If you are a parent of a baby, you know the horror of a diaper blowout. It's when your baby's poop escapes from the diaper and covers their clothes, skin, and sometimes even yours. It's messy, smelly, and stressful. But don't worry, you are not alone. Diaper blowouts are common and can happen to anyone.
In this blog post, we will share some tips on how to deal with and prevent a diaper blowout, like choosing the best diaper for blowouts. We will also explain why they happen and when to call your doctor if you are concerned.
Why Do Diaper Blowouts Happen
Diaper blowouts can happen for several reasons:
Your baby's diaper is too small or too big. If the diaper is too small, it won't be able to contain your baby's poop. If the diaper is too big, it may leave gaps where poop can leak out. The best diapers to prevent blowouts have a proper fit.
Your baby's diaper is not fastened properly or has been worn for too long. If the diaper is loose or saggy, it may not fit snugly around your baby's legs and waist. If the diaper is full of pee or poop, it may not have enough absorbency to hold more. The best diapers to prevent leaks can only work if they are used properly.
Your baby has diarrhea or constipation. If your baby has loose or watery stools, they may be more likely to leak out of the diaper. If your baby has hard or infrequent stools, they may come out with more force and cause a blowout.
Your baby is going through a growth spurt or changing their diet. Babies grow fast and their bodies change quickly. Sometimes they may need a different size or type of diaper to suit their needs.
Also, if your baby starts eating solid foods or drinking formula, their poop may change in consistency and frequency.
How to Prevent a Diaper Blowout
While you can't prevent diaper blowouts completely, there are some helpful tips for preventing diaper blowouts:
Proper Fitting Diapers
It's essential to ensure that your baby's diaper fits properly. Ensure that you have chosen the right size of diaper for your baby's age and weight.
Diapers that are too small or too big tend to cause leaks, and can lead to a baby diaper blowout. Also, make sure that your baby's diaper is snug around the waist and legs.
Check that your baby's diaper fits well. You should be able to fit two fingers between the diaper and your baby's skin without feeling too tight or too loose. The leg cuffs should hug your baby's thighs without leaving red marks.
Frequent Diaper Changes
Change your baby's diaper frequently. You should change your baby's diapers every 2 to 3 hours and their poopy diapers as soon as possible. This will help keep your baby dry and comfortable and prevent leaks.
Use an envelope onesie or a bodysuit with snaps at the bottom. These types of clothing can help contain a blowout by preventing poop from spreading up your baby's back or down their legs.
Cloth Diaper Cover
If you prefer using cloth diapers, using a cloth diaper cover over your baby's cloth diapers can prevent baby's diaper blowouts. A diaper cover is designed to fit over the cloth diaper to give it an extra layer of protection. This extra layer helps in containing the diaper blowouts.
Overnight Diapers
Overnight diapers, also called night-time diapers, are designed specifically for use at night. They are made with a high-absorbent material and can hold more urine than regular diapers, which makes them suitable for long night-time use. Overnight diapers can also prevent baby diaper blowouts and reduce the chance of leakage.
Selecting the Right Diaper Brands
When selecting disposable diaper brands, it's vital to find the one that suits your baby's body shape and size the best.
Diapers with good elastic diaper cuffs around the waist and legs provide a snug fit and are less likely to cause leaks or diaper blowouts. It is best to choose a diaper brand that fits your baby's shape perfectly.
Dealing with a Diaper Blowout
No matter how well you are prepared, diaper blowouts can still happen. Here are some tips on how to deal with a baby diaper blowout:
Diaper Bag Essentials
It is always wise to be prepared when out and about with your baby. Make sure you have a well-packed diaper bag. Ensure that it has extra diapers, baby wipes, and a change of clothes for your baby. A portable changing pad is also helpful to have.
Immediate Action
As soon as you notice a diaper blowout, move quickly but gently. You want to contain the mess as soon as possible. It helps to place a towel on a flat surface and place your baby on top of it. You can then proceed to remove the diaper and clean the mess using baby wipes.
Clean-up
Cleaning the baby and the surrounding area is essential. Fortunately, baby wipes are handy for cleaning up spills and messes. Once cleaning is complete, you can switch to a fresh diaper and clean clothes.
Step by Step Clean-up
Remove any clothing that has been soiled by poop carefully without spreading it further.
Wipe off any excess poop from your baby's skin with wet wipes or a damp cloth.
Give your baby a bath with warm water and mild soap if needed.
Wash any soiled clothing in hot water with detergent and bleach if possible.
Disinfect any surfaces that have been contaminated by poop with an antibacterial spray or wipes.
And if your baby happens to have a rash from frequent diaper blow out, try some home remedies for diaper rash.
Unfortunately diaper blowouts don't happen only at home. If you are wondering how to handle a blowout in a public place than check out our handy guide.
When to Call Your Doctor
Diaper blowouts are usually not harmful to your baby unless they are caused by an underlying medical condition such as diarrhea or constipation.
If your baby has diarrhea (more than three watery stools per day), you should call your doctor if:
- Your baby is younger than 3 months old
- Your baby has signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, sunken eyes, fewer wet diapers
- Your baby has blood or mucus in their stool
- Your baby has a fever (higher than 100°F)
- Your diarrhea lasts longer than two days
Conclusion
Preventing a baby diaper blowout is the best approach to save yourself the trouble of messy clean-ups. Good diaper hygiene practices and selecting the right diaper brand are crucial for preventing baby diaper blowouts.
Be ready to deal with a diaper blowout by having a well-packed diaper bag with you at all times. By following these simple precautions, you can minimize the risk of diaper blowouts.
Remember that diaper blowouts are not harmful to your baby and they will eventually stop as your baby grows older and their stools become more solid.
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