If you’ve heard about the French diapering method and wondered whether how actually works - at 3am, with a poop-covered wriggling baby and no desire for complicated routines - this guide is for you.
The honest answer is: it’s simpler than what you’re doing now. Here’s exactly how it works.
What is the French diapering method?
In France, conventional baby wipes are less popular. Instead, parents clean their baby at every diaper change using a nourishing lotion applied to a soft cotton pad (just like making your own wipe). The lotion cleans the skin, nourishes it, and leaves a lightweight protective layer behind - all in one step.
French pediatricians have recommended this approach for generations, and the results speak for themselves: diaper rash is far less common in France than in countries where disposable wipes are the go-to.
Not because French babies have different skin, but because their skin barrier is being protected at every single change rather than repeatedly stripped.
What you need
A diapering lotion. You’re looking for something with clean, nourishing ingredients - olive oil, beeswax, vitamin E - that will both cleanse and protect.
Our Diapering Lotion has six ingredients, is EWG Verified, and independently tested for heavy metals.
Soft cotton pads. 100% cotton, unbleached if possible. Reusable or disposable, both work. They’re softer than any wipe on the market and have no additives to irritate sensitive skin.
That’s it. Two things. We promise it’s not more complicated!
How to do it: step by step
Step 1: Pump one to two pumps of lotion directly onto a cotton pad.
Step 2: Wipe your baby clean as you would with a regular wipe. The lotion lifts everything - including meconium in the newborn days - without scrubbing.
Step 3: Don’t rinse. The thin layer of lotion left on the skin is the point - it’s a natural protective barrier that keeps moisture and irritants out between changes.
Step 4: Put on a fresh diaper and you’re done. No separate barrier cream needed for a routine change.
But wait - isn’t a cotton pad just another disposable wipe?
It’s a question we hear a lot. The difference is what’s on it (and what’s in it).
A conventional wipe is pre-moistened with water, preservatives, and often fragrance - it cleans and leaves the skin bare. The lotion on a cotton pad cleans and leaves the skin protected. That distinction is big when you’re doing it eight times a day.
Baby wipes also tend to contain microplastics. Whereas 100% cotton pads are completely natural.
And if you choose reusable cotton pads, you’re also eliminating thousands of single-use wipes from landfill over the course of your baby’s diapering years. A genuinely easy swap with a big impact.
What about when there’s a rash?
The lotion is your prevention strategy - the thing that keeps skin healthy between changes.
At the very first sign of redness, add our Diaper Balm on top. Apply a generous layer, like you mean it, and don’t wait until the rash is established. Early action always means faster recovery.
Our Diaper Balm has been dubbed the “magic cream” because it can be used anywhere on the body for a variety of skin conditions (eczema rash, cradle cap, dry lips, postpartum care, post-wax soothing, sunburn, and so much more!)
How long until you see a difference?
Most moms notice their baby’s skin looking and feeling different overnight (yes, literally. Just check out our reviews on Amazon!).
Give it a week and you’ll wonder why you ever did it any other way.