Diaper Dilemma

Posted on by

If you are a new mom, there is no doubt that you have dealt with the the dilemma of using disposable diapers or not at some or the other point. The plethora of advice and feedback pouring from all sides doesn’t help either. “Are diapers good for babies” rings in your mind from time to time. Without trying to confuse anyone out there, I am sharing a few observations and suggestions which I have personally collected (and still continuing) in my motherhood journey.

Firstly, I am pretty sure all the moms out there would agree that in today’s world when time is of the essence, what a blessing disposable diapers are. Whether you are a working mom or a stay at home mom, the time and energy that diapering saves is pretty substantial. It gives you and your baby a good night’s sleep. It gives you worry free play time with your baby. It lets you focus your energy on the remaining few things that might require your attention other than your precious baby.

But of course the convenience comes with a share of doubt whether your own or induced by someone in your surrounding. You are forced again and again to think whether it is the right choice, whether you should opt more for cloth diapers, whether you are being a lazy mom, the risk of rashes, and of course the expenses adding on to your other baby expenses. If you are a pro diaper mom like me, below is my effort to put to rest any doubts in your mind so that you and your baby can have a happy diapering journey.

Essential Tips for Pro Diaper Moms

  • Rash Cream– A good before nappy rash cream is the first consideration that needs to be given even before you decide on the diaper. People often tend to underestimate the importance of these creams but let me tell you if you have zeroed in on a good rash cream then you can be rest assured that the risk of rashes has been reduced drastically. Of course you have to be a bit free in the usage. Your baby’s face might require a pea size amount of face cream but you must equip the under diaper area well to protect the skin from rashes. I have personally been using the Sebamed rash cream though there are several good ones available online or at stores and you can consult your paediatrician for suggestions.
  • Diaper- On an average you can expect to use upto 150-180 diapers per month though the number will very from baby to baby and from age to age for the same baby. Therefore your decision for the diaper has to be your baby friendly and your pocket friendly. Although my two cents here goes that try not to compromise on the quality of diapers as they are gonna be in close contact to your tender one’s skin. For me, though I have tried a few other variants in times of non-availability but I personally find Pampers to be one of the best that satisfies all of the needs of a good diaper Tip: Do look out for the fit over the clothing too as some of the diapers available do fulfill most of the criterion but are visibly too large and bulky over clothing. Another quick tip is buy the diapers online as most of the leading shopping sites give pretty good discount over them. I have rarely seen any offline store match that. As it is a monthly expenditure, doesn’t hurt to save a bit.
  • Correct Size- Always be watchful on when you need to upgrade the diaper size. Incomplete coverage and red marks on your baby’s thighs are generally an indicator that you need to upgrade diaper size. The norm goes that your baby is gonna grow out of the Newborn and small sizes in a blink and might stick with size 3 (i.e.) medium for long though it varies for baby to baby.
  • Diaper Free Time- Never underestimate the importance of diaper free time. Other than a few minutes of diaper free time between changes, also try to ensure that you give diaper free play time at least 20-30 minutes in a day. For me this time generally used to be based on two criterion i.e. it was not time for poop (as per my estimate though accidents can happen) and also when I would be completely watchful so as not to leave the baby in wet clothes for too long. One can use cloth diapers for these times. Even they are available in wide varieties. The ones from SuperBottoms are really recommended if you wish to avoid puddles. There might be others available like that but I have personally used SuperBottoms which is widely available online on sites like Amazon and also their own website. They have a number of options from dry feel langots to diaper training underpants which are really easy to clean and reuse.
  • Frequency of Change- Other than when baby is sleeping peacefully, I have always followed the rule of changing diapers approx. every 4 hours and of course immediately if soiled with poop. Even at night it is good to be watchful if there are any leakages and whether a change is required. I personally feel that the 4 hour rule that I have followed even at times when it was not required say urine output wise, was one of the best decisions of mine. Because it is not just about the pee, there is sweat and moisture locked within and thus very important to let the skin breath at regular intervals.
  • Cleanliness and Hygiene- Always clean the baby with a good quality wipe in between changes and with water and gentle baby soap at least once in 24 hours which usually gets taken care automatically at bath time. Always keep clean diapers and baby wipes handy while travelling.

The above simple tips can ensure a comfortable diapering journey for your baby which means a lot of fun and giggles and worry free time. And at the end of the day always follow your guts for you know what is best for the both of you. Happy Parenting!

Also if you are in the sleepless nights phase, don’t forget to try these tips.