Bumps SmittenA messy diaper blowout is one of the worst nightmares of any parent. Aside from adding to the pile of laundry, it is more challenging to clean your baby properly afterward. While blowouts are not 100% avoidable, there are several tricks and tips you can follow to reduce the chances.
Below are some ways how to prevent diaper blowouts to say goodbye to that nightmarish mess!
What are Diaper Blowouts?
Diaper blowouts are when the diaper of your baby leaks from pee and poop. There are many reasons why a diaper blowout may happen. The most common cause of these diaper blowouts is something as simple as not changing your baby’s diapers throughout the day.
It can lead to urine buildup inside the diaper of your baby that causes it to swell up. It puts your baby in discomfort as everything just comes out. Diaper blowouts may vary depending on the age of your child, the diaper’s fit and position, how much they poop, and most importantly, the specific type of diaper your child is wearing.
The following are some of the things you can do to prevent these messy blowouts once and for all.
Fluff Out the Diaper’s Ruffles
The ruffles around the legs of your little one are not just there to serve as ornaments. These actually play an important role in leak prevention. Similar to a napkin, towel, or other fibers, diapers can also absorb as much liquid at a time.
There are instances when pee flows out fast and furious that even when the diaper core has the ability to absorb every last drop, a leak will still occur if it cannot do it quickly enough. Think of it as something similar to a flood during a downpour with the ground failing to absorb all the rainwater fast enough.
The diaper ruffles can help in holding everything in for the core to have more time to absorb what it needs to absorb. However, you have to make sure that you fluff them outwards. After you put the diaper on your baby, running your fingers around the ruffles will ensure that these are pulled out properly. Ruffles that remained tucked inside the diaper can cause an untidy leakage.
Use the Right Diaper Size
Diaper blowouts are gross. Poopy, messy, and smelly babies are definitely not fun and there are even instances when a bath is necessary after a blowout.
One of the ways to avoid these explosions is to make sure that your baby wears the right size of diaper for him. A diaper with a proper may sound like common sense. However, it is surprising that many parents don’t seem to realize that their babies are wearing an ill-fitting diaper.
Don’t forget to refer to the weight recommendations on your baby’s diapers. Your little one might have already gotten bigger without you even knowing it. Diapers that are too large will also lead to diaper blowouts due to the extra space.
If you use cloth diapers, make sure that the elastic bands are also tight enough both around the waist and legs. The diaper is too tight if the bands are leaving marks on your baby’s skin.
It is about time to reassess the diaper size that your baby wears if diaper blowouts have become frequent incidences. Generally speaking, size one diapers are best for babies with a weight of 8 to 14 pounds, while size two is for 12 to 18 pounds, and size three is best for babies weighing 16 to 28 pounds.
Secure the Diaper
Babies are constantly moving, and this is why it is a must that you secure the diaper in its correct setup. The diaper should not be too tight or too loose. Make sure you pull it right under the belly button and it is comfortable enough to lessen the gaps between the diaper and the skin to prevent the poop and pee from escaping.
Below are some of the things you need to check to make sure that the diaper is put on your baby securely:
Don’t forget to check the leg gusset or corners that might have bunched up. See to it that the diaper is also comfortably pulled up to your baby’s belly button.
Cuffs should be neatly wrapped around the bottom and legs of your baby. Run your fingers all over the edges after you put on the diaper to pull out the cuffs and ensure ultimate comfort.
See to it that the diaper is a good fit and snug. Position the tabs on the side instead of overlapping to prevent that feeling of a tight belt.
Observe Frequent Diaper Changes
One of the best solutions to avoid diaper blowouts is to increase the frequency of changing the diapers of your baby. Disposable diapers are remarkably absorbent so your baby might not always fuss even if the diaper is already wet. But if they have a big bowel movement while wearing a wet and heavy diaper, this is just the perfect recipe for a messy poop blowout.
Changing a disposable diaper should be done every 2 to 3 hours on average, while cloth diapers should be changed every hour or two. Toddlers tend to hold their bowels and bladder better for longer periods, which means you can also extend the average time between these diaper changes.
If you still experience blowouts even if you are changing diapers every several hours, you can then change them more often. If increasing the frequency still doesn’t solve the issue, you can try a different brand or check the fit of the diaper.
Choose the Correct Diaper Brand
Every baby is unique and different with a different size and shape. Diaper makers know about this all too well and they try to accommodate all these differences. But you might be able to find that one brand with a design that best fits the shape of your baby that is more comfortable than other brands. Never think twice about trying out different brands until you find the one that best suits your baby.
Use these tips on how to prevent diaper blowouts and say goodbye to those explosive messes for good!
