You want the very best for your baby, but experts say you don’t need to overspend when it comes to diaper duty.
“When changing a diaper it’s best not to use the wipes that you can buy in the store. What works really nicely is just warm water and a soft towel,” says Lee Memorial Health System pediatrician, Dr. Anthony Pietroniro.
If a diaper is particularly soiled, Dr. Pietroniro suggests adding a tiny bit of moisturizing soap to the cloth. If skin is irritated, follow with a simple ointment that contains petroleum jelly or zinc oxide.
“You can apply that when changing the diaper as a way to create a barrier,” says Dr. Pietroniro.
Maybe the biggest diaper dilemma concerns baby powder. A staple on many changing tables, experts say you don’t need it. In fact, many doctors frown on it, believing it could do more harm than good.
“I, as a pediatrician, discourage using powders or corn starch because that can be inhaled into the lungs. And some studies have shown that that can actually result in inflammation of the lung, which is called pneumonitis,” says Dr. Pietroniro.
The bottom line is to keep baby clean and dry; expensive products and scents aren’t necessary.
“Some of the wipes that have that nice, pleasant smell that we all like, some babies are actually allergic,” says Dr. Pietroniro.
Sometimes it’s the simple solutions that stand up to the test of time.
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Lee Memorial Health System in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of medical care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For nearly a century, we’ve been providing our community with everything from primary care treatment to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.
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