Newborn Diapering: Everything First-Time Parents Need to Know

With a newborn in the family and especially as a first-time parent, your life is going to revolve around your tiny tot for some years.

Babies undergo a rapid growth spurt every few weeks during their initial years. This demands an increased need for sound sleep for adequate nutritional absorption and healthy growth and development.

Understanding everything about the diapers can thereby help you in keeping your little munchkins comfortable, cheerful, and healthy.

According to a market survey, 96.1% of mothers have voted R for Rabbit Feather Diapers rash-free, and 98.5% of mothers have voted them to be super soft and lightweight.

Now, let us understand all the basics about newborn diapering to give you an insightful choice.

Choosing The Right Baby Diapers 

This is one of the most crucial steps to ensure a baby’s comfort and hygiene, essential for their development. You might choose between the two or both, depending on your lifestyle, budget, requirements, and environmental preferences.

Feature	Disposable Diapers	Cloth Diapers
Convenience	Very convenient, single-use, no washing required.	Reusable; requires washing after each use.
Cost	Higher long-term cost, as they are used once and thrown away.	Higher initial cost but more cost-effective in the long term.
Environmental Impact	Less eco-friendly due to waste accumulation.	Eco-friendly as they are reusable and produce less waste.
Absorbency	Typically more absorbent and lasts longer.	Can require more frequent changes, but some brands offer high absorbency.
Skin sensitivity	May contain chemicals, fragrances, and dyes, which can irritate sensitive skin.	Generally chemical-free, especially organic cotton or bamboo options.
Leak Protection	Strong leak protection with advanced features like wetness indicators.	Leak protection depends on the fit and quality of the cloth; some have inserts for extra absorption.
Ease of Use	Very easy to use; just change and dispose.	Requires washing, drying, and reusing; a little more effort.
Comfort	Soft and comfortable but may feel warm in hot weather.	Can be very comfortable, especially if made of natural materials like cotton or bamboo.
Drying Speed	Fast drying due to materials used.	It takes longer to dry, depending on the fabric and weather conditions.
Travel-friendly	Very convenient for traveling or on the go.	Can be bulkier to carry around when wet; requires a diaper bag for storage.
Availability	Readily available in stores and online.	Available in specialty stores or online, but may be harder to find in stores.
Health Impact	May increase the risk of diaper rashes if not changed often.	Less risk of rashes due to natural material. However, washing must be done properly to avoid skin irritation.
Special Needs Options	Available in specific varieties for sensitive skin or medical conditions.	Available in organic and eco-friendly versions for babies with sensitive skin.

How Often to Change Diapers?

According to a study, babies require almost 8-10 diapers per day and use up to 3500 diapers until they are potty trained. So, be prepared to gear up for the endless diaper duty.

Also, during the day, newborns require a diaper change every 2 to 3 hours, depending upon their feeding and sleeping schedule. On the other hand, nighttime requires a diaper change before they are put to sleep. In addition, always opt for good absorbency diapers of almost 12 hours for the nighttime. This would enable them to get through the night without a diaper change.

Essential Necessities 

Along with the diapers, there are also a few necessities to consider carrying, irrespective of the place or time. These are:

Baby Wipes 

To remove and clean the messy tushie, thus promoting a fresh, clean, and hygienic baby skin. Always consider wipes that are free from alcohol, chemicals, or any kind of fragrances, as that can irritate the baby’s sensitive skin.

Changing Pad/Table

This provides a clean, stable, and safe surface for a diaper change, thus making your little one secure despite a messy diaper time.

iii. Diaper Cream 

This works wonders to soothe babies’ irritated and infected skin rash as it helps to form a barrier between the baby’s skin and the moisture from the diaper, thus reducing the risk of severe skin rash or infection.

Always opt for the creams containing zinc oxide or petroleum jelly due to their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, soothing, and healing properties.

Diaper Trash Bags 

These bags are mostly designed to hold in the odors and contain the bacteria, thus making your home space and your nursery smell fresh and hygienic.

Diaper Bag

These bags are one of the best inventions as they not only help carry the diapers and their essentials, but also all the baby care essentials, including a milk bottle, sipper, toy, extra clothes, etc. These bags are well-insulated and large enough to store many items.

Caution: Avoid using talcum powder or baby powder due to the respiratory risks, owing to babies’ sensitivity, and potential skin infection and irritation due to possible accumulation of the powder into the skin folds.

How to Change a Newborn’s Diaper?

