Thanks for the information.  Companies need to be more proactive about issues like these.  Babies and toddlers should not have to suffer with possibly avoidable skin rashes.  I wish I had know of the benefits of cloth diapering when my child was a baby.

I’ll be keeping my eyes on your site for updates and such…

The most frustrating thing to me about disposable diapering is that nobody will tell you WHAT chemicals/substances they use in them- they’re “proprietary”.  Sorry, since this “proprietary” blend of substances sits on my child’s genitals should I chose to use a particular brand of disposables...I think as a parent I have a right to make an informed decision. 

One of my sisters was flat out disgusted that she couldn’t even get Swaddlers without the Drymax (she uses cloth in general, but her new daughter isn’t quite fitting them yet) unless she sprang for the “sensitive”.  I found that little revelation quite interesting...that thus far, the “sensitive” version doesn’t appear to have the Drymax formulation…

This is very interesting indeed, because we use Pampers on our son (he is almost 2.5).  Lately he too has been having a series of diaper rashes at a much higher rate than normal.  I think we will re-assess our use of Pampers in the meantime.  Thank you for providing this information!

Thanks for bringing this important issue to the attention of parents. They should be concerned. To the previous poster that is unaware of the chemicals used in disposable diapers, most manufacturers will not deny the use of SAP or the super absorbent polymers know as Sodium Polyacrylate (Huggies and Pampers included).

You can find their Material Safety Data Sheet here (this is a CHEMICAL used in almost all disposable diapers that clearly causes irritation among other things) and here is a really neat video that shows you HOW these chemicals are designed to work. Scary to think they are against a baby’s sensitive and vulnerable skin for 2+ years.

Cloth diapers are chemical-free, easy, environmentally-responsible and, believe it or not, fun. I strongly urge parents to consider them. If you are interested in learning more, our Cloth Diapering 101 Guide should prove helpful.

We’ve been using the Pampers diapers since our son was born - he’ll be two in two months - and we’ve never had an issue with these diapers. I’m also pretty sure that we used some of these Dry Max diapers that were put in packages of regular Cruisers. Unless he has a bad reaction, I’m very hesitant to switch brands. I have tried other brands in the interest of experimenting with fit and price, but nothing worked as well as the Pampers.

I was already considering switching to Seventh Generation from all the reports I’ve been reading about the bad rashes.  My baby has not had a reaction, but I don’t want to wait and find out if she’s going to get one!

Any idea if the Baby Dry are also causing problems?

We used Pampers for my daughter since she was born...and ever since they removed that mesh liner she’s had problems.  The newer version of the diapers were rough, rigid, leaked, and gave her an awful rash.  Actually...I think I may have emailed you guys at about the same time asking if you knew anything about this unadvertised removal of the mesh lining - the boxes never changed and there was no way to tell which version of the diaper the box held.  I’ve sent many emails - to which they just sent me coupons for more diapers - which obviously did nothing for me!

9 month old developing rash...first time ever...guess what diaper we use?
Uh-oh.

We’ve been using dry max diapers for 13 month old for months (diapers.com had them very early) and no rash or leaks.  I prefer the old pampers because these seem to “puff up” too much when wet (similar to pull-ups), but its not a big deal.

@Tamara - thank you.  I was told “proprietary” to my inquiries...probably because I did mention the phrase “MSDS” in my inquiry.  But I digress, that tells me darn near all I need to know.

We recently began using Pampers Dry Max and our boy has gotten a rash. It hasn’t been serious, but I wondered about it because he rarely has rashes. This must be why! Thanks for this information!

We use cloth diapers (bumgenius) during the daylight hours but two weeks ago switched to these Pampers (which a “12 hour dryness” badge on the packaging.) Like Jennifer above, he has never had more than minor irritation, and never anything approaching true diaper rash.

After about 4 days of night-time only use he developing a severe rash that almost looked like a chemical burn.  We immediately switched back to the previous brand of disposables for night time.  After about 2 days the rash gradually receded.

The plural of anecdote is not data, but I think it’s pretty safe to say “stay away.”

The hospital used Pampers when our daughter was born 2.5 years ago...clearly before all of these changes were made.

When we got home two days after she was born, I noticed that she had a terrible diaper rash.  But it was more like a burn all over the area where the diaper touched her skin.  We had purchased Huggies to use for her (that’s what we used on her brother who was two years older) and I immediately washed her off and switched diapers.  The rash/redness was almost all gone by the next diaper change.

