How to use newborn diapers

Many new mothers have a headache when they first come into contact with diapers. They have no idea how to use them. Improper use will not only make the baby uncomfortable, but also affect the effectiveness of use. In fact, there are many things to note when using diapers that are not tight. Even the material, size, color, quantity and cleaning method have many requirements. So how do you choose diapers suitable for newborns?

Diaper size

Diapers can be made into either square or rectangular shapes. If you want to make square diapers, cut them into 60 cm square size according to the weight of the newborn. Fold the diaper diagonally twice into a triangle when using it. If you want to make rectangular diapers, cut them into 60 cm long and 40 cm wide. Generally, fold them into 4 to 5 layers to form a 12 to 15 cm wide diaper, which is just right for newborns.

Be careful not to make the diaper too wide after folding to avoid discomfort to the newborn; the diaper should not be too thick or too long to avoid deformation of the lower limbs caused by being clamped between the legs for a long time, which may also easily cause contamination.

Diaper Color

The colors of diapers for newborn babies should be white, light yellow, and light pink. Avoid using dark colors, especially blue, cyan, and purple. Light-colored diapers can promptly detect whether the newborn's urination and defecation are normal, and can effectively prevent and treat possible diseases.

Number of diapers

Generally, you should prepare 20 to 30 diapers for washing and changing.

Diaper cleaning & disinfection

Diapers should be prepared before the baby is born. Whether they are new cotton or old face, they must be cleaned and disinfected before use, and then exposed to the sun until dry. Do not use stained cotton to make diapers.

How to use diapers:

When using a rectangular diaper, fold it in half and place it on the buttocks, then go over the anus and genitals and cover the abdomen. Wrap the cloth strips at both corners of the diaper on the buttocks around the waist, make a knot on the diaper on the abdomen, then turn the diaper above the cloth strip down and stuff it towards the anus to prevent the urine from being absorbed onto the underwear after getting wet. At the same time, it can absorb more urine and reduce dirt and bagging. Some rectangular diapers do not have cloth tapes at the corners. You can put an elastic band around the lower abdomen of the newborn to secure the diaper, but it should not be too tight to avoid damaging the skin.

If the elastic band is wetted by urine or feces and is not replaced in time, the elastic band will rub back and forth between the waist and groin, sometimes causing the skin in that area to be abraded, and in severe cases, a deep wound will be formed. Infection is very likely to occur, therefore, the use of elastic bands is not recommended.

When using a triangular diaper, place the bottom edge of the diaper at the waist, with the top corner going over the anus and external genitalia to cover the lower abdomen. Wrap the two corners of the bottom edge of the diaper to the front and buckle them inside the diaper. In order to improve the water absorption effect and reduce leakage in the anus and external genitalia, 3 to 4 layers of rectangular soft white cloth can be filled in the triangular diaper.

Regardless of the type of diaper, a thin cotton pad about 30 cm long and wide can be placed underneath it to absorb urine and prevent urine and feces from leaking into the blanket. In addition, when you go out of the house, you can put a layer of plastic film or rubber cloth on the outside of the small cotton pad to prevent urine and feces from leaking out; but it is not suitable to use it at home because it has poor air permeability and can easily cause diaper rash in newborns.

Diaper changing time

Generally, diapers are changed before feeding or after waking up. Do not change the diaper after feeding or while sleeping, even if the baby urinates, to avoid milk spilling or affecting the baby's normal sleep cycle. Place another small piece of diaper on top of the diaper and discard it after you have finished. Diapers with urine stains should be washed and exposed to sunlight before reuse.

Before changing your baby's diaper, place a large changing mat under the baby's lower body to prevent the baby from suddenly urinating or defecating during the diaper change and soiling the sheets. Gently lift the baby's buttocks with one hand and remove the wet diaper with the other hand.

Warm reminder 1: When changing diapers for baby girls and cleaning the buttocks and vulva, be sure to wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria in the anus from entering the vagina. There is no need to clean the inside of the labia.

Warm reminder 2: When changing diapers for baby boys, there is no need to deliberately clean the foreskin before six months old, because the foreskin of a baby boy will not be completely grown together with the penis until around four years old. Turning over the tender foreskin too early will hurt the baby's genitals.

The correct way to wash diapers

First of all, the newborn's diaper should be washed after urination and defecation every day. It is best to wash them one by one. For convenience, you can also wash the diapers together, but do not wash too many at one time to avoid incomplete washing.

When washing a diaper, first use fresh water, preferably hot water, soak it for a while, then wash it 2 to 3 times, wring it dry, and then scald it again with boiling water.

If there is feces on the diaper, first use cool water and a brush to wash off the feces on the diaper, then rub neutral soap on the diaper and leave it for 20 to 30 minutes, then rinse with boiling water, wait for the water to cool down and then scrub it clean. Make sure there are no yellow marks of feces on the diaper, then rinse with clean water 2 to 3 times to wash away the soap residue on the diaper to avoid irritation to the newborn's skin.

After washing the diapers, it is best to dry them in the sun to make them dry and achieve the purpose of disinfection and sterilization. If conditions do not permit, such as when it is a rainy day and there is no condition to dry the diapers, you cannot use a fire to bake them to prevent the diapers from getting damp and irritating the skin. You can use an iron to dry them. The diapers are not easy to get damp, and they are relatively dry and comfortable, and the purpose of disinfection can be achieved.

Fold clean diapers in order and place them in an easy-to-reach place for diaper changes.

Preventing acquired hip dislocation

Originally, the fetus is crab-shaped in the mother's womb. Even after birth, the legs are apart and the knees are bent. This is a natural posture for newborns. At this time, the top of the thigh bone (femoral head) will hang on the hip socket. Due to the constant movement of the legs, the hip joint can develop smoothly, and it is not easy for the femoral head to dislocate or subluxate.

For a long time, people have been accustomed to wrapping babies in diapers by fixing the baby's waist and legs with diapers and stretching the legs. In this way, the leg muscles will become tense and the femoral head may slip, which will further affect the development of the hip acetabulum. Hip dislocation may also occur because the development of the hip socket is affected. Therefore, mothers should wrap diapers for their babies correctly. Do not affect the movement of the legs, do not force the baby's legs to straighten, but let the baby take a natural position.