Undressing a newborn after a nappy leak

Pull it down, not up

Sooner or later every newborn has a leak that escapes up the back of the nappy and into their clothes, sometimes as far as the shoulders. Pulling a bodysuit like that off over the head drags the mess across the back of their head and face. The trick is to take it off the other way: down.

Most bodysuits have envelope shoulders, the overlapping flaps at the neckline. They let the neck stretch wide enough to go over the shoulders and down the body. Sleepsuits that open at the front come off the same way, peeled back from the shoulders rather than lifted over anything.

Get ready before you start

If you are out, a change of clothes and a bag for the dirty ones in your nappy bag turn a disaster into a five-minute job. Leaks away from home are common in the first weeks.

• A changing mat or an old towel you don’t mind washing.
• A bowl of warm water and cotton wool, or wipes.
• A clean nappy and a complete clean outfit, opened out and ready.
• A plastic bag or bucket for the dirty clothes, within reach.
• A muslin or small towel to cover your baby while you clean up.

Step by step

• Lay your baby on their back on the mat. Undo all the poppers between the legs.
• Take each arm out of its sleeve, drawing the sleeve off rather than pulling the arm.
• Stretch the envelope neckline wide and ease it over one shoulder, then the other.
• Roll the bodysuit down over the chest and tummy, folding the dirty part inwards as you go.
• Lift your baby’s legs gently and roll it off past the feet, then undo the nappy.
• For a sleepsuit, undo every snap, take the arms out, peel it back from the shoulders, and lift your baby out of it, folding the mess inwards.

Cleaning up your baby

Clean from front to back with warm water and cotton wool, and don’t forget the creases at the tops of the legs and up the back. After a big leak, a quick wash in a basin of warm water is sometimes easier than wiping. If the cord stump is still attached, keep it as dry as you can and pat it dry afterwards; your midwife or doctor can tell you how they want it cleaned. Dry every fold before the clean nappy goes on, then dress your baby in the fresh outfit.

A sleepsuit with snaps down the front, such as our Sky Blue Teddy & Stars Footed Sleepsuit, is quick to put back on when you have a cold, unhappy baby. For how to do that smoothly, see our post on putting a sleepsuit on a newborn.

Rescuing the clothes

Scrape or shake off what you can into the toilet, then rinse the stained area under a cold tap from the back of the fabric. Cold water matters: hot water sets poo and milk stains. Soak the piece in cool water with a little detergent before it goes in the wash, and dry it in the sun if you can, since sunlight fades many stains on white and light fabrics. Our guide to washing baby clothes has more on detergents and care labels.

Fewer leaks next time

• Pull the frills around the nappy legs outwards after fastening, so they seal.
• Check the size. Leaks up the back are a common sign your baby is ready for the next nappy size.
• Fasten the tabs evenly, snug but with room for two fingers at the waist.
• Keep the nappy folded down below the cord stump in the first weeks.

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