And I can smell those Pampers...ick.

I did contact the company after that issue and they apologized for the problem...then mailed me a $10 off coupon for their diapers.  Really?  Did they think I was going back to them after dealing with that rash?  Ha!

Hi there. My DD only used pampers since day 1, and she’s 2. She’s having a mild rash lately, but she never used to have one.
What other brand would you recommend for me to buy? I tried Huggies but hated them. I’m lost here! Please help!
Thanks!
Yamila

I have twin boys that wear Pampers. Last week one of them began a an ugly diaper rash and we tried everything to relieve it and nothing helped. His skin had begun to bleed as well. To think that I have put the very thing causing it against his bottom repetedly. I am saddened, we trusted pampers so very much. I have since moved to the Huggies Naturals and the rash is on its way to gone!

I’m so frustrated by the PR strategy that P&G;is attempting in this situation.  They’re blaming social media and rumor mongering instead of taking responsibility and addressing the very real concerns of moms - many of whom are responding to blogs like this with surprise and tales of bad experiences with these diapers (like Erin, AJsMomma, Jennifer, Celeste, Jason, MarthaS, Yamila, Leslie above)! Here’s a link to some.

And now their plan seems to be to keep their PR machine in motion by putting up opposing Facebook pages and getting their Mommy Bloggers to defend these diapers.

Yet another reason to be so thankful we have chosen cloth diapers!

I don’t think I have said it before, but thanks again for being right on top of things. I just finished reading “Slow Death by Rubber Duck” and was pleased to see you guys cited in the section on “Detox” and BPA. Kudos!

I have 4 boys and have always used pampers.  I put these drymax on my youngest and he was fine till he pooped the first time in them.  There was a huge amount of blood.  I thought at first it was an intestinal bleed then I cleaned him up and saw this huge 3 in long by 1 in wide red bleeding raw area on his butt.  Did not look anything like any diaper rash I have ever seen.  I stopped using the diapers because I suspected that change could have caused it.  Bought some without it and some huggies.  Took weeks to even start looking better and tried every cream we could think of.  Then my boyfriend who thought I was being silly about the diapers put one back on him one day.  He actually bled out his diaper up his back.  I was surprised to hear about this public outcry but knew I would never use these again months ago

Another voice for REAL (i.e. cloth) diapers here! I tend to avoid P&G;products whenever necessary anyway, but the sorry way they are handling this situation makes me even more adamant about not giving them any more of my money than absolutely necessary, as well as evangelizing the cloth diaper love ;)

In July 2009, Target offered a great deal on a new Pampers Cruisers exclusive to Target (pre-release of Dry Max).  I bought the big box and my daughter had the worst diaper rash ever.  We went to the pedi so many times.  I put every diaper cream, Lotrimin, and anything else I could think of on it.  We powdered to wick moisture from her skin.  We went through a round of antibiotics.  We tried naked, bigger diapers, different type of Pampers, but nothing was helping.  It was several months before I found Fisher Price diapers and SebaMed diaper cream.  Finally, she cleared up.

My daughter out grew pampers swaddlers and they were very good for her i didnt have any problems. But when I had to move her up a size the pampers dry max was the only one out they didnt have the old pampers cruisers anymore. After a while she was using them shes getting these horrible rashes that looks like her skin is burnt. Does anyone know an alternative diaper to use?

Wow… I can’t believe I didn’t hear about this sooner! When this dry Max stuff first came out I thought it was the most amazing thing ever! I always loved Pampers, the way they fit my son, they were always perfect from the time he was a newborn (I loved swaddlers) and I have been using dry max ever since it came out. Ben has never had a rash like u guys describe, EVER to this day, but it makes me ill that these diapers are effecting our babies like this! And to think what kind of BS has to be in there to do this? After reading these comments I am outraged. Ben Just turned 1 and I got 3 cases of size 3 dry max cruisers.  I wish I could take them back now and start looking for a better kind! I wish I knew more about cloth diapers but I’m sorry… Good for you guys but That seems ridiculously gross to me :( Huggies are crap.  I will search onward but until then I am boycotting this Pampers crap! I can’t believe that some of this stuff happened to your babies, my heat goes out to you!

We use cloth diapers as well and my son has never ever had a diaper related rash from them. When we were using the Pampers, however, he did have constant rashes. Not like the ones being described, but rashes none the less.  I really hated seeing my baby so uncomfortable from these horrible diapers and this was a bit before the Drymax ones came out.