How do I avoid nappy leaks on the back?

[Sanne Panne]

Can't believe I'm asking this as this is my second baby. My 3 month old needs a change of clothes after most poos (breastfed fwiw). It only leaks along the back, hardly ever by the legs as she's nice and chubby (not as chubby as my first though). Moved on to the next nappy size (from 2 to 3, Pampers) but it still happens. I don't put the nappies on as tightly as I can - can't imagine that being comfortable but they're not super loose either. Should I start putting a rolled up cotton pad at the top/back of her nappy or are there better solutions?

:-S

[Pickle]

Are you open to trying cloth nappies? My 1st child was in disposables and I remember having to change whole outfits frequently due to the problem you mention - I moved him into cloth when he was 10 months old, but my daughter was in cloth from birth and we never had that problem.

Otherwise I guess just doing them up more securely to ensure there's no gap at the back is the best option.

P x

[Indiana]

I would perhaps try changing brand to see if it helps as they are all slightly different shape - we used the sainsburys eco brand (green packets) and rarely had leaks - but I have had a few leaks with Pampers - must be something to do with my baby's shape!

[Sanne Panne]

Don't think I want to go the cloth way although I'd need to read up on it (how on earth do you get the yellow stains out without super aggressive detergents and high temperatures??). Other brands are an option. I think Huggies have an unpleasant feel (very paper like, not soft) but if the Sainsbury's Eco ones are soft to the touch I might try those.

Any other good brands? Or other ideas?

Thanks!

[nunheadmum]

How about the Naturecare ones - they're made of biodegradable corn starch or similar though do have the absorbant grains so not 100% eco. I always found them quite nice - I agree on your comment re Huggies. Both of mine used Naturecare and never had more than a few back-leaks.

[Mellors]

Re cloth/stains - you use a nappy liner in them which catches the poo and you flush it down the toilet - not much should get on the nappy itself, and if it does a bit of sun bleaches them out. Not a problem I've had, and I've never had leaks through two birth to potty cloth babies either.

[Ko]

whenever i get leaks, i put the baby up to the next size. my baby tends to leak poo from the back too! also see if you can position the nappy with a bit more of it at the back - easier to do with a bigger size. i don't have the nappy really tight, much better to try to position it to suit your baby's needs.

forgot to say we use pampers. good luck!

[candj]

We used Huggies and never had leaks, but I see that you don't like Huggies from your post. We also made sure that the nappies were snug when fitted, ie, you can fit two fingers inside the top which when the nappy is on, will seem quite tight, but it's fine. This I learned this from the hospital with my first when I wasn't putting the nappies on properly and they were too loose and saggy. Hope that helps.

[The Nappy Lady]

Sanne Panne,

I few ideas;

1) You could just try using a wrap (the waterproof outer part of a cloth nappy system) over a disposable - it would catch and hopefully contain any leak, at least preventing baby's clothes from getting soiled.

2) As Pickle said, you could try both a cloth nappy, and wrap on top...as mentioned, you use a paper liner, and then wash the nappies at 60 degrees with non bio. My tiny newborn nappies have done about 7 children now (been loaned out) and still look like new - amazingly, the yellow poo washes out really well and does not leave stains - if I showed you them you'd be amazed.

If you want to try either option you are welcome to borrow from me, plus bucket and net bag for loading into the machine. Some babies are particularly bad for 'explosive' poos, and it sounds like you've won the jackpot this time around, it will get better, but for now at least I'm not sure any disposable is going to be 100% reliable, and I'm willing to promise you the cloth nappies will perform better, so in the end they will be less work. When things improve, you can always go back to disposables, and give me the nappies back, so no money lost etc.

Molly

[fordybee]

I had this problem with my son and tried a variety of different nappies and found Pampers to be the best... but maybe just suited his shape. Bambo were also quite good as I recall they had a gathered bit at the back which was quite good at stopping the poop! I also made sure I did it quite tight at hip level at the front i.e. not straight across his tummy button, that seemed to help too. Good luck!

[Sanne Panne]

Thanks so much for all the feedback. Over the last couple of days just putting it a bit tighter has done the trick but I'm not celebrating just yet. Thanks for offering to try your cloth nappies Molly, if it doesn't work out with the Pampers or Naturecares I might pm you.