Thanks to the fabulous Jill Cordes, host of My First Baby, for today’s guest post! Want to see more from Jill? Check out her blog here!
This week’s video on My First Baby is all about building the nest. And now that I’ve just jumped over another hurdle—one involving a nasty diaper rash (hers, not mine)–I need to add a crucial item to have on hand: Cornstarch.
But don’t follow my example on how to use it. Here’s why:
In the past two weeks I feared arrest. Twice. Not because I was a bad mom. In fact, just the opposite. I felt so bad for the little munchkin and her red bum. I carefully applied the creams, but the diaper rash wasn’t going away as quickly as I hoped, so I added cornstarch into the mix. Apparently you sprinkle it in the diaper and it absorbs moisture. But “sprinkle” clearly isn’t in my vocabulary.
I should pause here and say I have a tendency to overdo certain things. Like if someone tells me a wrinkle cream will get rid of crows feet, I compulsively apply half the bottle at once, hoping for a miracle.
On our way into the city to refinance our apartment, I dumped probably a quarter of a box of cornstarch in her diaper (my rationale is the diaper is white, so I can’t see how much goes in). Three subway trains and a 4-block walk later, I knew she desperately needed to be changed.
Already late to the appointment on the 23rd floor of a posh bank building, I dashed into the bathroom (no changing table. Damn, hate it when that happens!), quickly put a mat on the floor and ripped off the diaper. Cornstarch went flying. I mean everywhere. It turned me, Fi, diaper bag and surrounding area into a blanket of white. I prayed no one would walk in.
I began picturing the FBI, my arrest and subsequent headline: Mom Spreads Anthrax While Baby Battles Diaper Rash. I tried scooping the massive excess off the floor with a paper towel, but it didn’t make a dent. The bathroom looked like a blizzard had hit—one that didn’t melt. I conceded defeat and walked into the conference room, covered in a film of white. I looked like I had jumped into a giant silo of flour. My appearance demanded an explanation. I apologized profusely to the woman who was kind enough to promise she wouldn’t call the authorities.
A few days later I’m at LaGuardia with Fi, about to fly to Wisconsin, where my father in law (an Episcopalian Priest, nicknamed “Rev”) will baptize the babe. I dumped a bunch of cornstarch in her diaper (clearly I’m a slow learner), got through security, and had to change her. The bathroom was tiny so I went to an empty gate. Out came the plume. Seriously?? How bad is my short-term memory? This time I envisioned the TSA coming after me. They would lock me up. We’d miss her baptism. I’d be condemned by all who know me.
Panicked, I tried to rub it into the carpet as best I could. No luck. I needed an industrial vacuum. Or an escape plan. I grabbed Fi and fled the scene. We boarded the plane, and at 30,000 feet breathed a big sigh of relief (actually she slept). And, the next day, the diaper rash was clear. Maybe there’s something to compulsively using cornstarch??
So my tip to you moms who battle diaper rash: Cornstarch. Put it in the nest. Just don’t follow my lead 
Now it’s your turn. What works for you? What else do we need to stock up on? Tell me everything!
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