Best Nappy Rash Creams
Nappy cream is one of those products you don’t think about — until you need it. And when you do, it’s usually because something’s already irritated.
Most babies will get some form of nappy rash. It’s common and usually driven by moisture + friction, not a lack of product.
Which is why we come back to the same principle: protect the skin, don’t overload it.
- • ~12% zinc oxide (balanced for daily protection)
- • Primarily plant oil/wax-based formula
- • Fragrance-free
- • Light cream — easy to spread for frequent changes
- • Easy everyday option if you want something clean but practical
- • More formulated than minimalist oil/wax creams (glycerin, aloe, cocoa butter, stabilisers)
- • Includes newer “skin-support” ingredients that aren’t essential
- • Not strong enough for more severe rash
- • ~10–12% zinc oxide (balanced for daily protection)
- • Minimal oil/wax-only base (almond oil, sesame oil, beeswax)
- • Light cream — easy to spread for frequent changes
- • Not fragrance-free (contains botanicals + synthetic fragrance compounds)
- • Can irritate sensitive skin (from fragrance + botanicals like calendula/chamomile)
- • Not strong enough for more severe rash
- • Zinc oxide included (exact % not disclosed)
- • Minimal botanical oil/wax-only base (beeswax, almond oil, calendula, chamomile)
- • Balm texture — thicker and more occlusive
- • Not fragrance-free (contains essential oils like lavendar)
- • Essential oils can irritate sensitive skin
- • Zinc strength unclear — likely lighter protection
- • Not strong enough for more severe rash
- • More costly than alternatives
- • ~40% zinc oxide (very strong barrier for rash)
- • Heavier botanical oil/wax-only base (multiple oils, waxes + essential oils)
- • Thick ointment — harder to spread but stays on well
- • Cleaner alternative to traditional options like Sudocrem
- • Not fragrance-free (contains essential oils like lavender, rosemary)
- • Essential oils can irritate sensitive skin
- • Too heavy for everyday use
- • Less widely available in Australia
- • ~15% zinc oxide (strong and effective for rash)
- • Thick paste — forms a strong barrier
- • Very easy to find and affordable
- • Traditional medicated formula (paraffin/mineral oils, benzyl alcohol, preservatives, fragrance)
- • Not fragrance-free (contains essential oils + synthetic fragrance compounds)
- • Can irritate sensitive skin (from fragrance + preservatives/stabilizers)
- • Does not meet the Clean Bar
For active nappy rash — which we’ve dealt with plenty of times — our go-to is Burt’s Bees.
It works. It’s thick, it stays in place and when we apply it properly, the rash usually settles down quickly — often overnight. We like that it’s cleaner than Sudocrem, which is the one most people recommend.
For everyday use, we actually don’t use a preventative cream. We tend to leave the skin alone and only step in when there’s a problem.
If you did want a daily option, Bunjie is the one we’d go for — mainly because it’s fragrance-free, which is one of the simplest ways to reduce irritation risk.
What’s also handy is having something like Dr Bronner’s balm for spot protection. It lives in our nappy caddy and we’ll occasionally use it when needed.
