We scored 9 diaper creams on what they're made of, what parents and testers report, and value. Our top pick is Triple Paste Diaper Rash Ointment, with a Cradle Score of 87.
Highest Cradle Score of the 9 we scored. BabyGearLab's best overall: fragrance-free, EWG Verified and effective on severe rashes.
Materials & safety score of 86. 14% zinc oxide with no petrolatum and no fragrance; smooth and easy to wash off.
Parent consensus score of 82. Best value: 15% zinc oxide that spreads easily, fragrance free and cheap.
Value & longevity score of 92. A cheap 10% zinc cream that's free of petrolatum, parabens and dyes.
| # | Product and Cradle Score | Materials & safety | Parents | Value | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 87Triple Paste Diaper Rash OintmentAbout $10 | 84 | 90 | 88 | Low |
| 2 | 86Honest Company Diaper Rash CreamAbout $11 | 86 | 88 | 84 | Medium |
| 3 | 82Aquaphor Baby Diaper Rash Cream 3-in-1About $8 | 76 | 82 | 94 | Low |
| 4 | 80Boudreaux's Butt Paste Maximum StrengthAbout $9 | 74 | 82 | 90 | Low |
| 5 | 79A+D Zinc Oxide Diaper Rash CreamAbout $6 | 76 | 76 | 92 | Low |
| 6 | 76Motherlove Diaper BalmAbout $22 | 86 | 74 | 58 | Low |
| 7 | 76Earth Mama Diaper BalmAbout $14 | 80 | 72 | 74 | Low |
| 8 | 67Weleda Calendula Diaper Rash CreamAbout $16 | 70 | 64 | 66 | Medium |
| 9 | 65Desitin Maximum Strength Diaper Rash PasteAbout $12 | 52 | 70 | 80 | Medium |
Scores out of 100. Materials & safety and Parents each count 40%, Value 20%.
Must-have Rash is common, and a zinc oxide or petrolatum cream is the usual first line.
Zinc oxide is the main active ingredient in most diaper creams; higher percentages are usually used for worse rashes. Fragrance-free formulas are easier on sensitive skin.
Of the 9 we scored, 2 of 9 carry EWG Verified. 6 have a safety or materials point to know about, noted in the reviews below.
BabyGearLab's best overall: fragrance-free, EWG Verified and effective on severe rashes. Contains petrolatum and lanolin.
14% zinc oxide with no petrolatum and no fragrance; smooth and easy to wash off. The lid is hard to open.
Best value: 15% zinc oxide that spreads easily, fragrance free and cheap. Contains mineral oil.
40% zinc oxide makes a thick overnight barrier for active rashes. Very thick, and not cloth-diaper safe.
A cheap 10% zinc cream that's free of petrolatum, parabens and dyes. It lists "fragrance" without saying what's in it, so skip it if your baby reacts to scents.
A short-ingredient organic balm with no zinc, safe for cloth diapers, with a soft finish. Better for prevention than treating a bad rash, and expensive.
EWG Verified and cloth-diaper safe, with no zinc or petrolatum. Contains essential oils that can irritate sensitive babies.
12% zinc oxide with calendula and almond oil, no petrolatum or synthetic fragrance. The scent divides parents, one tester found it watery, and it contains fragrance allergens like geraniol.
40% zinc oxide and widely available, but it's hard to spread and contains talc, petrolatum and unnamed fragrance.
Triple Paste Diaper Rash Ointment has the highest Cradle Score of the 9 diaper creams we scored, at 87 out of 100 (Excellent). BabyGearLab's best overall: fragrance-free, EWG Verified and effective on severe rashes.
Honest Company Diaper Rash Cream scores highest on materials and safety among the diaper creams we scored. Across the group, 2 of 9 carry EWG Verified.
Triple Paste Diaper Rash Ointment has the strongest parent and tester consensus, based on the praise and complaints that keep coming up in hands-on reviews and parent communities.
Aquaphor Baby Diaper Rash Cream 3-in-1 (About $8) scores highest on value and longevity among diaper creams with a Good or Excellent score.
None of the 9 diaper creams on this page has an open recall in our latest check. Always check the CPSC recall database (or NHTSA for car seats) before you buy or use a product.
There's no legal definition of "non-toxic", so we score specific things: materials, certifications, ingredients and independent test results. Of the 9 diaper creams we scored, Honest Company Diaper Rash Cream has the highest materials and safety score, at 86 out of 100. Each product page lists exactly what we checked.
Each score is 40% materials and safety, 40% parent and tester consensus, and 20% value and longevity. Every product page lists its sources and when we last checked it, and brands cannot pay for placement.
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