Putting vaseline on baby's bottom before first nappy

[JamieJay]

Someone has recommended putting vaseline on baby's bottom before their first nappy to make it easier to clean the wonderful tar like first poo off....

Has anyone else heard of this and would it even be possible to hospital or does the midwive just put the first nappy on?

If we asked them to pop vaseline on baby's bottom would the midwives think me mad???

Yes, they will think you are mad

If it helps I didn't change either of the dd's first nappies, I had a cs with dd1 and the mw's kept making dh do it 'to give mum a break' and with DD2 they did the same, DH was horrified at it. They dressed DD1 and DH dressed DD2 as well.

Just have decent wipes, not cotton wool and water, proper johnsons sensitive ones or something and it'll be fine.

Goodness do it yourself if you wish to! You're certainly entitled and if it turns out your mw does pop a nappy before you get a chance then you could always, y'know, undo the nappy... bit radical I know

FWIW, my mw by her own volition put my non petroleum based organic vaseline equivalent all over my PFB's arse to help shift the meconium, and it did mean I could use my cooled boiled water and organic cotton wool to ever so gently remove the tar.

Or you could use wipes.

I realise that I will be accused of being totally PFB but am trying to avoid using wipes, as least to start with, as both DH and I have sensitive skin and wipes (even/especially the johnsons sensitive) irritate both of us.

If I get the chance I will pop some vaseline on, otherwise I guess it will just be a case of doing battle with the poo and cotton wool!!

It's not that pfb, i was all prepared to do that but circumstances prevented.
Ask if you can use the hospital wipes, they are like cloth thatyou wet, they're brilliant.
It's not thar bad tho.

cotton wool pads (like for taking make up off) are meant to be slightly easier for meconium nappies.

I used wipes from day one with DS1 (shock horror) and was fine but he has quite robust skin, never ever had nappy rash.

We only used cotton wool and water and I don't really remember anything about it other than that so it can't have been overly problematic. (Although I was on heavy duty pain killers so maybe my memory shouldn't be relied upon!)

People talk about the meconium as if you need a brillo pad to get it off. I used cotton wool and water with both my boys and it didn't take much longer than a normal poo. I wouldn't faff about with vaseline personally, just clean it up when it comes.

Thanks for the posts - discovered a pile of old flannels whilst digging out my towel this morning so have cut them in half and chucked them in the bag.

If the cotton wool isn't working figure we can use them and just chuck them out (not that environmentally friendly but as it's likely to be DH changing the nappy want to make it as easy as possible )

The only problem we had with the meconium was the MW was 'helping' DH change DD1's nappy (they never offered to help/show me later but that's by the by) and she kept scrubbing at her bum saying 'oh, this bit is really stubborn' until DH pointed out that DD1 had been born with a large mole on her bum, and the MW was trying to remove it

Used vaseline with ds, and did find it helped, compared with dd. Midwife thought we were v sensible!

I often gave dd a rinse under the sink tap.

A friend of mine recommended olive oil instead of vaseline.

It's your baby - put what ever you like on it's bottom! You don't need the MW say so!

Sounds sensible to put something on - the first few really can be very sticky poos indeed.

Sensitive bottoms - I agree with the poster who had a problem even with the sensitive J&J wipes - our family are all sensitive to various perfumes and such they put in toiletries, especially DS1, but strangely we found Tesco own brand sensitive wipes were fine for him - and they are much cheaper than the big brand ones too.

Agree about Johnson's - their products are notoriously full of chemicals, even the so-called sensitive ones.

I'm planing on using 'lansinoh'(sp?) you know, the nipple cream?

My thinking is that if its ok for a new born to get some in their mouth, then putting it on their bottom cant hurt.

Have you ever tried spreading the stuff though? Not easy at all. You can buy 'Petroleum Free Jelly' from health food shops and real nappy suppliers, which is made from natural products.

Am a bit at thinking its ok to spread petrol based jelly all over bottom, but quick wipe with sensitive baby wipes is a problem.

MumNWLondon - it would be the petroleum free jelly (used vaseline as a generic term) so wouldn't be a issue.

Thanks everyone for your comments

"I realise that I will be accused of being totally PFB but am trying to avoid using wipes, as least to start with, as both DH and I have sensitive skin and wipes (even/especially the johnsons sensitive) irritate both of us"

You're not being PFB - firstly they recommend cotton wool and water only for the first, I think, 3 months

Secondy wipes have lots of chemicals in, I refuse to use them on DD who is coming up 6 months. We use terries and don't use any chemicals/products on her at all. She never has nappy rash. So don't worry about being "PFB" - you're simply doing the best for your baby's skin

You'll have plenty of time to put whatever you want on your baby's bottom. Generally you are left alone a bit afterwards before going back on the ward to allow you to bond/do skin-to-skin/get baby dressed - while they fill in paperwork.

And every baby is different, it can take a day or two for the meconium to pass through, or they could be really delightful and get started on the pooing before they're even born!

In anycase both DS1 and DS2 pooed first meconium even before they had a nappy on, so unless we were hovering with the jelly stuff at birth..... but yes there was plenty more of it over the next few days.

Apologise about the [hmmm] assumed you meant vaseline.

After putting this thought into the whole process I have a feeling I will get poo'ed on during skin to skin anyhow and will have to remove the stuff off me rather than the baby!!

Have you thought about the simple baby wipes? I have very sensitive skin, and my DS2 suffers from excema, and even he's fine with them. They've got no lanolin in, no perfume, and they even clean his face up when he's been eating a sticky ice lolly then rubbing his muddy 'garden hands' all over the sticky bits of his face. (I should add he's coming up for 7 years old now). Johnsons set his skin off terribly, but the simple baby wipes are brill...Just as a thought. I suffer from awful rashes and allergies personally, the only stuff I can use is simple.

One of my friends recommended this too, or sweet almond oil. The midwives at my hospital though recommended just using cotton wool and water and said that they've never seen it as a problem. I guess I'll find out in a couple of weeks!

My ds has sensitive skin. The only wipes that don't five him a rash are Pampers sensitive ones so give them a try when you finally move on to wipes