Providing a comfortable environment for the baby to grow and develop is the primary task of every parent. One of the most important issues in caring for newborns, along with breastfeeding and pacifier training, remains swaddling.
With the help of diapers, the child goes through the adaptation period much easier. In addition, body temperature is maintained and the baby sleeps more soundly.
Today you can buy disposable, classic cotton diapers, flannel envelopes, products with zippers and Velcro, as well as a variety of children's clothing.
Products must be selected carefully. Savings are inappropriate here. Remember, the main thing is cleanliness, hygiene and, of course, affection and parental love.
Which diapers to choose for a newborn
Since quality is of great importance, choosing the right model should be taken seriously.
Product requirements
Newborn diapers meet certain criteria.
Size
The standard is 80-150 cm. The baby can quickly get out of small products; large ones are not very convenient to use. In the first 2 months of a child’s life, options measuring 80x95 cm are suitable. The size of the product is often selected depending on the method of swaddling the baby.
Swaddling methods
- Closed. In addition to eco-friendly diapers, a vest, cap, and cap are also used. Suitable for sleeping, feeding, walking.
- Open. The baby's arms remain free. The technique is similar to the first, but this option is used for older children. The baby needs to be swaddled at tummy level and put on a blouse (T-shirt) depending on the temperature.
- With your head. Used immediately after birth to help the baby feel comfortable outside the womb. The technology is similar to closed swaddling.
- Tight. The method immobilizes the baby. Previously, it was believed that the tight method promoted the alignment of the legs, but today it is rarely used, as it can negatively affect the child’s development in the future.
- Wide wrapping method. Allows the child to feel free. Recommended for older children. It is also prescribed by doctors to prevent hip dysplasia.
- An envelope. The method includes a special changing bag. Designed for use in the cold season. To prevent the baby from unwinding, you can tie the envelope decorated with a bow with a ribbon or elastic band.
Materials for production
Most mothers claim that a diaper is a comfortable garment for a newborn. Then the question arises of how to choose a product so as not to make a mistake with the material, since it determines its properties.
Products must meet the following requirements:
- create a favorable atmosphere and comfort for the baby;
- soothe - when swaddling the baby immediately falls asleep;
- absorb moisture - the greenhouse effect is very dangerous, so that diaper rash does not appear;
- do not rub the child’s skin; to prevent this, a special stitch is used along the edges;
- ensure normal skin temperature, prevent overmoistening, hypothermia and overheating;
If you look at it in the long term, after ironing and numerous washes they should not lose their original appearance.
To eliminate all kinds of risks, you should buy from trusted manufacturers who make children's products from natural cotton fabrics.
Common materials that are suitable include:
- Flannel is an insulated soft fabric, the first fabric in every person's life. It is easy to wash, does not wrinkle, is dense, retains heat due to its fleecy structure. The material is also extremely wear-resistant and can retain its properties for a long time, becoming softer with each wash. Designed for cold weather. Products made from flannel come in sizes 120x80, 90x120, 90x150 cm. Wider ones are suitable for daily swaddling.
- Lightweight chintz with a smooth surface. It's inexpensive. Provides free air movement, preventing skin rash. They are available in the classic version 120x80 and large 95x120 cm. With such products, the baby will feel comfortable even in the summer heat. For the winter period, a warm flannel covered with a short fleece is more suitable.
- Knitwear. Thanks to their elasticity, the products accurately follow the contours of the body without restricting movement. The knitted fabric is soft and has good stretch. Suitable for the summer season. It is important to pay attention to the composition - the fabric should not contain elastane or polyester. There are knitwear in various sizes - 120x80, 100x120 cm or square 100x100, 110x110 cm. Other sizes are also available.
- Kulirka is a knitted cotton fabric. It stretches poorly in length, stretches well in width, and does not wrinkle. The softness of diapers from the cooler allows babies to explore the world without being distracted by inconvenience. The cooler does not hold its shape perfectly and shrinks after washing, so it is better to buy a size larger.
- Footer is a delicate cotton material. Used in light industry. Soft, warming, easy to care for. The performance characteristics of the material are most valued in the production of baby diapers and clothing for newborns. Products made from footer retain heat and help keep you warm, that is, they are suitable for the cold season.
The above fabrics do not contain impurities and are durable.
Attention. It is not recommended to use synthetic products; this can lead to negative consequences for the child’s health.
When purchasing baby diapers, you should choose large manufacturers who use hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly materials to protect against hypothermia and overheating.
Types of baby diapers
Today, children's stores offer a large selection of models - standard products of classic sizes, Velcro films, zippers, envelopes, disposable, reusable, etc.
