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Doggie does diapers

Reusable, machine washable doggie diapers?

Whaaaaat has the world gone mad?

Actually, doggie diapers are actually a big thing and we’re so excited to be apart of helping out our doggo friends. Be it a young dog that is having little accidents whilst potty training, an old doggo who is experiencing incontinence issues or dog breeders dealing with menstruation, they all have a use for doggie diapers.

Let me be absolutely clear here. Doggie diapers are not for containing poo. Definitely not! They are only for dogs with incontinence issues or dogs on their menstrual cycle.

Doggie diapers are soft, comfortable, breathable and environmentally friendly. By switching to washable doggie diapers you will save money and you will no longer need to purchase disposables which will end up in a landfill after a single use.

The Cover is made from soft, stretchy TPU fabric that is waterproof. The diaper is closed over the back of the dog with a soft velcro band. The inner layer is a soft, breathable mesh fabric. Inside the diaper you will find 3 layers of absorbing Microfibre. Of course, we have not forgotten about the very important tail hole.

Change diapers at least every 3-4 hours. It’s best if you replace a diaper as soon as it is soiled. Allowing urine or faeces to sit against your dog’s skin can lead to infections and make it uncomfortable for your pet.

When purchasing our doggie diapers, please make sure you measure your pooch properly and choose the size according to the diagram and relevant table.  https://www.bamboobaby.co.za/product-category/doggie-diapers/

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Nappy Rash

Important Notice

The information below should in no way replace the treatment of a medical professional. If your baby is showing signs of a painful skin irritation, the redness is spreading, or infection accompanied by a fever you must seek medical attention or consult your doctor.

The incidence of bum rash is greatly reduced by the breathability of cloth but there are some instances that you could have to deal with redness. Nappy rash is defined as a patchwork of inflamed, bright red skin on the buttock.

  1. Sensitivity to wet: some babies are very sensitive to the dampness of cloth nappies. We recommend that you swop your Biodegradable Liners for Fleece Liners. These will create a soft dry layer between baby and the wet insert.
  2. Crease marks: to get a snug fit, it can seem like the nappy is too tight as it leaves red marks. These are the same marks that you might experience with your own clothes. Monitor baby for signs of discomfort and loosen nappy if necessary.
  3. Chaffing: this can be the result of wet fabric rubbing against baby’s skin. Make sure that you are changing damp nappies timeously. Avoid reusing nappy outers and changing inserts only.
  4. Bum rash: if you notice redness check that you are changing baby at the correct intervals.
  5. Acidic wee: when baby starts teeth their urine can become very acidic. You should apply a cloth safe bum balm and be sure to change baby often. If you are using a traditional or medicated cream use fleece liners to help protect your inserts.

With correct action a bum rash should clear up in a couple days. If this is not the case and you notice that it is spreading, developing blisters, there is a fever and baby is continuously upset please consult your GP.

To avoid nappy rash flares ups, practice the following tips:

  • Change nappies frequently
  • Ensure baby’s skin is thoroughly cleaned between changes
  • Use a cloth safe bum balm
  • Give baby nappy-free time whenever possible
  • Switch to disposables to allow healing time
  • Make sure your wash routine is providing a thorough wash and rinse
  • Reduce highly acidic foods
  • Use prescribed medications as instructed.

What about Thrush?

If your baby has been diagnosed with thrush, we would recommend the following steps:

  1. Apply the medicated cream as prescribed by your GP.
  2. Switch to disposables until the Thrush has cleared.
  3. If you want to stay on cloth:
    1. have a stringent cleaning routine to prevent a cycle of re-infection.
    2. use Fleece liners to protect your nappies from the cream.
  4. Make sure to wash all possibly infected nappies, wipes, and liners with Super Nappy Wash.
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How to get the perfect fit with cloth nappies

  1. Open nappy and lay it out on your changing table. Position baby on the nappy with the back elastic just above the bum crack.
  2. Pinch the middle of the nappy as you pull it between the legs to make sure that the elastics are snug against the panty line.
  3. Pull the nappy up and over baby’s tummy.
  4. Hold the front tab snug against baby’s hip, above the thigh.
  5. Pull the wing from the back of the nappy over to the front and secure the tabs.
  6. Repeat on the other side.
  7. There should be enough of a gap for 2 fingers between baby and the nappy.
  8. Check that the leg elastic is still in the panty line.
  9. The front of the nappy will sit quite high on baby’s tummy, close to but under the navel.
  10. If necessary, adjust the rise snaps and tack the extra fabric upwards between the snaps.
  11. If there is still a gap in the leg area gentle tug the front tabs until the gap closes. This is the Bunny Ear Hack, the tabs stick out the waist.
  12. Check that the back of the nappy is just above the bum crack.

