Do you wipe your baby every nappy change?

[lifeisahighway1]

Discussing with friends (obviously if a poo or nappy rash is present then all of us agree it’s wipe and appropriate cream). We also agreed wipes are used first nappy change if your child has slept through the night without a nappy change.

Some of us use wipes every nappy (wees) and some of us do every 2-3 nappies and we literally couldn’t believe the divide between the two! There were really strong (healthy) arguments for why both are the “right” thing to do.

Not saying what camp I’m in, just wondering what you all think!

YABU - Wipe every time
YANBU - Wipe every other or every 2/3 nappies

It's been well over a decade since mine were in nappies, but I wiped with a lukewarm wet muslin cloth at every change, adding barrier cream every 3rd or 4th change. If their skin was particularly irritated, I'd put a folded up towel under them and make the muslin cloth sopping wet, so I could rinse them off without any rubbing.

It seems very unhealthy for the skin to not remove urine.

This isn’t really an argument or opinion. You clean your baby each time. I change my baby’s nappy after each wee. Clean them and don’t ever let them sit in it. That’s child neglect. :(

We wiped and creamed DD every nappy change. Would you go for a wee and not wipe?

No because I didnt see why that many chemicals would need to be used, I did allow the area to air dry for 5 mins or so and changed as soon as I realised it was wet or dirty

and no cream was used as never any nappy rash & had a daily water bath only

Wipe every time. I used to use a flannel or water wipe at home (we used reusable nappies) and water wipes when out with occasional disposable nappies.. never just air dried the wee! Gross

Wipe every time.

Sorry for doubting you, OP, but this site is pretty notorious for having a poo troll. 😂 That said, check that her pants are 100% cotton, and then I recommend trying a “for babies” washing liquid (washing powder can leave more residue, according to some site that might have bullshit?), no scent, no fabric softener. If the rash goes away, you know it was the detergent, and you can try a different type (you won’t have to always buy separate baby detergent as I know it’s pricey; this is just buying a special one once so you can see how her skin reacts).

I wiped both my children every time their nappy was changed. Cotton wool and water when they were newborns, then gradually switched to sensitive wipes as they got older (maybe around 2-3 months).

I do think it’s neglectful to change a wet nappy and not wipe the baby clean before putting on a fresh one.

So if a parent does not use wipes or a cloth or chemicals other than ''but wee' 'or ''it is neglect'' what is actually wrong with it? does anyone have details of a medical condition, illness or other issue it causes if there is no sign of nappy rash?

It’s unhygienic, urine is bad for skin’s PH and can cause irritation and stale urine starts to smell. Using cotton wool and clean water isn’t using chemicals.

I always wiped and used barrier cream every nappy change. Wouldn’t that cause nappy rash if you didn’t? I remember someone mentioning to me when I was changing ds why are you bothering to wipe when he’s not poo’d? Said they just whip the nappy off for a wet nappy every time. That’s what causes thrush.

We just air dried left the nappy off as long as possible no nappy rash ever only used wipes or a cloth when dirty, they had a daily water only bath

I wiped every time. I had an idea that it wasn't good for my DCs' skin to be continuously coated in their own pee. I only used cream if it looked as if they were starting to look a little red or if they were going to be in the car for a long spell. I had one tube of an ointment called A&D Ointment (bought in the US) and it lasted me through five DCs. It smelled like fish oil, so it was just as well I used it so rarely.

I know we all parent differently but to not wipe after every nappy clean is just so wrong.

I wiped mine every nappy change without fail. It's gross not too.

There is no strong or healthy argument for not wiping away traces of shit and pee from your baby's bottom.

Of course they must be wiped with every single nappy change.

Curious to know if the people not wiping/cleaning after every change are the same people that don’t wash their own hands after every change.

I clean dd with reuseable wipes, wet with water, at every change. I can’t imagine letting dried urine sit on her skin.

A poo troll, I see why you doubted me now! 😂 thanks for the tip! I will have a look. I was tempted to start hand washing them in a completely non scented washing powder and then air dry. She’s very almost 3 and I always buy her knickers in age 4 and 100% cotton so they’re not tight.

I might try that and see if it makes a difference, if not I’m considering hand washing in the most natural unscented wash powder I can find!

FWIW I noticed that my skin in general felt itchy a while ago and realised it was because I’d used some soda crystals as a stain remover in the load to get some marks out of my sons’ clothes. Their skin seemed fine with it though tbf! I re-washed those clothes with an extra rinse cycle (probs added a “steam hygiene” burst too) as I assumed it just hadn’t all rinsed out properly and all is fine again now since. Good luck! 😊

Not really sure how this turned into a debate or why anyone wouldn’t wipe every time? Wee irritates the skin, that’s generally how/why they get nappy rash in the first place. Would you piss your pants and not clean yourself?

Soda crystals. They're scentless and can be used for a variety of household stuff, including washing clothes. Make sure to double rinse them.

I think if the wipes being used are worse for a baby’s skin than leaving urine on it, then it’s time to change wipes!