- Velcro products. According to customer reviews, it is a very convenient option. A modern model that allows you to swaddle without pulling. They are divided into single-layer for warm weather and demi-season double-layer.
- Disposable diapers. They are used for hygiene procedures, massages, in processes of treating the skin with disinfectant solutions, as well as during air baths. Great for protecting strollers, cribs, and car seats from getting wet. Such products are becoming increasingly popular today. Produced from natural raw materials that do not cause allergic reactions. They prevent contact with non-sterile surfaces, are safer than textile counterparts and do not need to be ironed. Such diapers can be called universal. They will keep your baby's bed dry and his sleep restful.
- Reusable - an inexpensive alternative to a waterproof mattress pad. An irreplaceable thing for a family with a child. It will be comfortable for your baby to lie on a soft diaper, for example, with a bright pattern, and you will protect furniture and other surfaces from leaking.
Color
Online stores sell products for every taste and color. When choosing a color and pattern, most parents focus on the gender of the child or choose neutral, universal colors. The best diapers for newborns are distinguished by calm tones, pleasant pictures, and the absence of too bright, acidic details or patterns that can fade.
Tips for choosing
- The best choice would be a simple product made from natural material without decoration or unnecessary seams. Mixed options should not be considered.
- It is advisable to purchase products before the baby is born. After all, diapers are used not only for swaddling, they can also be placed under the baby or covered.
- To make your baby feel at ease and comfortable, you need to constantly monitor the cleanliness of the diapers.
Next, we will tell you which products for newborns are best to give preference to based on characteristics and customer reviews.
How to make the right choice?
When choosing diapers, you need to avoid too bright colors, because the paint can become an allergen for the baby. Before first use and in the future if they become dirty, they should be washed using baby soap or powder and rinsed thoroughly. Insufficiently clean diapers can cause diaper rash and even inflammatory processes in the baby. For children under three months of age, sheets must be ironed. Under the influence of high temperatures, the fabric becomes softer, and various pathogenic bacteria die.
It is not recommended to buy diapers of the smallest sizes for a newborn, because babies are born of different heights and weights. When you leave the maternity hospital, you can purchase a pair of medium-sized sheets. And after the baby is born, choose what kind of baby diaper he needs.
conclusions
Newborns need special care. Half the success lies in proper care - clothing, personal items, diapers, including.
Just a few decades ago, swaddling was considered the only way to dress a newborn. The diaper accompanied the child in the first months. In recent years, another point of view has emerged, whose proponents argue that such products have a bad effect on development. However, parental experience has shown that a child needs diapers - they help him adapt to life. A swaddled baby also sleeps more soundly. Therefore, parents are in no hurry to part with such an important accessory as a diaper.
For swaddling, ordinary diapers, cocoons, and a variety of sleeping bags are used. They are used not only to wrap the baby. Warm ones, for example, are used as bedding when a child takes air baths. Thin ones can be used to protect from hot sun rays or cool wind.
Today you can find diapers of different brands in stores. They vary in design, color, additional characteristics, and price. In order not to make a mistake with your choice, you need to carefully observe the baby’s behavior, because each person develops in his own way, at an individual speed and with his own preferences.
Modern absorbent diapers
Absorbent diapers are quite expensive, but it is better to purchase them if possible. These products are either disposable or reusable. They are very convenient to take with you on trips or when visiting. It’s good to use these diapers on a walk when changing a diaper in a stroller. In a warm room, you can place the baby on such a mat without a diaper. The baby's skin will breathe, and the diaper will absorb the released moisture well if necessary. Unfortunately, these sheets are small in size: 40x60 cm, 60x60 cm and 60x90 cm. This does not allow them to be used for full swaddling. Disposable sheets should be thrown away after use. And reusable diapers can be washed and used further.
Sewing diapers at home
The mechanism for making sheets with your own hands is as follows:
- Apply all the necessary markings with a pencil to the edge of the fabric cut.
- Cut the material according to the marked marks.
- Finish the edges using an overlocker or a zigzag stitch on a sewing machine. It is strictly forbidden to use a hem seam; the edge will be too rough for a baby. If it is not possible to decorate the edges this way, then you can do this by overcasting the diapers by hand.
- To complete the process, you need to wash the diapers, rinse them well and iron them at maximum temperature on both sides.
Today, there is no single standard size of a baby diaper for a newborn, so a young mother can choose sheets of several available sizes provided by manufacturers. This should be done based on the height, weight of the baby and your own preferences. Even if the baby is in diapers, diapers are still needed for daily use, just in smaller quantities. You can make your own sheets at home. In this case, you set the size of the product yourself. The main thing is that it is convenient to swaddle the baby with a sheet of a specific size.
