Baby Urine, Baby Stool and Baby Diaper
Infants urinate very frequently, often more than fifteen times a day. The color of the baby urine may vary, it may be dark or light yellow, or even clear. The bowel movements are also frequent; sometimes babies may have 6 to 8 motions a day but they may have it less frequently too. Some may have a movement only on alternate days. Baby stool in the early days of life is often yellow and runny, especially in breast-fed babies. It may become firmer with more food intake. The color may vary from mustard yellow to darker shades of brown in babies taking formula milk. The consistency also may be firmer. The frequency as well as the nature and color of the stool may depend on the diet and may vary between infants.
It is very important to keep the skin dry to protect it from rashes. Frequent diaper changes may be necessary to prevent diaper rash. Cloth diapers should be changed as soon as they become wet or soiled. Most of the latest disposable baby diapers have a gel which absorbs the urine and locks it away, keeping the baby dry through one or two urinations. However, it is not advisable to keep the same diaper on for longer periods.
It is absolutely essential to change the baby diaper as soon as it gets soiled with stool. The urea present in the baby’s urine is broken down by certain bacteria in the stool, creating an alkaline environment which may irritate the baby’s tender skin. The diapers, especially the disposable ones, should be checked very frequently. The advantages of using disposable diapers are many, but among the disadvantages, the environment hazard it causes deserve special mention. They accumulate in landfills and take a long time to disintegrate. Using reusable cloth diapers also have environmental repercussions due to the water and detergent use necessary for their upkeep. Besides, they are not as hygienic as disposable diapers and do a poorer job of keeping the baby dry.
Baby powders may be used to keep the baby’s body dry from sweat but they have no real use against urine. They are better avoided from the diaper area, especially talcum powders which can cause certain lung problems if the baby inhales it. Cornstarch-based baby powders are safer for use.
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Yasser Elnahas
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