A significant number of parents experience leakage of fluids through the edges of nappies. The most common cause of this problem is incorrectly sized nappies. If you have a leaking nappy, the first thing you should do is to check whether the size of the nappies you have is suitable for your baby. Don’t forget that as your baby grows, the amount of secretions and urine increases. The average one-year-old’s urine volume is twice that of a newborn, so although the size of the nappy may be appropriate for the baby’s weight, consider that the absorbent layer of the nappy may not be able to absorb the extra urine volume. The bigger the nappy, the more absorbent it is, so if nappy leakage is a common problem, try buying a bigger size. If the nappy is the right size, here are 4 tips to prevent leakage, depending on the leakage area.
- If fluids/faeces leak down the baby’s back:
Reasons why fluids may leak:
1. Too much space between the nappy and baby’s back.
2. Due to very active movement, the nappy is out of alignment (quite common in S babies)
3. The front of the nappy is higher than the back.
Tip:
When putting the nappy on your baby, make sure the nappy is high enough on the back to prevent leakage and attach the stickers diagonally down the waistband in the specially marked area.
- If fluids leak through the sides of the nappy:
Reasons why fluids may leak:
1. The protective folds around your baby’s legs may be folded inwards towards the inside of the nappy;
2. The nappy stickers are not attached in a designated area on the front of the nappy;
3. Only one side of the nappy sticker is stuck on.
Tip:
Make sure that the edges of the nappy are not tucked in towards the inside of the nappy and that the waistband is evenly attached. If you find that the nappy stickers do not fit in the designated area of the torso, you should switch to a larger nappy size.
- If fluids are present, faeces pass at the inner sides of the baby’s thighs:
Reasons:
1. The protective folds of the nappy are folded inwards;
2. Too much space between the nappy and your baby’s thighs.
Tip:
Try to put the nappy on straight and high enough, leaving as little space as possible between the crotch and the nappy, so that the nappy fits snugly against the inner thighs. Make sure that the protective folds are not tucked in towards the inside of the nappy.
- If fluids leak in the abdominal area:
Reasons:
1. Nappies too loose in the waist area;
2. The baby often lies on its stomach;
3. Direction of urination.
Tip:
When feeding your baby’s nappy, lift the front of the nappy slightly higher than the back and attach the stickers diagonally upwards in the designated area of the waistband.
We hope this information has helped you to understand where you are making mistakes when changing your baby’s nappies, and will help you to avoid further leakage of fluids through the nappies.
