Is this common practice for some people, or just plain wrong? Nappy related....

[cakeismysaviour]

I have a friend who I don't see often, to visit with her 12 week old DS. Whilst she was with me, her DS had a wet nappy and she changed him. She took off his nappy, and said "Oh good, no poo so I don't need to wipe him."

I always wipe my DS with a baby wipe when changing a wet nappy. Doesn't everyone??

Its a difficult idea to unpick isnt it.
Just out of interest, would people feel differently if it was an adult with continence issues, and if so, why?

Umm I don't wipe and I don't use barrier cream as a matter of course. Neither of my boys have had issues with nappy rash. In this hot sticky weather I am wiping more often because ds is sweaty. It never really occurred to me to wipe after a clean nappy.

There'll be someone turn up in a minute who has a wee-kettle and a special towel.

Personally I don't wipe baby goo if it's just wee, and don't use cream unless she looks like she needs it. No nappy rash :)

I don't think I used to wipe with purely wet nappies except for the one first thing in the morning but tbh there weren't many poo-free nappies - I had very pooey babies.

I still have the tub of Sudocreme I bought when DD was born, nearly 10 years ago....it's still half full. My DCs did not get a lot of nappy rash.

No

Nope

I do but after reading these not sure why, possibly because i work in a nursery and always do there, so continued when i had my own.

I used to but it made both my girls sore so I stopped wiping after a wee unless it was a very wet one.

I don't -although I think my DH does - and only used barrier cream if DCs had a rash - mainly when teething -

I don't think urine causes nappy rash, my DS has the most sensitive botty and suffers with eczema... urine has never given him nappy rash, and he's been in reusable and disposables. It's poo that gives him nappy rash, and not even that bad as he's breastfed. Some brands of wetwipe make him sore, contain too much alcohol, cheaper ones tend to be better maybe because they're more diluted. My DD was bottlefed and her poo could strip paint... but no, never wee.

I think healthy wee is sterile and antibacterial, definitely not something to be repulsed over... don't some (crazy) people drink wee?

No, only wipe poo.

None of my DC have had nappy rash. Maybe just lucky I guess?

What is this barrier cream thing about? Do people apply to avoid rash? I've only ever applied to sooth rash. Have I been doing it wrong all these years?

i always wipe, even if its only a wet nappy and only ever used cream if they looked like they were getting sore, not very often thankfully :)

There are really 2 types of nappy cream - those meant to prevent and those meant to treat. I live in the US and will use the preventative cream most of the time as I've been in childcare for several years and have found it v effective. However I also plan on giving DS plenty of nappy- (and thereby cream-) free time. The thicker, "pasty" ointments are for clearing up a rash that's already come out.

I won't wipe him after every wee. Maybe some if the mood strikes me

Always - it's nice to freshen up! :)

I only use a gentle barrier cream at night (such as Waitrose's Booty Butter) and proper cream if a poo causes any redness (teething etc)

Wipe after every nappy, bath every night, barrier cream before bed.

Always wipe, surely the wee just dries on their skin otherwise

It doesn't matter a jot if the wee dries on their skin. It's sterile.

It may be sterile, but it will still sting after a while, and cause a rash.

No it won't, FloggingMolly. Do a simple test. Next time you wee, dip a finger in it and let it dry on your skin. There will be no stinging and no rash - ever. Urine is only an irritant after it has gone stale and has started to contain ammonia.

I always wiped. Was taught in care work that leaving skin wet causes sores.

Well, that's just it, Octaviapink. At what point does that metamorphosis happen? I would imagine wee goes stale relatively quickly. There'd be a very fine window indeed between being fine and causing a skin rash.

I use water wipes and yes at each change.

I wipe after poops, not after wees. But, I do bath every night. Mainly as she enjoys it though.

I never use a barrier cream and have used wipes since day one.

However, each daytime nappy change, DD gets a good 12=5/20 mins nappy off time, so maybe that has helped?

Nope. Not after every wet nappy, the ingredients of wipes used repeatedly on the skin can cause irritation. Your friend was right (IMO!!) to not overdo it, and only really use a wipe when it's a stinker of a nappy.