Baby diaper blowouts – words that can send a shiver down the spine of any new parent. If you’re not familiar yet, they are those epic messes where your baby’s poop overflows from their diaper and stains everything in its path, including your baby’s clothes, the car seat, and even the changing table. It’s a common occurrence that every parent encounters at least once.
But what exactly causes these messy situations and how can you handle them effectively?
We are going to take a moment here to talk about baby diaper blowouts, why they happen, how to deal with them, and best yet…how to prevent them!
What Is A Diaper Blowout?
So what exactly is a baby diaper blowout? A baby diaper blowout happens when your baby poops, but your diaper fails.
When the poop leaks out of the diaper around the legs, up the back, or up the front of your baby then you have just experienced a baby diaper blowout.
Diaper blowouts tend to decrease in frequency as a baby grows and starts solid foods, usually around 6 months to a year old. However, the exact age can vary for each child. Even toddlers in training pants can have occasional accidents, so there’s no specific age where blowouts stop entirely.
They aren’t fun, but they are a normal part of life with a baby. Fortunately, there are some steps that you can take to avoid a baby diaper blowout. Before we do that though, let’s understand what causes blowout diapers.
Why Is My Baby Having Diaper Blowouts?
The most common cause of baby diaper blowouts are diapers that don’t fit just right.
Diapers come in different sizes and each has a specific weight range it caters to. If your baby’s diaper fits too loose or too tight around your baby’s waist or legs, it could lead to leakage from either back of the diaper or leg cuffs resulting in a poop explosion.
Another cause of baby diaper blowouts is putting the diaper on incorrectly. The tabs of the diaper need to be fastened snugly around the baby’s waist.
If you don’t fasten the diaper snugly enough then blowouts will occur. You should be able to slip one finger in between the diaper and the baby’s waist and one finger in between the baby’s legs and the cuff of the diaper.
Diaper cuffs can also be a cause of baby diaper blowouts.
If your baby is having blowouts that leak out around the legs then you need to check the position of the leg cuffs when you put it on. The cuffs of the diaper need to be outside of the diaper and around your baby’s leg.
Again you should be able to slip one finger between the cuff and the leg to make sure that they aren’t too tight, but those cuffs are specially designed to help keep the contents of the diaper from leaking out.
If you are putting the diapers on snugly, the cuffs are on the outside of the leg, they are the correct size, and you are still experiencing blowouts, then you may need to try a new brand.
All diapers are not created equally, and no one diaper brand works well for all babies. You may have to try several different diaper brands before you find the brand that works best for your baby.
Diapers don’t expire but you want to be sure you are not using one that is too old and that the elastic leg cuffs are in good condition.
Another common reason for these unfortunate incidents is the type of diapers used. Disposable diapers may be convenient but some brands might not hold up well against heavy-duty bowel movements compared to others.
On the other hand, cloth diapers paired with a good cloth diaper cover can still provide protection against leaks due to their snug fit around your baby’s body.
Lastly, changes in your baby’s diet might also trigger more frequent bowel movements leading to more blowouts. This is especially true when introducing solid food or new foods into their diet. Remember that breastfed babies often have looser bowel movements compared to formula-fed babies who’ve started solid food; this may affect the frequency of blowouts as well as their cleanup strategies.
Baby Diaper Blowout Hacks
Alright so here’s the good stuff. You want to know how to deal with baby diaper blowout. Trust me when I say you will get through this. You may even look back on this laugh. But when you’re actually in the moment, you want quick and easy diaper blowout hacks to fix this!
How do you deal with a baby diaper blowout? Carefully, very, very, carefully! Don’t panic! Remember every parent has been through this before.
Cleaning The Baby and Disposing The Diaper
The first thing that you are going to need is wipes and a LOT of them! I talked about my favorites out of the best natural wipes for babies in this post.
You may also want a disposable plastic bag or two to contain the messy diaper and wipes.
Tip: You can get a better deal and get double or even triple the amount of disposable bags if you just pick them up from the pet aisle instead of the baby section of the store. They work just as well!
