Feeling guilty after trying a newborn trick

Just wanted to share a warning in case anyone else comes across something like this. The first night we brought our newborn home just 6 hours after giving birth, I was changing his first diaper and got really worried about his umbilical cord getting irritated. I was tired and anxious, and I noticed a trick that suggested cutting a wedge in the diaper where the cord is. I did this for a couple of diapers until I saw some of the gel from inside the diaper near his belly button. I freaked out and remembered how harmful that stuff can be and tried my best to clean it off him. He had it on overnight.

I can’t stop thinking about it, and now that three days have gone by, I’m really uneasy. I can’t find clear info on how bad the gel is, but I read it could be harmful in some diapers. Having postpartum anxiety has me really worried about this. I feel so bad about it, so here’s a warning to tired new moms to be careful if they see similar tricks.

Just wash it off and keep an eye on any irritation.

There are so many harmful things we can’t avoid completely, just do your best and it will be fine.

Just fold the diaper and make sure to point it down or it will leak out the top.

  • mom of an 11-month-old son

Davin said:
Just fold the diaper and make sure to point it down or it will leak out the top.

  • mom of an 11-month-old son

Haha, I had a funny experience at a fair with my mom and my over 1 year old. I had to change his diaper in a private spot because I couldn’t find a changing room. I lifted the front of the diaper to adjust him while explaining, ‘Make sure to point it down to avoid leaks,’ and my mom was confused. She didn’t realize that’s why he leaked when she put his diaper on.

To be fair, I’m her only child, so she never needed to know stuff like that. Definitely a handy tip for new boy moms.

@Tariq
I’m about to be a boy mom, thanks for sharing this helpful tip.

Ciel said:
@Tariq
I’m about to be a boy mom, thanks for sharing this helpful tip.

I learned that the hard way! Haha.

They told us to fold the diaper at the hospital, and it worked well.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. That little exposure probably didn’t do any harm, especially since you stopped as soon as you realized.

There’s a lot to learn when you have a baby, and things that seem simple can be complicated too. Especially when you’re tired!

You can fold the diaper. But postpartum anxiety makes new moms worry about everything. I felt the same way for the first few weeks, but it does get easier.

Pampers Swaddlers have a place for the umbilical cord.

Hey! My son’s belly button got some of that gel stuck in it too, but it was fine. The body pushes it out, just watch for irritation. It came out after a couple of weeks.

Can I just say how ridiculous it is that some diaper materials could be harmful? Honestly, what’s going on with that?

(I think you’ll be okay though.)

Try not to worry too much. If your baby had eaten it, I’d be more concerned. But honestly, would companies use harmful materials in diapers designed for delicate babies? I doubt it. Take a deep breath, you’re doing well. When things like this happen, it can help to talk it out with someone.

I agree. We didn’t have to fold the diaper because the preemie and newborn sizes were made to fit under the umbilical cord.

Wow, we rolled the front down for our two daughters and it worked out fine.

Don’t stress too much. Parenting is a learning experience.

Where did you read that some diapers could be harmful?

August said:
Where did you read that some diapers could be harmful?

Volatile Organic Compounds in Disposable Diapers and Baby Wipes in the US: A Survey of Products and Health Risks - PubMed.

‘Baby diapers contained several known or suspected carcinogens, including benzene and 1,4-dioxane, with some diapers posing a lifetime cancer risk of 1 in a million in a worst-case scenario.’

I promise your baby will be okay, everything is really new to you right now, but you’re doing a fantastic job.

He’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. Congrats on your new baby and welcome to the world of caring for a little one.