Nappy (or diapers we may refer to it) advertisement is abundant in print and television media. All of them are showing a happier, more comfortable and vibrant baby when he is Nappy clad- “Nappy mein behad happy (most happy in nappy)” one of the punch line says. Another says-“geelepan ki wajah se inke badhte kadam kyun roken? (Why to stop their movement due to frequent wetting)”

But how true it is? Lets us evaluate ourselves…

The problem of clothing infants not yet potty trained is as old as
human history. Before the invention of modern diapers, mothers living in warm climates typically left their children naked and cleaned up their waste only when it interfered with eating, sleeping, or working. Then came diapers and since the introduction several decades ago, product innovations include the use of super-absorbent polymers, resealable tapes and elasticised waist bands. They are now much thinner and much more absorbent. Modern baby diapers have a layered construction, which allows the transfer and distribution of urine to an absorbent core structure where it is locked in.

• The topsheet closest to the skin is made of soft nonwoven fabric and transfers urine quickly to the layers underneath;
• The distribution layer receives the urine flow and transfers it on to the absorbent core;
• The absorbent core structure is the key component and is made out of a mixture of cellulose pulp and superabsorbent polymers;
• The backsheet is typically made of ‘breathable’ polyethylene film or a nonwoven and film composite which prevents wetness transfer to the bed or clothes.

Here comes the million dollar question- why do we use it?

Okay, since the kids are not trained they can wet or soil themselves any time and anywhere. If we closely analyze the situation, out of these two, for parents “anywhere” is of more serious concern than “anytime”.

Infants move from here to there and keep on soiling and wetting floor, bed, clothes, carpet, sofa etc, etc. Frequency of urination is naturally more than defecation and moms get fed up of this. When visiting places like friends, malls, parties etc , this causes too much problem for the parents for obvious reasons in shape of frequent wiping of floor, changing bedspreads, changing baby’s and their own clothes, washing and keeping dry hordes of baby wears etc etc etc…so the ideal choice is a diaper…place it, fasten it forget it….
                       Similarly, “anytime” or “odd time” wetting and soiling is point of concern for parents because of frequent sleep disturbances, favorite TV serial /cricket telecast interruption, getting late for office, delay in household chores, overcooked/burnt food on dining table etc…etc…etc… so the ideal choice is a diaper…place it, fasten it forget it….
                  The soiled baby stinks, smells a lot and often causes aversion to public- and no parent want their babies to be handled that way. So the ideal choice is a diaper…place it, fasten it forget it….

What from infant point of view? What will happen if we don’t use diaper?

A soiled or wet cloth is a health concern- rightfully so. Urine gets evaporated at its own but stool stick to skin and May cause infection. A baby may catch common cold due to wet baby wear mostly in winter…wet body may cause hypothermia…but all the complications are purely assumptions. There is no hard core study to prove that a wet baby wear will indeed cause problem in 100% of the cases or physical touch with soiled baby wears leads to infection until unless there is an open wound.
And what if we use diapers?

A problem frequently seen with diapers is skin irritation, commonly referred to as DIAPER RASH, The combination of urine and feces creates AMMONIA. Ammonia irritates skin and can cause painful redness. During the change, after the buttocks are cleaned and dried, some people use baby oil, barrier cream or baby powder to reduce the possibility of irritation. The most effective means to prevent and treat diaper rash is to expose the buttocks to air and sunshine as often as possible. There are also drying creams based on such ingredients as zinc oxide which can be used to treat diaper rash.

In a baby girl, the main problem of frequent urinary tract infection (UTI) is use of Diaper. As vagina is very close to anus, the faecal matter gets mixed with urine, becomes more semi-liquid and gets smeared to the open vagina. No matter how thoroughly you clean but still some amount is never washed out from the inner folds. Also the rashes formation due to ammonia, on the outer vagina is very very painful whenever the poor girl passes urine - Similar to rubbing of salt and pepper on an open wound.

Now weigh the situations yourself:-

1. The frequent wetting and soiling is problem for parents, not for babies themselves.
2. We use diaper for our comfort, not for our baby…they are better without it.
3. There are medical problem attached with use of diaper but no disease as such is attributed to non use of diaper.
4. A baby, who feels discomfort himself due to frequent wetting and soiling, is potty trained faster than those babies who are nappy clad and seldom feel what the problem is like.
5. Careless and lazy parents use diapers and bottle feed their babies.
6. No sane friend of your complains if baby wets the floor of their house, it is you who feel humiliated, not the baby or the host.

Imagine if you are forced to wear damp sanitary napkins (structurally similar to diapers) throughout the month and not just during periods…..will you be “behad happy”......?????!!!!!!!!!

so, the moral of the story is - use diaper but in moderation. use it for minimum possible time. Raising child is your duty not botheration. It is full time job. Mentally prepare yourself for the problems attached with it. Do not whine or complain. There is no short-cut to it.

(next article is on MASTURBATION (both male and female), send you queries if want to know anything in particular…..and watch out this space….)