you may be asking why handling a yeast infection with cloth diapers is different than when you're using disposables. With disposables, you can just go about applying an antifungal prescription and throw away all "affected" diapers. You don't have to worry about re-introducing yeast back to your kiddo's diaper area and causing more overgrowth.
If you're using cloth diapers, yeast can hide out in the fibers and layers of diapers and inserts, even if you're washing them well. In addition to your regular washing, you must sanitize your cloth diapers to get rid of the residual yeast.

This isn't to say that using cloth diapers puts your baby at a greater risk for a yeast infection. All yeast typically needs to cause a problem is moisture and warmth, which are present in disposables and cloth alike.

What gets rid of the yeast in cloth diapers?

Bleach is the most popular choice to kill yeast. It works by its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, denaturing (sort of like breaking down) the protein yeast needs to function and thus killing it off. A common misconception is that only bleach can fully kill off yeast. While it is a powerful cleaning and effective cleaning agent, bleach may not be a viable option for all households to use. If this is the case for you and your family, you can also use Lysol's or Clorox's laundry sanitizer additive in place of bleach. Make sure whichever one you choose is unscented and follow the directions on the bottle just as you would for bleach.

If your little one is experiencing a yeast infection, here's a general routine you can follow to care for your diapers while caring for your baby. Certain factors may mean you need to do something a little different but this routine is a good stepping stone to start.

It's also important to consider that you may want to use liners for any antifungal cream your baby's pediatrician will prescribe. Letting the cream come directly into contact with the inside of your diapers can cause buildup, resulting in repelling and your diapers not coming as clean out of the wash.

Washing your hands thoroughly after every diaper change is also essential to keep the yeast from spreading around.

Some people prefer to use baby powder or corn starch every diaper change to help defeat a yeast infection. After all, yeast needs moisture to thrive, and applying a powder helps cut down on moisture, right? While I was inclined to agree with this line of thinking, sometimes powders can make yeast infections worse because they can trap lingering moisture in your baby's diaper area. If you feel the need to apply a powder of some kind to your baby's bum, I would just take extra care to make sure their skin is thoroughly dry before you do and perhaps consider only using the powder during diaper free times.

I must also emphasize that there is no shame in using disposables for the duration of a yeast infection if you're able to. The regular upkeep of cloth can be overwhelming sometimes, let alone with the extra steps you must take for this kind of situation! As I like to tell parents new to cloth diapering, using cloth diapers does not have to be an "all in or all out" kind of thing.

As always, our Facebook group has guides that are always willing to assist if you need more help or something explained a different way. I hope this post was helpful to you and as always, thank you for letting me yap to you! :)