Myths About Nappy Care

There are lots of myths about nappy care, and for new parents, in particular, looking after your babies’ ‘bit and pieces’ can be worrying! We spoke to Dr Shruti Nathwani, an NHS Doctor and asked her some of the questions parents worry about.

Is it correct that I don’t need to change my baby’s nappy during the night? Can it not wait until morning?

MYTH – You do need to change your baby’s nappy during the night! Don’t wait until the morning.

Dr Shruti says: “Your baby’s nappy should ideally be changed every three-to-four hours or as soon as possible after wetting or soiling to reduce the amount of time the skin is exposed to urine and faeces. You’ll find that feeding times in the night often coincide with nappy changes and that’s a great time to do both. You’ll also be happy to hear that the frequency of nappy changes does reduce as your baby grows. 

As hard as it might be to do a minimally disruptive nappy change during the night, it’s important to regularly change your baby’s nappy to prevent sore skin from developing. Try and have all the equipment you need to hand so both you and your baby can settle back to sleep as easily as possible.”   

Is it true that the bigger the nappy, the better?

MYTH – A bigger nappy does not make it a better nappy.

Dr Shruti says: “Some may assume opting for a larger nappy allows air to ventilate and less friction therefore reducing the chances of nappy rash, however, this isn’t actually true. In fact, it may even be the cause of nappy-related problems, with urine and faeces able to leak out if the nappy is too loose.  

This could mean less of the contents are absorbed by the nappy and more contents are exposed to skin causing irritation.   

“Nappies should be well-fitting and comfortable. To check whether the nappy fits, make sure it is snug around your baby’s leg, without leaving any red marks or tightening the skin. You can also check whether the nappy closes easily at your baby’s waist without a lot of tugging and pulling.” 

Can nappies cause nappy rash?

TRUTH – Nappies may cause nappy rash 

Dr Shruti says: “Prolonged contact between the skin, urine and faeces results in irritation and is one of the main causes of nappy rash. With this in mind, I always suggest nappy free time as it exposes the skin to fresh air and reduces the friction caused by a nappy giving the skin time to breathe.  

“As part of your nappy care routine, I would recommend using a barrier cream such as Bepanthen Nappy Care Ointment. It’s clinically proven and can help protect the delicate skin of young babies’ bottoms from the causes of nappy rash.   

“At each nappy change, apply a thin layer of Bepanthen onto your baby’s bottom to help keep their skin healthy and hydrated.”    

My Grandmother told me that talcum powder can protect the skin from nappy rash; is that true?

MYTH – Talcum powder can not protect the skin from nappy rash.

Dr Shruti says: “The NHS recommends not to use talcum powder as part of your nappy care routine as it contains ingredients that could irritate your baby’s skin. Whilst talcum powder was once thought to help absorb moisture and help protect the skin from the causes of nappy rash, it can in fact be an irritant.”  

 If you have any concerns about your baby, make sure that you ask your midwife, health visitor or GP.