Preventing Leaks
How to Prevent Leaks When
Cloth Diapering
One of the most popular
questions a new parent will ask is, “Why is my baby leaking out of the diaper?” There are a few different reasons
why a diaper may leak. Here is a explanation of the causes of leaks and how to
prevent them, starting with the usual culprit:
The diaper cover is too
big or too small.
If your baby is 18 pounds
and using a diaper cover meant to be used for a baby in the 9-14 pound range,
the diaper cover will simply not be sufficient and you will experience leaks.
Parents who purchase a cloth diapering layette in the newborn and small sizes
sometimes are frustrated when they have to buy the next size up right away.
Remember the newborn and small sizes last for about 3-5 months, and in
retrospect that is a small time period. When baby moves up to the medium size,
that stage will last for at least a year, sometimes even up to two years. Our
oldest son grew into the medium size Bummis Super Whisper Wraps around 4 months
old and was almost two years old when he finally moved into the Large size! The
biggest reason why baby will leak is because the diaper cover is simply too big
or too small. It is very important to use the correct size of diaper cover for
your baby.
There is not enough “diaper” for absorbency or the
diaper has not been pre-washed and dried effectively.
If
absorbency is the issue and you are using the economy diapers from the super
discount store, then you have been experiencing leaks. It is simply not worth
all the work of extra laundry to purchase the cheaper variety of diapers. So
what if you’ve saved $12.00? Chances are those extra loads of laundry each week
have eaten up any “savings,” not to mention your frustration level. So invest
in quality diapers and if you have a heavy wetter, try using a doubler for
added absorbency. One important note: when you purchase new diapers it is very
important to pre-wash and dry them many times before using. If you are using
unbleached diapers washing and drying are even more critical. New cotton
contains many oils which need to be removed in order for the diaper to absorb.
This is especially important for cloth diapers because they contain so many
layers of cotton.
The diaper is not
contained fully in the cover and moisture is wicking out onto clothing.
Once in a while a parent
will accidentally let the diaper stick out the front or back of the cover and
the moisture will wick out. To prevent this use the correct size of diaper to
ensure a perfect fit. Make sure to place the diaper fully inside the diaper
cover and you should have no problems.
Most importantly, remember to change baby every one to two
hours.
Diapers must be changed when they are completely soaked and
saturated. Keep in mind that there is 100% cotton next to baby's skin, and not
any super absorbent chemicals. You may have to change baby more often with
cloth diapers, but we think your baby is worth it!
Changing
your baby often is one of the most important measures to ensuring a leak-free
diapering experience. When parents use high quality diapers and the right sized
diaper covers, baby will be comfortable and leak-free!
©2004 Mary McCarthy is Mommy to three energetic young boys and
the former owner of Comfy Bummy Diapers, http://www.ComfyBummy.com.
She and her husband have been using cloth diapers (leak-free!)
since their oldest son was born. *No content may be copied
without written approval of site owners.
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