Heal Diaper Rash

For kids who wear diapers their whole life...red bums are inevitable sometimes.

Here are some ideas to heal diaper rash once you have it...

#1) My number 1 tip is to let them be naked.  This keeps all moisture and acid off their bum and allows it to heal the very fastest.

#2)  If letting them be naked is not an option...use a cool temp hairdryer when changing them to completely dry the bum.

#3) Eliminate wipes while dealing with diaper rash.  if they are poopy, put them in the tub and rinse poop off with water.  (Optional) You can then let them sit in an warm oatmeal bath (put oatmeal in a nylon and tie top.  get wet and keep squeezing the oatmeal bag until the bath water is white.)  then when drying them off,  dab the bum with the towel instead of wipe.  Then let run or use the hairdryer tip.

#4) Mix equal parts of the following 3 things...
Maalox or Mylanta (cuts the acidity of the pee)
Lotrimin or Monistat (gets rid of any yeast or fungus)
Original Desitin (not creamy) (acts as a moisture barrier)
Seriously try it.

#5) Do not try to wipe all the cream off each time you change their diaper, this just causes more damage. Just leave it and slather more on.

Those are my tips, but here are some tips from other people...
Triple Paste from Walmart
Butt Paste
Bag Balm
Corona Cream
1/4-1/2 C. baking soda in a bath


What has worked for you?  Comment below

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Sanitizing Surfaces

While out and about, I used to carry around lysol wipes in Ellie's wheelchair "GO BAG" everywhere we went.  I would use them to wipe the changing table, wipe the table at a restaurant before eating etc.

The lysol wipes took up a lot of space in her bag.

I have since discovered using hand sanitizer to sanitize those same surfaces when away from home.  I always had hand sanitizer with me, but now I have discovered this 2nd purpose for it, other than hands.

The hand sanitizer I like is called Avagard D.  It is the same hand sanitizer that they use in my local children's hospital.  It has lotion and does not dry out your hands.  I buy it in bulk.  But the size I carry is this small 3 oz bottle.  When it is empty I refill it from my larger bottles.

When I need to sanitize something I squirt some on the surface, then I wipe it around with paper towels (in a bathroom) or napkins (in a restaurant).


How do you sanitize surfaces while out and about?  What hand sanitizer do you like?  Please comment below.


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Cord Organization for Medical Equipment

I hate cords to all of the machines we have to use.  It drives me batty.  If I could make 1 medical device it would make everything completely wireless!!!!!

Until then, here are the solutions I have come up with...

Tip #1) Loop the cords loosely and leave as little extra cord as possible.  Wrap cords with a small piece of 1" coban.  It is secure, but doesn't leave the cords with sticky residue.  (Plus usually free...if you have a bunch laying around your house like me!)

Tip #2)  Label all of the cords with tape by the plug.




Tip #3) Have them plugged into the power strip in the same order you have them sitting on the shelf.




What tips do you have for keeping cords neat and organized?  Have you tried my coban method?  Leave a comment.


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Life Insurance for Medically Fragile Kids

It is nearly impossible to find Life Insurance for medically fragile kids.  Even the Gerber Grow up plan will deny them.  As soon as they find out they have a pre-exsisting condition, the Insurance company runs the other way.  I don't blame them.  But that sticks parents with knowing they will someday have to come up with thousands of dollars for funeral and burial expenses.

We have discovered one chink in the system.  If you/or your spouse (the parents of the child with disabilities) qualify for life insurance, then you can get something called a "rider policy".  The rider policy we have is $10,000 coverage and only costs a few additional dollars per month.  It covers all of our children until they turn 21.

When signing up for the rider policy I asked very specific and pointed questions telling them that my daughter is medically fragile, has a lot of medical needs, we know she is going to die, etc.  And I asked them if they would cover her and they said yes.

Have you added a rider policy?  Have you discovered any other life insurance "hacks"?  Please share tag and like our FB page.

Girls swimsuit with snaps (changing a diaper easily with a swimsuit)

This is genius.  A girls swimsuit with snaps that you can change diapers easily.  It looks like it goes up to a size 10.  Fairly cheap too...around $25-$35 .  It is called Fasten.

Click here to view.

Wish Granting Organizations

Here are a list of wish granting organizations.  They all have slightly different rules, so you will need to do a little research on your own.  I have not used any of these myself, so once again you will need to do your own research.

Charity Navigator.org rates charities, so you may want to check it out before donating.

Here are the wish granting organizations I found through a little digging...



Angel's Hands

Angelwish

A Special Wish Foundation

Bianca's Kids

Children's Wish Foundation International

Dream Come True

Dream Factory

Dream Foundation (Adults only)

Granted Wish Foundation

Jason's Dreams for Kids

Kids Wish Network

Make a wish

Sunshine Foundation

Wishing Well Foundation USA

United Special Sportsmen Alliance (provides outdoor experiences)

Weber School Foundation (Only for students being educated in Weber and Ogden School Districts in Utah) (They grant wishes such as bikes, hearing aids communication devices, switch toys, etc...  up to $10,000.  Can use more than once)

Wishes and More (only for Minnesota and surrounding areas)



Do you know of any additional wish granting organizations?  Please comment below

Have you used any of the above? Please comment below and tell us about your wish

Can you go swimming with a g-tube?

Yes!

G-tubes really don't get infected. Any bacteria or other yucky stuff that gets in while swimming is killed by stomach acid.

A person with a g-tube can go in lakes, swimming pools, rivers, bathtubs.  With no problems.

You DO NOT need to cover the g-tube with anything.  (No gauze or plastic or mepilex or anything.)