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Burt's Bees Baby Diaper Ointment review: a natural, soothing nappy rash cream
If you’re looking for an all-natural nappy rash cream that’s suitable for even the most sensitive of skin, the Burt’s Bees Baby Diaper Ointment is a good choice. But does it cure nappy rash? Our parent-tester, Laura, shares her verdict.
By Laura Westerman | Last updated Apr 15, 2024
Price: RRP £10
Very soothing
Contains vitamin E and zinc oxide which helps to treat and soothe the skin
Paediatrician-tested
Smells nice
A little goes a long way
Thick consistency (harder to spread in cold weather)
Leaves a white trace on the skin
Pricier than other nappy creams
Type: Cream | Size: 85g
Ease of use: 4.5/5
Effectiveness: 5/5
Value for money: 4.5/5
Designed to shield against nappy rash, Burt’s Bees Baby Diaper Ointment offers a good amount of protection for your baby's delicate skin. With a formulation containing 40% zinc oxide, it effectively blocks moisture to prevent redness and irritation, and I found that it kept my daughter’s skin soft and smooth between nappy changes.
Enriched with natural ingredients such as shea butter, lavender oil, and jojoba seed oil, this ointment not only smells great, but it also nourishes the skin and forms a protective barrier that absorbs wetness pretty well, thus preventing your child from chaffing.
Although it’s a little thicker than other nappy rash creams I’ve tried, such as the Childs Farm Nappy Cream, and leaves a white trace on the skin if too much is applied, I like that a little goes a long way as you only need to apply a pea-sized amount to your baby’s bottom, making it good value for money.
Another bonus is that all Burt’s Bees products are paediatrician-tested, formulated with no parabens, phthalates, petrolatum or SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) and they’re not tested on animals.
Although it’s predominantly a nappy cream, Burt’s Bees Baby Diaper Ointment can also be used to treat and soothe dry, flakey skin, eczema or general skin rashes on the arms, tummy or legs.
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How we tested Burt's Bees Baby Diaper Ointment
I used the Burt’s Bees Baby Diaper Ointment on my 22-month-old toddler over the course of a week and comparatively tested it alongside other nappy rash creams including Sudocrem, Bepanthen, Childs Farm Nappy Cream, Drapolene and Metanium.
During testing, I scored this nappy cream on different criteria, including ease of use, effectiveness and value for money.
How easy is Burt's Bees Baby Diaper Ointment to use?
The Burt’s Bees Baby Diaper Ointment is generally easy to apply. It has a thicker consistency than barrier creams like Childs Farm Nappy Cream so can be a little messy if too much is applied. It needs to be washed off your hands after use as it leaves a white trace on the skin.
Similar in texture to Sudocrem, I found a pea-sized amount to be just enough for each application.
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How effective is Burt's Bees Baby Diaper Ointment?
Very. It cleared up redness and irritation almost immediately after the first application and I found it to be more effective than barrier creams like Bepanthen and Childs Farm. It also left my toddler’s skin feeling smooth.
96% of Mumsnet users who tried out the Burt’s Bees Baby range in 2019, which included the Diaper Ointment, said they would recommend it to family and friends.
One of the great things about the Diaper Ointment is that it’s 100% natural. It contains zinc oxide, which soothes irritated skin as well as vitamin E to provide nourishment. The addition of beeswax creates a water-resistant barrier that keeps dampness away to help with healing.
The sweet almond oil leaves a pleasant scent that smells much less medicinal than stronger nappy creams like Metanium.
Is Burt's Bees Baby Diaper Ointment good value for money?
Retailing at around £10 for 85g worth of product, the effectiveness and natural qualities of the Burt’s Bees Baby Diaper Ointment is worth the spend in my opinion, particularly for newborns and younger babies.
While it’s more expensive than the likes of Sudocrem, which is still my favourite nappy rash cream, the Burt’s Bees cream feels more premium.
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About the author
Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a one-year-old, she is fully invested in discovering the best and most affordable baby products on the market, and sharing her knowledge and findings with other parents.
With over seven years' experience as a full-time editor, five of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing pushchair product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier.
In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of baby product videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.