Step 1: Lay the baby upon the clean surface, which might be a soft blanket, floor, table, or diaper pad.

Step 2: Unfasten the diaper tapes from either side.

Step 3: Lift the baby’s legs by holding from the ankle and swiftly remove the soiled diaper.

Step 4: Clean the messy part with baby wipes from front to back to prevent the spread of bacteria or infection from the rectum to the genitals.

Step 5: Apply diaper cream to prevent the occurrence of rash.

Step 6: Slide a clean diaper under your baby, ensuring that it fits and is positioned above the baby’s waistline.

Step 7: Fasten it and ensure that it fits snugly but is not too tight.

Diaper Rash Prevention And Treatment

Diaper rash refers to the occurrence of red, irritated, or inflamed skin due to the interaction of a baby’s sensitive skin with the moistness in the diaper region. This wetness and inability to dry that area lead to the buildup of various bacterial and fungal infections in the babies.

This can occur due to a variety of reasons but is mostly a common sight in babies from 6 weeks to 1 year old.

Causes Of Diaper Rash

• Prolonged exposure to moistness leads to the breaking down of the skin’s natural protective barrier, leading to a rash.
• Tight or ill-fitted diapers can cause a rash due to the friction between the material of the diaper and the skin.
• The bacterial or fungal infection thrives in the moist areas of the affected diaper region.
• The intake of several foods of an acidic nature, like tomatoes, citrus, or spicy foods, is known to be the leading cause of a diaper rash.
• Use of certain antibiotics and natural skin irritation or sensitivity makes the material of the diapers, wipes, or laundry detergent allergic to the baby.

Prevention Of Diaper Rash 

• Change the diapers of the newborn frequently, that is, every 2 to 3 hours. This prevents the moisture build-up in the region.
• Clean the area with lukewarm water or baby wipes and let the skin dry before putting on a new diaper.
• Use diaper rash cream containing zinc oxide or just apply petroleum jelly to create a thick natural barrier to protect the baby’s sensitive skin.
• Opt for a right-fitted and breathable diaper that isn’t too loose or too tight.
• Choose gentle, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free products on the baby’s skin to prevent the occurrence of any skin infection or allergies.

Umbilical Cord Care

After the birth, the umbilical cord is cut, but the stump remains, which naturally dries up and falls off within 1 to 3 weeks. Until this happens naturally, it is crucial to take care of it and keep it dry and free from allergies or infections.

Tips To Protect The Stump

• Always keep it clean and dry and wipe off any dirt with a soft, damp, or cotton cloth.
• Ensure to air dry it after diaper change or baby bath. Also, avoid giving traditional baths to the baby by submerging them into the water until the stump falls off. Sponge baths can be given.
• Fold the diapers down in case there is no umbilical cord cut-out to prevent any kind of friction between the diaper and the stump.

Caution: Never try to pull the stump out forcibly, as it will dry up eventually and fall with time.

Signs of infection: redness, bleeding, swelling, foul-smelling green or yellow discharge, warmth around the area indicating possible infection, followed by a fever.

Overnight Diapering 

• Always choose the right-fit diaper with high absorbency for the nighttime.
• Ensure to keep the diaper area clean and dry.
• Clothe your baby in breathable wear to ensure optimum air circulation throughout the night.
• Keep the room dimly lit and consistently follow a sleep routine to accustom your baby to the sleep time. This would reduce your baby’s frequent stimulations and allow them to sleep through the night.

Signs Of A Full Diaper

• Looks heavy and weighed down.
• Moves like jelly, indicating that it is full.
• The baby becomes very fussy and restless.
• It looks puffed up after it is full.
• Diaper containment leak on the clothes or baby’s skin.
• Signaling of wetness indicator.
• An unusual smell.

When To Contact A Pediatrician?

Although diaper rashes are treatable with simple home remedies, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional in case of:

• Persistent or severe rash
• Sighting of blood in the diaper region.
• Irregular urination because the newborn urinates around 6 to 8 times in a day. If not, do check for UTI.
• Swollen belly indicating infection or diarrhea
• Occurrence of fever
• Endless baby colic

Conclusion 

Although a diaper is just considered one of the baby essentials, a lot follows with it in order to protect the little ones from any kind of skin infection, irritation, or digestive or gastrointestinal issues. As a new parent, it is mandatory to be well-versed with everything in regard to diapering to provide a healthy growth and development to your tiny tot.