Diapers Keep Slipping – What Can I Do?
Photo by @ablondegirlsjourney
Good diapers should protect clothing and make your family's day easier. It's all the more frustrating when the diapers always slip and then leak. This can happen both during a lot of movements during the day and at night. The latter is of course particularly unpleasant, since often not only the baby's clothes but also the bedsheet has to be changed.
Why do diapers slip? Diapers that slip usually have two causes: the wrong size or a poor fit. When choosing the right diaper, you always have to ensure that it fits your child's weight and body shape.
In this article, you will find out why diapers always slip and what you can do about it. We will also introduce you to a diaper that is not only a perfect fit but also sustainable and super easy to use.
Why Do Diapers Slip? What to Pay Attention To:
Maybe it has happened to you as well: You pick up your child from their crib and notice the diaper is only covering half of their bottom. Maybe you are lucky and the diaper is still dry, but perhaps the whole bed is already wet. The same during the day: does your baby start to crawl or even take their first steps? As soon as more movement is introduced to the daily routine, diapers are put under more strain. It often happens that diapers slip or open up during the day. They slide down or have so much room between the legs that everything misses its mark as soon as your child moves.
Basically, there are two reasons responsible for the slipping of diapers:
- The size of the diaper
- The fit of the diaper
Photo by @madame.vio
Finding the Right Diaper Size
At this point, you might think: Finding the right diaper size isn't hard, after all, manufacturers clearly indicate weight sizes . However, it is possible for two children of the same weight to have completely different body measurements. And a size four diaper may fit completely differently on a child with chubby thighs as compared to a child with slender legs.
The right size is essential for an optimal fit. If the diaper is too tight, the closures may come undone, excretions are pushed out of the diaper, or it cuts into the child's skin. On the other hand, if you opt for diapers that are too big, they will slip down and fit so loosely that they constantly leak. Therefore, it is important to always choose the correct size. And since your child is constantly growing, you need to be sure to switch to the next size in time. Manufacturers of disposable diapers often offer up to seven different diaper sizes. While the first sizes may only fit for a few weeks, you will use the later sizes for a longer period.
However, if the diaper has a poor fit, even the most suitable size cannot prevent it from slipping, which brings us to the second point:
The Right Fit to Prevent Diapers from Slipping
If a diaper fits poorly, it might be due to a bad fit. For an optimal fit, the diaper should perfectly conform to your child's physique. Regarding the fit, the diaper should meet several criteria:
- Flexible leg cuffs:
Flexible leg cuffs ensure that the diaper fits snugly around the thighs without cutting into your child’s skin and leaving unpleasant marks. This assures that the diapers always remain leak-proof, even with a lot of movement. Double leg cuffs offer extra security and comfort.
- Adjustable closure:
To prevent the diaper from slipping, it should be continuously adjustable at the waist. Disposable diapers with limited adhesive areas and cloth diapers with snap closures only offer limited options to adjust the diaper to your child's body shape. An adjustable closure prevents the diapers from slipping repeatedly.
- Flexible waistband:
The waistband of the diaper should be soft and flexible so that it does not restrict the child's movements. Some diapers have an extra waistband in the back, which ensures optimal leak protection and the best fit.
What Are the Consequences of Diapers Always Slipping?
Aside from the obvious consequence, which is the diapers leaking, slipping diapers can lead to further problems. Diapers that move too much can chafe against a child’s skin. When moisture is also involved, this can quickly lead to unpleasant skin irritations.
The additional stress should not be overlooked either. With the right diapers, you no longer need to constantly check whether the diapers are properly positioned. Leaking diapers and discomfort will become a thing of the past. Especially at night, properly fitting diapers ensure more restful nights.
Photo by @anni.und.die.bande
With Judes, Slipping Diapers Are a Thing of the Past
With Judes, we have developed a cloth diaper that perfectly adapts to the shape of your child's body. 99% of babies fit our diapers right away. And not only that: we have designed Judes to be particularly simple to use. Many parents even report that Judes are easier to use than disposable diapers because there's no need for constant size changes, and diapering is done in the shortest possible time.
