The right way to diaper your baby: It may not be how you have been doing it

The most surprising part of putting on a baby’s diaper may be the bit parents barely notice: the soft ruffles around the legs are not supposed to stay tucked inside. They need to be pulled outward after the diaper is fastened. That tiny adjustment can help create a better seal around the legs and reduce leaks.And this is exactly the kind of small detail that keeps appearing in parenting reels. An Instagram Reel from Dr Avinash Bothra through his account @udaipur_parentingtips, for example, recently focused on the “right way” to change a baby’s diaper. “New parents ke liye ye small tips bahut useful hote hain,” he captioned the video.

Proper diapering is about more than preventing a messy outfit.

The diaper should not be tight

A common mistake is assuming that a tighter diaper is a better diaper.It isn’t.UNICEF recommends fastening a fresh diaper so that it fits snugly but isn’t too tight around the baby’s waist or legs. The American Academy of Pediatrics similarly advises checking that the diaper is centred, that there are no gaps around the hips and that the leg fringe is pulled outside the elastic edge.If the diaper is leaving deep marks, constantly leaking despite correct positioning, or seems difficult to fasten comfortably, the problem may be the size or fit, rather than the way you are tightening it. Diaper shapes also vary between brands, so one brand may fit a baby differently from another.

Don’t pull your baby’s legs too high

Some parenting videos warn against lifting both legs high into the air during a diaper change. One widely viewed Instagram Reel from Dr. Shalini Verma (@drshalini_obgyn) makes this warning, suggesting that parents instead support the baby more gently while changing the diaper.In the Instagram post, Dr Shalini warns parents against lifting a baby’s legs too high while changing a diaper, saying this can put unnecessary pressure on the hips and spine. She also shares a few practical tips: use a clean, soft changing surface, keep supplies within arm’s reach and distract the baby with a favourite toy. Parents can use gentle wipes and diaper cream when needed. The fresh diaper should be fastened snugly, not too tight or loose, and the baby’s legs should always be gently supported during the change.Watch the reel here:So the next time you put a diaper on your baby, don’t just fasten the tabs and move on.Check the fit. Pull the ruffles out. Make sure there are no gaps. Keep the diaper comfortably snug. And, for a baby boy, point the penis down before fastening.It takes only a few extra seconds, but those seconds can make the difference between a diaper that simply looks correctly worn and one that actually works the way it was designed to.