Image credit: www.sacnu.com

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Nappy Liners: Fleece vs Disposable

Let’s talk about nappy liners.

Liners are supposed to do two things:

  • Keep baby’s bum a bit drier.
  • Making waste disposal a lot easier while reducing staining.

They also make pretty handy wipes on the compactum and in the nappy bag.

There are two types of liners available.

Disposable Liners

BiodegradableLinersThese are available in a roll containing 100 perforated sheets of bamboo viscose. They are easy to use and handy to have. Our disposable liners are biodegradable and compostable. Wet-only liners can be added to a compost heap and your paper recycling.

With regards to flushing, we advise caution. Liners are not the same as toilet paper, they break down slower and can cause issues with your sewerage system. It is vitally important that you know your toilet before you choose to flush liners. A great compromise is to install a bidet sprayer, these will help remove any solid, sometimes very sticky, mess directly into your toilet.

Fleece Liners

Our fleece liners are made out of micro fleece. This quality polyester synthetic fabric is the perfect stay-dry fabric for a nappy liner. As it is a non-absorbent fabric these liners are super-fast drying and easy to clean. Even the messiest changes can be cleaned with the power of a toilet flush and a firm grip on the end of the liner. If a baby is particularly sensitive to wetness then these are a great option. Fleece liners are also a great way to save money and be a little bit more environmentally aware.

 

We thought that the below tale was the perfect way to educate you about the wonders of fleece liner: “Let me tell you a bit about the event which converted me to fleece liners, having always been pretty sceptical when others raved about them: I flew to Orkney with my first son, and he did not do his usual morning poo before we left (normally as regular as clockwork), so we had it hanging over us like the Sword of Damocles all morning.  At Gatwick, I changed him again, in case he had sneakily done it en route – no poo.  By the time we got to Aberdeen, he finally decided to perform, at which point I realised I had used my only spare nappy and the rest were on the plane.  The nappy itself had plenty more capacity for wee – the only problem was the dirty liner.  However, luckily I had put on a fleece liner rather than a flushable one. I say ‘luckily’ because fleece was large enough to cover the whole nappy so none had got onto the nappy itself, as he was weaned it caught all the solids and I was able to sluice it in the toilet to remove the poo, then I could wash it in the sink and then quickly dried it in the hand dryer.  The fleece liner went back into the nappy and we were on our way again.  I would normally change the whole nappy after a poo but in this case we reused the nappy and were good to go.”

We would like to thank the Wendy Richards and her team at The Nappy Lady for the above excerpt: https://www.thenappylady.co.uk/

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Stripping your Cloth Nappies

5 August 2022  

Once you start your cloth nappy journey you will hear about STRIPPING! Before we discuss more about this process it is important to understand that with an effective, successful wash routine stripping should not be necessary.

There are many suggested stripping methods available online and we caution you to consider that most of them will include steps that will void your warranty and shorten the lifecycle of your cloth nappies.

We strongly advise against the use of bleach with our nappies as per our manufacturer’s advice. Strong, abrasive chemicals can severely damage the natural fibres of your cloth nappies. It is also very important to understand how bleaches work and to ensure that they are properly neutralised, or they can cause skin irritation and damage.

Over time you could experience build-up in your cloth nappies or have infection concerns. You will notice that your nappies are leaking, there could be an increase in babies’ nappy rashes, thrush and/or strong odours when the nappy is wet. It may then become necessary to “strip” your nappies. Before you experiment with the various bleach stripping methods, we encourage you to try Super Nappy Wash and/or detergent free rinse cycles.

Try several warm washes without detergent. You can increase temp up to 60⁰C for the occasional strip but not every wash. After the second cycle add a dose of Super Nappy Wash to refresh your nappies. The key to avoiding residue build up is to RINSE, RINSE, RINSE! (Unless you have Hard Water)

Concerns about spores or bacteria, this could be because the nappies are pre-loved or baby has had a thrush infection. Replace your regular detergent with Super Nappy Wash. This will kill 99.9% of spores and bacteria while giving a thorough clean and removing any strong odours.