Judes consist of two parts: An inner diaper and an outer cover. Both parts have flexible leg cuffs that ensure an optimal fit. Thanks to the leg cuffs and the waterproof outer cover, Judes are absolutely leak-proof. In addition, both parts have a flexible waistband in the back, which provides the highest security. This ensures that Judes stay in place while still offering your child full freedom of movement. Because of the innovative weave of our inner diaper, Judes are particularly slim and create a significantly smaller diaper bottom compared to other cloth diapers. This weave also results in a very high absorption volume: Judes stay dry for up to 12 hours, keeping you and your baby safe through the night.
Another reason for the optimal hold of our cloth diapers is the infinitely adjustable hook-and-loop fastener. It allows you to close the diaper so that it fits perfectly – neither slipping down nor cutting into your child's skin. Full comfort with maximum safety.
With Judes, you don't have to constantly look for the right size. We designed our diapers so that you can cover the entire diapering period with just two sizes:
- Newborn: From birth to 8 kg
- Onesize: From 7 kg to 15 kg
With this quiz, you can find out which size fits your child perfectly and how many diapers you need. Along the way, you'll receive numerous interesting insights about Diapering sustainably diapers.
How to Diaper with Judes, What Do I Need to Know?
First off: Diapering with Judes is just as easy, if not easier, than with conventional disposable diapers.
You put each diaper on your child one after the other and secure them. Starting from the age when solid food is introduced, you should place a sheet of our Poo Papers on top inside the diaper. This catches your child’s feces and thus protects the diaper. However, you can skip this step until the solid food stage because breast milk stools are water-soluble and don't require separate disposal.
When it's time to change the diaper, proceed as follows:
You open the diaper and remove the Poo Paper first. You can dispose of it along with the feces in the general waste or flush the feces down the toilet separately. However, the paper itself must not be disposed of in the toilet.
You place the inner diaper in a diaper bag. These are specially made for the safe and odor-neutral storage of cloth diapers. About every four days, it's time to wash the diapers; to do this, simply put our diaper bag into the washing machine and open the zipper. During washing, the diapers tumble out of the bag on their own, so you don't need to remove them individually. We explain how to wash your cloth diapers gently and hygienically here.
The outer cover can be used multiple times; you should just air it out well between uses. Only after multiple uses or if it's heavily soiled does the outer cover also go in the washing machine.
Photo by @nathalie.pulcini
Applying Cloth Diapers Correctly
Our cloth diapers have a very self-explanatory design and precise fit. Nevertheless, we have compiled a few tips on how to apply cloth diapers correctly and leak-proof:
- When diapering, place your baby on the upper third of the diaper. Cloth diapers should sit more at hip height, like underwear, while disposable diapers often reach up to the middle of the back or to the belly button.
- The fasteners on cloth diapers should be closed either loosely or with a slight tug. The rule of thumb is: You should be able to fit two fingers loosely between the waistband and the stomach. Also, ensure the fasteners are closed symmetrically as much as possible.
- For a perfect fit, push the leg cuffs into the leg crease/groin area. With Judes, this only applies to the inner diaper; the outer cover can loosely sit on top.
- For boys: Make sure that the penis in the diaper is pointing downward . If it's pointing upwards, leaking is inevitable.
- If you find the diaper too bulky in the crotch area, you can gently scrunch it there. This not only provides better freedom of movement but also increases leak protection, as the liquid is caught like in a cup.
Does your child have marks from their cloth diaper? After diapering, run a finger along the leg openings and the waistband. This way, you can easily find out if the diaper is perhaps too tight or if you might need to switch to the next size. There should always be room for two fingers. Also, make sure that the clothes – especially the onesie – over the diaper are not too tight. Our Judes are designed to be particularly slim so that your child can wear their normal clothing size over the diaper.
What are your tips against diapers that always slip? Feel free to tell us in the comments!