It is a VERY good idea to keep a few in your diaper bag in case a blowout happens away from home.
Changing Baby’s Clothes Without A Mess
1. Place your baby on a changing table or any safe flat surface before starting the cleanup process.
2. Gently roll your child onto their belly and remove clothing carefully from the top down avoiding spreading any mess further.
3. Clean up with warm water and or gentle wipes being careful not to leave any residue behind which may cause a rash later on.
4. Once cleaned up properly dispose of soiled clothes or place them separately in a wet bag if washing at home
4. Change your baby into clean clothes.
6. Use stain remover on the soiled old clothes before washing if required.
If you are lucky enough to have dressed your baby in an “envelope” onesie (those with the two pieces of cloth crossed over each other at the shoulders) you can pull the onesie down over the baby’s body instead of over their head.
Hopefully, this will keep you from getting poop in your little one’s hair.
Make sure that you have extra outfits in your diaper bag, and maybe even an extra shirt for yourself, blowouts can get very messy.
If you are fortunate enough to be at home when your baby has a blowout, you may want to use the spray attachment from your sink or shower to gently rinse your baby off with warm water.
Saving Baby’s Clothes From The Diaper Blowout
Once you’ve managed the immediate situation, soaking the clothes in a basin of cold water with a tablespoon of salt or baking soda can help loosen the stain.
During this time, you can also apply a baby-friendly stain remover directly onto the stained area. If you prefer a more natural approach, lemon juice or white vinegar can also be effective stain removers.
When you’re ready to wash the clothes, it’s a good idea to keep them separate from your other laundry to prevent cross-contamination. Using your washing machine’s heavy-duty cycle with cold water can be more effective for stain removal.
If your machine has the option, consider adding an extra rinse cycle for good measure.
Before you transfer the clothes to the dryer, make sure to check that the stain has been completely removed; the heat from the dryer can set stains, making them more difficult to remove later.
If you’re dealing with a particularly stubborn stain, drying the clothes in direct sunlight can be an effective natural bleach. However, be sure to turn colored fabrics inside out to avoid fading.
Dealing With Baby Diaper Blowouts At Night
If it seems that most of your baby diaper blowouts are happening at night, is there a worse time for them?
You might want to consider trying an overnight diaper with more absorption abilities.
Here’s a great tip on how to prevent diaper blowouts from the back. Which, by the way, would not be fun when both of you are sleepy and just want rest.
If you are still having diaper blowout issues, or you can’t find an overnight diaper in the size you need (many companies overnight diapers are for size 4 and up) then add a cloth diaper cover to your baby at night.
Put on your disposable diaper as you normally would, and then add the cloth diaper cover, with no insert, over the top of it. The cloth diaper cover can help to contain any mess that escapes from the disposable diaper and can keep you from having to change the diaper, baby’s clothes, and sheets in the middle of the night.
Here are 9 other helpful tips to consider:
1. Double Up on Diapers: Some parents find success in using two diapers at night: a smaller size that fits closely to contain the mess, and a larger size on top to catch any overflow.
2. Maximize Absorbency: Consider using diaper inserts or pads to boost the absorbency of your baby’s diaper, which can help contain messes.
3. Adjust the Fit: Make sure the diaper is snug but not too tight. Pay special attention to the leg cuffs and waistband, ensuring they’re properly sealed to prevent leaks.
4. High-Waisted Pajamas or Bodysuits: Use high-waisted pajamas or a one-piece bodysuit that can add an extra layer of protection, helping to contain any potential mess.
5. Change Diaper Before Bed: Even if the last diaper change wasn’t that long ago, always start the bedtime routine with a fresh diaper.
6. Barrier Creams: Using a thick barrier cream can not only help prevent diaper rash but can also act as a protective layer against some of the mess.
7. Frequent Checks: If your baby wakes up for feeding or any other reason during the night, take a moment to check the diaper and change it if necessary.
