Babies are notoriously tight-lipped, but just because they won’t tell you how they’re feeling verbally, doesn’t mean they won’t show you.
Babies give certain signs when they need their diaper changed. Here are some common indicators that a baby may need a diaper change:
1. Wetness: Babies often show signs of discomfort or fussiness when their diaper is wet. You can check the diaper by feeling the outside or using your finger to assess the wetness.
2. Dirty Diaper: If you smell or notice a bowel movement in your baby’s diaper, it’s a clear sign that a diaper change is needed. Some babies may also give cues like grunting or straining when they are having a bowel movement.
3. Discomfort or Irritability: Babies may become fussy, restless, or show signs of discomfort if their diaper is wet or soiled. They may cry, squirm, or try to reach for their diaper area.
4. Redness or Rash: A diaper rash or redness in the diaper area may indicate the need for a diaper change. It’s important to keep the diaper area clean and dry to prevent rashes and irritation.
5. Longer Duration: If it has been several hours since the last diaper change, it’s a good idea to check if the diaper needs to be changed. Babies generally need frequent diaper changes, especially during the early months.
6. Wakefulness during Sleep: If your baby wakes up from sleep and appears uncomfortable or restless, it may be due to a wet or dirty diaper. Checking and changing the diaper can help them settle back into sleep.
7 . That Mischievous Face
You know that surprised, scrunched-up face people make when they’re eating something really sour? That’s what babies often look like when they’re pooping. Every baby’s “wet diaper face” is different, but once you learn what your baby’s looks like, you can intervene and get them clean, dry, and comfy sooner.
8. An All Too Familiar Smell
There are some smells that are loved by just about everyone, like freshly baked cookies, a long anticipated rainfall, and the first lilacs of spring. And then there are a few smells that are pretty universally feared, like dirty diapers.
Some diapers contain perfumes, scented lotions, or other odor eaters that can actually make it hard to tell when it’s time for a change. Diapers that provide a scent light enough to temper the power of the your baby’s mess, but still allow their scent to waft, like Pampers Swaddlers, are ideal.
9. A Helping Hand
A diaper that’s wet to the touch, or that has soaked through to your baby’s clothes, is pretty obvious. Hopefully, you’ll have an awesome diaper that keeps your baby (and the outside of their diaper) dry and comfortable.
One way to find out whether a diaper is full, without having to actually feel inside of it, is to hold your hand over the front of your baby’s diaper and jiggle it a teensy bit to see if it moves. A Pampers Swaddlers diaper has absorbing gel inside of it, and with its soft and stretchy sides a full diaper should feel like it has wiggly jelly inside of it.
Remember, every baby is unique, and they may exhibit their own signals or cues when they need a diaper change. By paying attention to their behaviour, body language, and the time elapsed since the last diaper change, you can determine when it’s necessary to change their diaper to ensure their comfort and hygiene.
