The Best Diaper Rash Creams for Happy Baby Bottoms

Desitin Maximum Strength has earned its spot as many parents' secret weapon for treating diaper rash, which is why it’s our best overall pick. “This cream works wonders! It soothes my baby’s skin instantly and clears up diaper rash faster than any other brand I’ve tried,” one parent raved. With a powerful 40% zinc oxide formula, this ultra-thick cream creates a serious barrier against moisture, helping to soothe and protect irritated skin. It's incredibly effective, often showing improvement within just a few diaper changes, and a little goes a long way. “I generally trend towards very thick ointments as opposed to thinner creams,” says Dr. Johns, citing that ointments provide a thick layer and stay put. 

That same thick texture can make it tricky to apply and wash off, though. It also has a faint medicinal smell, and some parents mentioned that it can stain clothes. It may be a bit more protection than you need for everyday use if your baby isn’t super rash-prone (check out Aquaphor below for a good everyday option) but it's invaluable when dealing with serious rash flare-ups.

It was tough to choose a best overall diaper cream for this guide since it really depends on your baby’s specific needs. Triple Paste is our pick for this category because it provides the same soothing, thick protective barrier as Desitin but has a little extra “oomph” when it comes to how quickly it works. One Babylist parent shared, “Triple Paste has been a lifesaver in our house!” 

Any parent who's faced a raging case of diaper rash (and a very unhappy baby) wants one thing: instant relief. Thanks to the fast-acting formula (which was developed based on prescription diaper creams), Triple Paste is a saving grace for sore bottoms. The zinc-based, extra-thick cream is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and provides a protective barrier for irritated skin so it can heal. 

Parents’ biggest gripe with Triple Paste is that it’s hard to clean off of your fingers and baby’s bum if you wanted to. “It was very difficult to rub the cream into her skin and constantly left white residue,” one Babylist parent cautioned. But the benefits outweigh that issue, and you typically don’t need to remove the paste completely during each change. (By the way, the brand also offers a bundle that comes with a jar of Triple Paste and an application tool.) It’s also a bit expensive compared to other options.

Many new parents are nervous about the products they use on their babies’ skin. If you’re looking for an organic diaper cream, Earth Mama is a great option. Although it's called a diaper balm, this herbal remedy helps heal all sorts of ailments, including rashes, burns, cuts, scrapes and bug bites. 

“When I tell you this diaper balm is our favorite, I mean we have a tub in every room, diaper bag and backups in the cabinet! I love the non-toxic formula and organic ingredients! It also smells heavenly which is an added bonus!” one Babylist parent raved in their review. 

It’s made with organic oils, herbal extracts and botanicals, and has a thinner, non-sticky consistency. It’s completely zinc, petroleum and fragrance free and certified organic by the USDA. Although it's a small container, a little goes a long way in relieving and warding off diaper rash. Many parents also appreciate that it’s cloth diaper-friendly, meaning it won't stain. Another parent shared, “I use cloth diapers and this is the BEST. Most other diaper creams ruin cloth diapers and make them water repellent.”

One thing some parents note in their reviews is that it’s not as effective on a full-blown diaper rash, so it’s better as an everyday, preventative layer. The balm doesn’t provide as thick of a barrier as a diaper cream with zinc would, which is sometimes what irritated skin might need to heal. One Babylist parent wrote in their review, “When our newborn developed a bad diaper rash (think raw, broken skin), I found this product seemed to help soothe the area, but I had to use a diaper paste over top of it to provide [more of] a moisture barrier. [This] just rubs off.” Like most baby products, you might need to try a few to find what works best for your baby’s skin. If their rash doesn’t go away in a few days or after applying treatment, be sure to reach out to your pediatrician.

Sometimes the best way to prevent diaper rash is to treat it before it ever starts—and this petroleum-based ointment from parent-favorite Aquaphor does the trick from day one. It’s easy to apply (think Vaseline consistency) and offers a thin barrier to keep urine and stool away from baby’s skin. And the best part is that it’s multi-purpose. 

