Best-Rated Nappy Rash Cream

Fact Checked

No ‘butts’ about it: Sudocrem & Bepanthen rated best for nappy rash creams

No baby is immune to nappy rash no matter how many times you change their diaper, so it’s not surprising that nearly half of new parents we surveyed (47%) always keep nappy cream in their bag, while nearly a third (28%) use a nappy rash ointment at every nappy change. A good nappy rash cream is essential to protect the skin on your little cherub’s bottom in the early years.

To help you find the best option for your bub (and budget), Canstar Blue canvassed the opinions of more than 500 new parents on the nappy rash cream(s), they purchased and used in the last 12 months. Respondents rated their respective brands on important factors including effectiveness, texture and consistency, ease of absorption, smell/scent, value for money and overall satisfaction. Those that received the minimum required survey sample size of 30 responses are included in our results.

Sudocrem and Bepanthen were joint winners in our nappy cream ratings, both earning five-star reviews for overall satisfaction and in several other categories.

Best Nappy Rash Creams

Here are the best brands in Australia for nappy rash creams, as rated by parents in Canstar Blue’s inaugural review:

1. Sudocrem & Bepanthen
2. Curash

Sudocrem and Bepanthen topped our ratings for nappy rash creams, with five-star reviews for overall satisfaction. Sudocrem also received top marks for effectiveness, texture and consistency and ease of absorption, alongside Bepanthen which also earned five stars for smell/scent and value for money. Curash rounded up the scores on four stars for overall satisfaction.

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Top Nappy Rash Creams

Sudocrem

The Sudocrem healing cream was developed in Ireland in 1931, and today it’s one of the best-selling nappy rash creams in Australia. It’s available to purchase from most major supermarkets, chemists and baby speciality stores. The Sudocrem healing cream is described as having a barrier formulation to help protect and relieve nappy rash symptoms. It comes in a variety of sizes including in 30g and 60g tubes and 125g, 250g and 400g tubs. Prices for Sudocrem products start from about $5 for a small tube.

• Sudocrem was rated five stars for effectiveness, texture and consistency and ease of absorption and overall satisfaction. It got four stars for smell/scent and value for money.

Bepanthen

Bepanthen offers various multi-purpose antiseptic creams, including a first-aid cream, tattoo aftercare cream, scar treatment gel and nappy rash cream. The Bepanthen Nappy Rash Ointment is stated to contain Pro Vitamin B5 which aids the natural recovery of sensitive skin and works to seal in the skin’s natural moisture to help prevent nappy rash and provide relief, especially during the first months. It typically comes in a 30g or 100g tube and can be bought from most chemists for about $10.

• Bepanthen was rated five stars for ease of absorption, smell/scent and value for money. It got four stars for effectiveness and texture and consistency.

Curash

Curash offers a wide range of baby skincare products including soaps, body wash, shampoo and conditioner, baby wipes and various products for nappy rash. This includes the Curash Medicated Nappy Rash Spray, which as the name suggests, is a spray-on cream that helps protect and soothe babies’ irritated skin without the need to rub the cream on. It’s said to contain 10% Zinc Oxide and calendula and chamomile extracts. Curash also has a nappy rash cream and nappy rash powder. Most products are available to purchase from major supermarkets, chemists and baby speciality stores. Prices start from about $5 for the nappy rash cream.

• Curash was rated four stars for ease of absorption and overall satisfaction, plus three stars for effectiveness, texture and consistency, smell/scent and value for money.

What causes nappy rash?

Nappy rash is a common skin condition that affects babies, especially in their early years when wearing nappies. The main symptoms include damaged or irritated skin on your child’s bottom, a red rash and sometimes fever. A lot of things can cause babies to develop a nappy rash, including friction between the nappy and the skin, sweat or humidity in nappies, soaps, detergents or fragrances left on the skin after bathing, diarrhoea, new foods and antibiotics, just to name a few. The good news is that most nappy rashes go away pretty quickly with proper care, including applying a nappy rash solution or giving bub some nappy-free time at home.

How to treat a nappy rash

The best way to treat nappy rash is to change your baby’s nappy frequently, keep their bottom clean and dry as much as possible, and apply a thick layer of nappy cream after each nappy change to create a barrier that stops wee and poo from getting onto the skin. It’s also best to use disposable nappies and avoid cloth nappies.

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s Home & Lifestyle Content Lead, Megan Birot. She’s an expert on household appliances, health & beauty products, as well as all things grocery and shopping. When she’s not writing up our research-based ratings reports, Megan spends her time helping consumers make better purchase decisions, whether it’s at the supermarket, other retailers, or online, highlighting the best deals and flagging anything you need to be aware of.

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