using reusables from birth ..

[nappyaddict]

my friend has just had a baby and is using reusables but she says when her baby lies down his legs are suspended in the air and she is worried this is bad for him? i must say i don't remember having this problem so i don't really know what to advise.

is she using nappies that are a bit big? I used prefolds on Callum when he was still 4lb 8, and had that problem, but only because he was so small I think. He is now 10lb 12 and am using shaped nappies and his legs are down on the floor.

I used TotsBots on my DCs from birth and they did tend to have slightly raised bottoms. I didn;t think it was a problem. However they were very large as newborns, so it maybe looks more pronounced on a diddy one. Still wouldn't think it was a problem as such, though

oh so it could just be that the nappies are too bulky? she's using tots bots too i think.

I used fluffles from birth and ds used to look like an upturned beetle especially with a fleece wrap on at night! Don't think it is a question of too bulky really, just getting used to them looking like that. I always gave him plenty of nappy off time to kick around.

I had this problem with meos on dds when they were newborn so had to buy a couple of shaped nappies..if it helps never cause any issues and dd1 walked at 12mths and dd2 at 9mths.

i think she is worried cos she knows they are meant to lie flat as much as possible and he's not able to.

She read this which is what made her concerned.

Kidsafe WA (2006) say:

"The advice regarding cloth nappies and infants in rear facing car seats applies primarily to double nappies and ones with double / triple thickness folds.

"Traditionally, these are exceptionally thick and alter the line of the infant's spine in relation to the support offered by the infant car seat, potentially posing a risk for spinal injury.

"There has never, to my knowledge, been blanket advice to not use cloth nappies at all when using a rear facing child car restraints. The advice should be to not use double nappies or nappies with very thick folds."

Well I have never heard that about car seats before before

I used tots bots from birth and they are bulky, some people raise the head end of the bed to compensate (I belive). DS1 used to sleep on his side when he was tiny anyway, though I haven't noticed any ill effects with either boys, and you should see their padded night nappies

But... babies like to draw their legs up tight to the body in the first week or two after birth, it's how they were in the womb and they're comfortable that way (ime).

he's not drawing them up as such they are out straight as if they are laying on the floor but an inch or so suspended in the air iyswim.

Eh.... I think we had a bit of legs up in the air with all my (3) new babies in cloth. It never occurred to me to worry about it. Perhaps us eco-freaks who tend to use cloth from birth don't spend so much time in the car, anyway.

she doesn't drive so she's not worried about that but she's worried about the altering the line of spine thing while he is laying on the floor.

Hum... well, I've looked hard on Google (including American websites) and I can't find anybody else postulating this risk. It is theoretical, I reckon. What would be the symptoms of spinal injury caused by cloth nappies shoving the legs up a bit, anyway? Not being obtuse, I really don't get it (and can't find anyhing on the WA Kidsafe website, either).

Plus, the reference is in direct ref to how a very bulky cloth nappy might alter the kind of support a carseat is supposed to offer, it doesn't say anything about kicking on the floor, lying in a bouncy chair, in a pram, sitting in a baby sling, etc. There's no word of caution with regard to any of those things.

but the spine finishes at the cocyx, which is not suspended in the air so the spine is not being pulled out of place. The legs are mearly being held in the optimum position for normal hip development, it looks strange because we aren't used to it, but it really is good for the baby. In cultures where swaddling is the norm there a greater incidence of developmental dyplaia of the hips. So try and reassure your friend that she is actually doing good, not harm

Yes curlywurlycremeegg is right. I know that Hip displasia is sometimes treated by using thick cloth nappies to hold the legs in the correct positon. So chunky cloth nappies do allow for the best position for hip development we are just so unused to big bummed babies these days.

I found a couple of things online
One on the nappy lady site Its mentioned about half way down.

and this thread on another forum

at spellings in my last post
coccyx and dysplasia of course!

ahh ... so it is actually good for the legs to be in the air? it's just you hear so much about how newborns should be lying at a 180 degrees all the time don't you and if their legs are in the air like that then you think oh but they aren't lying completely flat and you don't know if you're doing wrong.

i emailed kidsafe WA and got this reply incasw any one is interested.

"Dear Holly,

Very thick cloth nappies could alter the line of an infant?s spine but I suspect that the infant would have to remain in a fixed position for a very long time for there to be any permanent effect. The reason that it is a more critical factor in a rear facing car seat is that the forces involved in a car crash in combination with the way in which the car seats are intended to work increases the risk of injury if the spine is not supported fully.

For my information, what website did you find the quote on?

I hope that this response has helped with your enquiry.

Regards"