If you notice excessive gapping at the legs and waist, the diaper may be too large for your baby. Let your baby gain another pound or two and then try again.
Bigger diapers are capable of handling more waste as they have more absorbent material. However, diapers may also leak because they are too big. Make sure that the diaper fits snugly around the waist and thighs by running your fingers around the edges and checking that there are no gaps.
If a diaper is too small, it will reach maximum absorption quickly and be unable to hold the amount of poop necessary. A bigger size diaper will allow more room for the poop and have more absorbent material. Constant blowouts are a problem as they cover your baby in poop as well as the area around them.
Diaper companies know this, so larger sizes are designed to hold more urine. By sizing up your diaper, you're basically increasing your absorbency. For example, a Huggies Size 6 diaper holds 7 to 13 more ounces than their Size 5 diaper.
They should fasten easily without having to tug them too much. If the tabs meet or overlap in the middle with no problem, the diaper might be too big. On the other hand, if you have to pull to fasten them and they're tight, the diaper is probably too small.
It should not require too much pulling or adjusting to secure the tabs. On the contrary, if the tabs overlap toward the center of the waist, you need to go down a size.
While a nappy should fit snugly around waist and legs, you want a loose fit at the front and back. Also make sure the nappy is big enough to cover the lower part of baby's tummy, to just below the belly button. Finally, double check baby's buttocks are completely covered.
The most common cause of leakage is fitting your baby with the wrong diaper size. So start by checking if the diaper size is right for your baby. Note also that the amount of pee increases as your baby grows. By the time your baby is 12 months old, the amount of pee discharged in a day will be twice that of a newborn.
Average-size baby boys usually move into Size 1 diapers around four weeks old and Size 2 diapers at about three to four months. Average-size baby girls reach the same milestones later, transitioning into Size 1 diapers around six weeks and Size 2 diapers between four or five months.
Therefore parents can plan to buy around three to four boxes, based on 164 diapers per box. Size 2 (12-18 pounds): These are commonly used by babies 3 to 8 months old, who produce eight or nine dirty diapers each day. Expect to buy anywhere from three to five boxes, with 142 diapers in each one.
There's no real need to wipe your boy down after a wee. Modern nappies are highly absorbent to quickly soak up most of it, while urine rarely irritates their skin even if it does come into contact. Always wipe after a number two though.
Change Before You Feed
This usually wakes babies up enough to get them to take a full feeding. If that wakes your baby too much, change their diaper first, and then feed them. If you change the diaper after you feed your baby, you risk completely waking them again.
Examine a diaper in the current diaper size to see how it fits your baby. If you notice red marks around your baby's upper legs and tummy from the elastic in the diaper, the diaper is likely too small. Additionally, if you notice that the diaper looks or feels too snug on your baby, it is likely too small.
Check the nappy to make sure it looks straight and balanced on your baby. Make sure the waistband sits just under your baby's belly button. Make sure the tapes align with the coloured waistband when they're fastened. Run two fingers under the waistband so you're sure the nappy isn't too tight or too loose.
You can feel what a properly wet nappy should feel like by putting three tablespoons (45ml) of water onto a clean, dry one. Urine should be pale and mild smelling. This post on signs of effective feeding has more information.
It's easy to overlook, but the leg cuffs, or ruffles on the edge of the diaper should be pulled out. Make sure to run your finger around these edges to make sure they are pulled out. This helps lock everything in, so there isn't leakage.
If the tapes meet in the centre of 'the zone', or are still on the coloured part of the nappy, then you're spot on. Once they're moving towards, or are in the white area, it's time to move up a size and avoid - or at least reduce the chances of - those leaks.
DIAPER TIP: The ruffles around the diaper leg holes aren't just for looks! They should always be visible on the outside and not tucked inside the diaper around the legs. They're specifically designed and engineered to prevent leakage.
You Don't Have to Change Every Wet Diaper
Newborns poop lots, and you don't want to have your baby's cute little tushy sitting in that. But for pee diapers, you don't have to change the baby every time they go.
You do not want the diaper to cover the cord area as air helps the wound heal and dry, allowing it to fall off. It is important to keep the belly button dry and free from urine and fecal matter.
Place the child on diapering surface and unfasten diaper. Clean the child's diaper area with fresh baby wipes. Remember to always wipe from front to back! Keep dirty diaper/clothing away from any surfaces that cannot be easily cleaned.
Support your baby's head and neck, make sure their tummy and back is nice and straight (not curled up), and rub or pat their back gently. You don't need to spend ages burping your baby, a couple of minutes should be enough.