You will be amazed at the range of choice when it comes to nappies/diapers. Take into account your comfort, cost, and convenience when you decide what’s best for your baby.
Diaper Choices
Disposable Nappies / Diapers
Good quality disposables tend to keep baby drier, reducing the likelihood of diaper rash. Disposable diapers come in a range of shapes and sizes and are designed to fit snugly so there’s less chance of leakage. You may need to try several brands before finding one that suits your baby best.
Cloth Nappies / Diapers
Cloth nappies/diapers are cheaper than disposables. With modern diaper soaks, just soak, rinse, and dry. Some cloth diapers are shaped to provide a better fit. You will need around 24 to 30 diapers to start, plus liners, fasteners and pilchers/baby pants.
Plastic Pilchers / Baby Pants
These are the waterproof over-pants used with cloth diapers that prevent baby’s clothes becoming completely soaked. Avoid plastic pilchers if baby has diaper rash.
Diaper Washing Service
Cloth diapers are supplied, picked up twice a week and a new supply of fresh diapers delivered. Excellent if you can afford it, particularly in the first few weeks. It is also a great idea for a present to new parents.
Soiled diapers
Don’t flush disposable diapers down the toilet. If they are very soiled, scrape the contents into the toilet, roll the diaper up and seal with the tabs. Keep them in a special lidded diaper pail with a plastic liner, and when the bag is full, seal it and place it in the garbage. The lidded pail helps contain the smell. “Diaper sacks” are ideal for holding soiled diapers (cloth and disposable).
Getting Started
In the first few weeks, you’ll probably need to change baby around 8 to 10 times a day, so get everything set up before the baby arrives :
- Change table or change mat at the right height to avoid backache
- Disposable diapers OR 24-30 cloth diapers, fasteners, diaper liners, and pilchers/plastic pants.
- Baby wipes
- Diaper powder or barrier cream to prevent diaper rash
- Diaper pail/bucket with lid, for soaking cloth diapers (or for soiled disposable diapers)
- Diaper soak or a good but mild soap powder
How to Clear Diaper Rash
Diaper rash is something that you will have to deal with on a regular basis as it is just a part of life for a baby in the first year or so.
The most likely cause of diaper rash is from wetness where even the most absorbent nappies won’t take all the moisture away from the skin. As a baby’s skin is very sensitive it doesn’t take much to develop diaper rash. The longer a baby is left in a damp diaper the more chance it will have of developing diaper rash.
This is only made worse when there is feces in the diaper as the bacteria from the stool will mix with the urine creating ammonia which is particularly harsh on a baby’s skin.
Moisture in the diaper also makes chafing worse and as chafing is one of the reasons for diaper rash the combination of the two can make for a very unhappy child.
Once again cleanliness will help reduce the problem however even the detergents that you use to clean nappies can cause a reaction with your baby’s skin and this can be another cause of diaper rash.
Chafing can be reduced by powders or the use or petroleum jelly but even some of the powders can cause sensitivities with some babies.
You can see how there are many different factors that need to be considered when trying to solve your baby’s rashes:
- Clear up diaper or nappy rash as quickly as possible by changing wet and soiled diapers straight away.
- Clean baby’s bottom well with water.
- Make sure the bottom is clean and dry before putting on a dry diaper
- Air baby’s bottom
- A natural diaper rash cream may help.
- Hang cloth diapers to dry in the sunshine
- Avoid plastic pilchers or baby pants at least until the rash has cleared
- Use hypoallergenic, chlorine-free, latex-free, dye-free, and fragrance-free diapers such as Earth’s Best Diapers that are gentler on baby’s skin.