8. Strategic Bedding: Use a waterproof mattress protector and keep extra sheets and blankets handy for quick changes. Some parents layer sheets and protectors so they can simply remove the top layer in case of a blowout, saving time on completely redoing the bed.
9. Stay Prepared: Keep a “blowout kit” nearby with clean pajamas, wipes, and diapers to minimize the disruption and help everyone get back to sleep more quickly.
These strategies can help minimize the frequency and impact of nighttime diaper blowouts, making life a little easier for everyone involved.
Preventing Diaper Blowouts
Your goal is to prevent those dreaded leaks that result in changing not just the baby’s diaper but also their clothes…and sometimes yours too!
Here are some of my best tips:
– Have a snug fit: Make sure your baby’s diaper fits well around their waist without leaving red marks on their skin. It should be tight enough to prevent leaks but loose enough not to cause discomfort.
– Secure leg cuffs: These are key in containing loose stool. Ensure they’re properly positioned around your baby’s legs.
– Opt for overnight diapers during sleep times: They’re super absorbent which helps with preventing middle-of-the-night blowouts.
– Use a cloth diaper cover over disposable diapers: This gives an extra layer of protection against leaks.
Of course, even with these preventative measures in place, accidents still happen! So it’s always smart to carry essentials like extra outfits and wipes in your diaper bag whenever you leave home with your baby.
A stain remover will be handy too when dealing with soiled clothes after a messy diaper situation – because let’s face it: baby poop stains are stubborn! A warm water rinse followed by stain treatment before tossing into washing machine usually does the trick.
There are also blow out prevention products like diaper extenders or even a blowout blocker. These innovative products add length to back of the diaper – just where many parents experience leaks during those sudden bouts of loose stool!
Remember – finding products that work best requires some trial and error as each baby’s body is unique. But armed with these items in hand (and perhaps tucked away in car seat compartments), managing potential blowouts becomes less daunting indeed!
Addressing Frequent Baby Diaper Blowouts: When It’s Serious
There are times when frequent blowouts may signal something else going on with your little one beyond just ill-fitting diapers or new food or dietary changes. For instance:
– If you notice blood or mucus in your baby’s poop
– If there are signs of severe discomfort during bowel movements
– Or if there are symptoms of diarrhea persisting for over 24 hours
In such scenarios, it would be a good idea to consult with a pediatrician promptly as these could potentially indicate underlying health issues that need medical attention.
If you feel like every poop is a blowout, it’s crucial to evaluate both the fit and quality of the diapers you’re using, as well as consider any dietary factors that might be contributing to the issue. Poorly fitting diapers or those that lack adequate absorbency are common culprits behind frequent blowouts. Changing diaper brands, adjusting the fit, or adding diaper boosters for extra absorbency can help.
Keep a log to identify any patterns or triggers that might be causing the blowouts, such as specific times of day, following certain meals, or after particular activities.
How many baby blowout diapers are normal?
The frequency of diaper blowouts can vary widely among babies and is influenced by factors such as age, diet, and the type of diapers used. For newborns and younger infants who are exclusively on a liquid diet, blowouts may be more frequent. However, there’s no universally “normal” number of blowouts. If you notice an unusually high frequency or a sudden change in your baby’s bowel movements, it may be worth consulting a pediatrician to rule out any underlying issues.
Navigating the Challenges of Baby Poop Blowouts
This is just one of those parenting rites of passage, sorry. The good news is that now you know all about baby diaper blowouts, how to deal with them, and how to prevent them.
Being proactive rather than reactive helps immensely in managing potential blowouts – having everything within reach on the changing table; knowing when it’s time for that next sized-diaper; understanding how different types (and sizes) from various brands work differently; being prepared with necessaries like extra outfits etc., would certainly help you stay ahead!
Finally, yet importantly – remember this isn’t forever! As overwhelming as dealing with frequent blowouts may seem now, this phase will pass sooner than you think! So hold tight through these stormy times and know that it won’t be long until clear skies return.
