Common Diapering Myths You Need to Stop Believing in for Your Baby’s Sake

If there’s one thing that’s sure to be constant in a mom’s life, it’s the pouring in of advice from all corners. Once the baby is out, relatives, friends, and even random strangers cannot wait to give you their opinion on baby-related issues, right? Sure, a lot of it will be completely helpful and can make your life easier. But when there are 20 different – and we mean different! – tips coming in from every direction on a single topic, it’s bound to get you totally confused. Nutrition, sleep routines, potty-training – it’s all such a maze that you have to get around, trying to filter which advice makes sense and which needs to be ignored. And we’re sure one of your major areas of concern is going to be the big ‘D’ – diapering, of course!

Baby Diapering Myths You Need to Stop Believing

Diapering – do it right and you’ve got a happy, comfortable baby; do it wrong and you’re going to see angry red rashes on your little one’s bottom and will have to deal with his crankiness too! There are several pieces of advice that will come your way from experienced moms and well-wishers, but not all of it is completely accurate. These are a few you need to stop believing in.

1. Using Diapers Leads to Rashes.

Let’s get this common one out of the way, first and foremost! No, using a diaper alone is not the reason why a rash can appear on your baby’s bottom. Chemicals and moisture from your baby’s pee and poo can irritate his skin; add an ill-fitting and/or wet diaper to the equation and you can imagine what happens! Sometimes, even new foods introduced to the baby’s diet can lead to those red patches too. So no, diapers alone don’t cause a rash. The way you can avoid this, as much as possible, is to keep changing nappies frequently, and also by using a good diaper rash cream. Choose diapers made of soft materials, such as Huggies Diapers, which are also clinically proven to prevent diaper rash.

2. Larger-Sized Diapers Help Prevent Rashes.

Once again, this is purely a myth – diaper rash does occur when there’s friction between the baby’s skin and his wet diaper, but that doesn’t mean you should purchase sizes that will be too loose for him. Diapers should be like the clothes your baby wears – well-fitting and comfortable. If the diapers’ size is too large, you’re going to be in for a lot more leaks, messes, and slip-ups! In general, check whether the diaper fits around your baby’s leg snugly, without leaving telltale red marks. You can also check whether the diaper tabs close easily at your baby’s waist without a lot of tugging and pulling.

3. You Need to Wake your Baby in the Middle of the Night if He Has Wet His Diaper.

No, you don’t, not unless his diaper is extremely wet or filled with poo! While your baby’s diaper needs to be changed every 2-3 hours generally (resulting in close to 10-12 diapers per day), this rule can be relaxed a little while he’s sleeping. Put on a fresh diaper before his bedtime. However, as soon as your little one is awake, change his nappy, because the longer the acid content of the pee/poo stays in contact with his skin, the more trouble it might cause. And if you do need to change it during the night, make sure you finish the process quickly without interacting much with the baby, so that both of you can sleep off quickly. The need to change also depends on the type of diaper he’s wearing – if it’s very absorbent, he’s probably not going to wake up feeling uncomfortable. You could choose diapers like Huggies Wonder Pants, which will not only safeguard against pesky leaks from the sides but will also pull in wetness and keep your baby dry for close to 12 hours. No more sacrificing your or your baby’s precious sleep time!

4. You Should use Baby Powder on his Diaper Area While Changing His Nappy.

Again, you’re probably doing your baby more harm than good by using baby powder, especially on sensitive areas. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of baby powder at all, citing that it may cause lung damage if the particles are inhaled. While the idea behind using baby powder while changing diapers was to ensure dryness and prevent diaper rash, diapers today do that job effortlessly. For additional measure, using a diaper rash cream as a barrier between your baby’s skin and the diaper should also do the trick. Keep away from baby powder as much as possible for use on sensitive areas.

5. If There are No Leaks or Tangible Wetness, You Don’t Have to Change your Baby’s Diaper.

Just because the diaper is doing a great job of absorbing wetness doesn’t mean your child can walk around in the same one all day along! The longer your child wears a soiled or wet diaper, the more prone he will be to infections. Even if there is zero leakage or the diaper doesn’t feel too wet, it’s always best to change it every 2-3 hours. In between changes, let your baby’s bottom dry out for a while; give him some nappy-free time.

When it comes to your baby’s cute little bum, we know you want to stay clear of diaper rash or any inconvenient ‘messes’. If you’ve ever had doubts about whether these pieces of advice were myths or facts, well, now you know that along with dirty diapers, you have to dunk these myths in the bin too!

Also Read:

Widely Believed Myths About Baby Skin
Quick Tips for Preventing Baby Diaper Leaks
Most Common Newborn Baby Care Myths Debunked