One Babylist parent wrote in our best baby products survey, “Can’t express how helpful it is. [It] cures all scratches, cuts, rashes and dry skin.” Many parents mention using it for other baby skin needs like chapped cheeks and drool rash or minor scrapes (it’s also good for adults, too! I still use it as a lip balm). If you want a bigger size, it’s also available in a jar (though parents say the jar isn’t convenient for on-the-go and can get messy).

One thing to note: Aquaphor’s “baby” ointment and regular ointment are essentially the same and you can use either for a preventative barrier. They do offer a 3-in-1 Diaper Rash Relief Cream that contains 14 percent zinc oxide if you want to try something a bit thicker, but not as thick as, say, Desitin or Triple Paste.

A few parents mention it doesn’t work well on severe irritation, and they find using this in combination with a thicker paste-like cream, like Desitin, works better for moderate to severe diaper rashes. You’ll also want to be careful not to smear it on any clothing, as it can be tricky to wash out and sometimes leaves a greasy stain.

Parent’s Choice, a brand exclusive to Walmart, is well-loved by parents for its affordable prices and good quality products. This diaper rash ointment is no exception, at about two dollars a tube. It’s got many of the same ingredients as other name brands on this list, but at a fraction of the cost. Many parents mention as much in their reviews: “Works just as well as the name brands at a fraction of the price. It's also just slightly more runny, so it's a little easier to apply in my opinion. Not overly runny! Just enough to make it smooth out a lot easier.”

With 40 percent zinc oxide as the main ingredient, it’s got a thick paste-like consistency that acts as a barrier to protect baby’s bum. In fact, quite a few parent reviews mention that this one is similar to Desitin. It’s also talc-free, which isn’t the case for most store-brand diaper creams.

While it’s great for clearing diaper rashes, parents mention it’s hard to clean off of their fingers after applying. Just note that since it’s a Walmart store brand, you can only buy it there. 

There are a few perks to a sprayable diaper cream. You won’t get it under your nails or on your fingers, and it’s a gentle way to apply diaper cream to irritated skin. Babylist parents rave about how convenient this sprayable diaper rash cream from Boogie is, with quite a few calling it out in our best baby products survey. One wrote, “It seems silly but this has been a lifesaver!” And best of all, it actually works. Parents notice it’s effective at protecting, soothing and healing irritated bums. 

There are a few things parents don’t love, though. Their biggest gripe is the spray mechanism—many find that it either breaks or gets clogged. It’s also a pretty small tube, which is great for throwing it in your diaper bag or caddy, but many wish Boogie offered a refill bottle so they didn’t need to buy a new one each time. 

This zinc-based cream not only heals and soothes painful diaper rashes, it’s designed with cloth diapers in mind. Esembly is a well-loved cloth diaper brand, so they know the ins and outs of cloth diapers. While other rash creams and ointments might leave stains or be hard to wash off, this one thoroughly washes off of reusable diapers. 

It’s a bit pricey, but Babylist parents agree that a little goes a long way. You only need a small amount, and Esembly recommends rubbing it in a bit like you would a lotion. One thing to note: unlike the other diaper creams on this list that double as prevention, this one should only be used for treatment (when a rash is present). For day-to-day skin protection that’s also cloth-diaper approved, check out the Esembly Everyday Balm.

Choosing a diaper cream is a pretty personal decision; what works for one baby might not do anything for another, which is why Babylist parents love this sampler box. The Diaper Cream Box comes with four of the most popular diaper creams on the market (including three on this list) so you can figure out which formula and brand you prefer. “While not all items are large in quantity, you can try multiple products to find which will work best for your little one's rash,” one mentioned in their review. 

The biggest gripe parents have with this box is that the products are small, as they’re meant to be sampled, and they think it’s a bit pricey for what you get. Still, they appreciate the chance to try a few different options and say it’s perfect for adding to your registry.