Being a new parent comes with worry and anxiety; add the extra worry of using unhealthy or expired products for your child. I know you’ve had to double-check multiple baby products for the expiration dates, including diapers. But, do diapers expire at all?
This scenario indeed happens with many new parents who try to purchase diapers in bulk for their new babies. Often, they are found worrying about the health of their little ones.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t check expiry dates on diapers. It’s normal to trivialize such matters until you discover there’s more to it than meets the eye. You may be thinking: “Do diapers expire at all?”
Before your questions are answered, let’s give a definition of what a diaper is.
A diaper is a piece of soft towel or paper that you fasten around a baby’s bottom to soak up its urine or feces. It can also be defined as a piece of soft material, or a disposable material, wrapped around a baby’s butt to absorb its excrement.
Do Diapers Expire At All And What Are Diapers Made Of?
Due to the composition of a diaper, it can’t expire. Nonetheless, there are certain things to look out for while buying a diaper to ensure the safety of your baby’s health. Before you can answer the question, ‘Do diapers expire at all? you must know the materials that make up a diaper.
A typical diaper is made up of layers that are capable of holding up urine for up to 18 hours. Here are some materials that are used in making a diaper:
- Polyethylene film
- Waterproof Outer Layer
- Breathable/Cloth-like back sheet
- Absorbent core (wood pulp fluff)
- Super Absorbent Polymer
- Elastics
1. Polyethylene Film
This is the sheet that makes up the bottom of any disposable diaper. They are water-repelling nonwoven films. This part of the diaper prevents liquid from leaking. Sometimes, polypropylene films may also be used.
2. Waterproof Outer Layer
All disposable diapers have an outer layer made of waterproof material. This is usually made of petroleum-based plastic. Eco-friendly and biodegradable diapers usually use plant-based plastic or bioplastic.
3. Breathable Cloth-Like Back Sheet
The polyethylene back sheet is given a breathable cloth-like look using a thin polypropylene nonwoven sheet. Cloth-like back sheets of disposable diapers are made with polypropylene non-woven films.
4. Absorbent Core (Wood Pulp Fluff)
This gives excellent absorbing capacity to the diaper. Wood pulp fluff is cellulose which is used as the core of the diaper to absorb liquids. The pulp has qualities such as high ratio of fibers to weight, lower coarseness, and shorter fiber length.
5. Super Absorbent Polymer
Super Absorbent Polymer is also known as Super Absorbent Material. It is used in the form of fine granules. It increases the retention capacity in a baby’s diaper. Hence, it makes the product thinner with good performance and less usage of wood pulp fibers.
6. Elastics
Usually, polyurethane or polyester foam elastics, and synthetic rubber or lycra/spandex elastics are used in disposable diapers. Spandex elastics are soft and are also highly efficient elastics. These elastics will stretch as much as 400% of their original length before it break. But it is used in diapers at less than 300% stretch only. They are used in the leg cuff area, and near the waist to give a better fit to the thighs and hip of the baby.
Having known some of the materials used in manufacturing diapers, you will agree with me that a diaper gets to live as old as Methuselah with a negligible risk of expiration.
How to Tell When a Diaper is Old?
While we have answered the question, ‘Do diapers expire at all?’ it is also imperative to note that storing a diaper for so long can affect its performance. Here are some ways to know when your baby’s diaper is taking a wrong turn.
1. Change in Color
Leaving a diaper for too long can result in discoloration of the outer layer and this takes away the designs that made the diaper attractive. This could indicate that the diaper has been stored for so long and needs to be used as soon as possible. This is a normal result of exposure to the air, and it doesn’t change the diaper’s capacity. They’ll probably look pretty yellow though.
2. Adhesive
The adhesive used to secure your baby’s diaper can also degrade as the diaper ages. This could lead to the diaper loosening from the baby’s bottom and causing a mess.
3. Dyes
Most disposable diapers come with cute colors or adorable characters printed on them to make them more appealing to babies. These dyes can fade, particularly if they’re stored in direct sunlight. The good news is that this won’t make the diaper less effective, just less attractive.
4. Problems With Absorption
If you’re using old diapers, there’s a chance that their absorption might be affected and that’s because the absorbing material in the diaper breaks down over time. To make sure your diapers are as effective as possible; use them within 2 years of buying them.
