DO NOT WORRY IF YOU FUMBLE DOING YOUR FIRST NAPPY CHANGE - IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL - YOU’LL BE AN EXPERT IN NAPPY CHANGING IN NO TIME!

 

Leaking Nappies

 Baby nappies can leak for all sorts of reasons, but stopping them usually has one solution: CHANGE!

 Possible Causes:

 

Wrong Nappy Size

You can generally go by weight, following the weights and sizes given on the packet. If a nappy is tight and constricting, if it leaves a red mark around the sides and tummy, or if it’s too tight, perhaps you need to go up a size. However, mostly there’s a lot of leeway in nappies. Sometimes leaking is due to the nappy being too tight.  If it is squeezed tight against the baby, it can’t hold as much liquid. 

If your baby is two weeks old or younger, he probably still has his umbilical cord stump, which nappies don’t lie over smoothly. Be sure that when you put your baby’s nappy on, it’s fitted snugly belowthe stump.

The nappy may be too big or too small. Try going up a size - or down, if the nappy is too loose, or adjusting the button set up if using a one size fits all nappy.

The nappy may be the right size, but fastened too loosely. Try closing it a little more snugly.

A baby boy’s nappy sometimes leaks if it has been fastened with his “gentle pointer” pointing upwards. Try directing it down as you put the nappy on.

 

Lack of Absorbency

Has your insert been prewashed to increase absorbency? Some fabrics like bamboo and hemp will need several washes before they reach their full absorbency. If your nappies are new, then the nappies may have not been washed enough to remove the fabric softeners used in manufacture that greatly reduce the absorbency of the nappy.

You need to wash the nappies twice again, preferably in hot water, with a regular amount of regular washing detergent. Most nappies are usable after two washes but take 5-7 washes to reach full absorbency.

From your main nappy or even inserts - You may go through short periods of unsettlement during these growth periods, and it may be a case of trying to fit the nappy on in a slightly different way.

Remedy this by a good absorbent nappy insert. It’s very unusual for the bamboo nappy to leak, so same with a minky nappy designed with fast wicking, fast drying materials – so the nappy quickly moves the moisture away from baby’s bottom to keep baby drier than in the bamboo nappy-

Try and experiment a bit until you find the correct combination of nappy style plus insert, and the most comfortable snug fit using the correct popper settings.

Just remember as with everything else, you will get the perfect combination in no time, don’t stress out on this - it’s not rocket science!

 

Popper buttons done up too tightly or too loosely 

Try the poppers on a looser or tighter (be careful not to make it too tight so that it leaves marks on your child skin) setting than you are currently using to see if that makes any difference, sometimes even though it may seem illogical, putting them on a looser setting can actually help.

 

Detergent Build Up

Sometimes the detergent you use to wash your nappies in can build up in the fabric of both the nappy and the insert, and can reduce the effectiveness of the nappy (for example the insert will absorb less liquid).

To remove the detergent wash as normal but do extra rinse cycles until you can no longer see any bubbles in the water.

 

Nappy put on Incorrectly

A nappy may leak if it's not put on the baby correctly.  Check out our nappy fitting guide for more suggestions on correct fitting.

 

If your nappies are not new

Is the cover the right size and being put on correctly?The cover should be snug but not tight and the whole nappy must be covered. The cover should not be too big or too small             

Is the cover worn out?Covers last around 4-6 months of full-time use, after that they may start to lose their waterproof properties.          

Is the nappy saturated ?You may need to change the nappy more often.