5. Problems With Leaks
Leak issues can arise if you leave diapers for too long before using them. That is because the elastic around the legs could have loosened and the adhesive on the sticky tabs could also become less effective over time.
6. Change In Fragrance
The smell of a diaper can also change with time to an unpleasant one unlike when it was initially purchased. Some diapers have fragrances, so leaving them for too long before using them can either reduce the smell or change it. These fragrances are used to cover up a couple of chemicals used in manufacturing diapers.
How Should I Store Diapers for a Long Time?
If you intend to save diapers for a future child or a sibling expecting a new baby, or if you want to ensure any spares are in a good enough condition to donate, try as much as possible to follow these storage instructions.
1. Packaging Style
Mind the way you pack it up before storing it. One recommended way to store disposable diapers is in their original packaging. However, if they’re already opened, the next best thing is to find a way to seal it. It should be stored in an airtight space in order to slow the breakdown of materials.
2. Exposure to Sunlight
Keep your pack of diapers out of direct sunlight since this can lead to discoloration or make the dyes on it to fade. Increase their shelf life by keeping them in a cupboard or sealed cardboard box.
3. Room Temperature
Whether sealed or unsealed diapers, it can still be affected by high room temperature. Therefore, preserve the adhesive and elastic by storing them, if possible, below room temperature.
4. Humidity
Ensure the absorbent material in the diaper has the maximum capacity available for urine by keeping them in areas of low humidity.
When Can a Diaper Be Considered Expired?
If you’ve been having some suspicion over a diaper’s durability, this is how to know if a diaper is no longer usable:
- An unpleasant odor: This could indicate mold or mildew, which would be unhealthy for your baby.
- Loose leg cuffs: This could lead to a leaky diaper and a big mess to clean up.
- A squishy absorbent layer: If the diaper has absorbed enough moisture that it feels slightly squishy, it’s unlikely to be safe to use for your baby’s delicate skin.
- Loosed adhesive tabs: If the tabs are no longer sticky, the diaper won’t stay on your baby. The last thing you want is for it to fall off, or worse—be pulled off and thrown.
When to Change Diapers?
Wondering how often you should change your baby’s diaper? Read on to learn how you can adjust diaper changes to fit your baby’s schedule, how to tell if your little one needs a dry diaper, and what you can do to take the guessing game out of night-time diaper swaps.
No two babies are the same, and how often your baby soils its diaper can vary from day to day. The general rule of thumb when it comes to how often you should change diapers is about every two to three hours if it’s a newborn, and less frequently as the child gets older. But what if the infant isn’t wet or is fast asleep?
Just in case you think or used to think that when your newborn finally arrives, it’s going to be all about the cuddles and the love you feel; you now know that there is also the huge responsibility of intermittent diaper change. Professionals advise that you change your newborn’s diaper every two to three hours, or as often as needed. This is because your little one may urinate as often as every one to three hours and have between two and five bowel movements a day. Also, there are a few health reasons to consider as well:
- Overly wet diapers left on too long can contribute to the risk of diaper rash.
- Poop can irritate your baby’s skin.
- Leftover bacteria may lead to a bladder infection.
Additionally
A soiled diaper can cause leaks, and the mess can spread to your baby’s clothes, crib, car seat—you name it! The easiest way to avoid the mess is with frequent diaper changes.
Changing diapers around the clock may leave you feeling worked up. Try not to let diaper changes consume too much time or leave you more exhausted than it overrides your daily routine; simply be mindful of when your baby’s diaper may be wet or dirty. Your baby may cry to express any form of discomfort or unhappiness such as wetness, hunger, or tiredness.
Another great time to change your newborn’s diaper is before or during feedings. If you’re breastfeeding, as you switch from one breast to the other, take the time to check its diaper, and change it if needed. If you’re bottle-feeding, check the baby’s diaper right before you give it the bottle. After the child is done with the bottle, you can check again if the infant hasn’t fallen asleep. If the baby has gone to sleep, then there’s no need to wake it unless you feel it’s overly wet or soiled.
Do Diapers Cause Urine Infections in Babies?
Allowing your baby to stay in soiled diapers for too long may increase the risk of Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). This may be because a damp diaper gives more time for bacteria or other harmful things to enter the urinary tract from the dirty diaper.
How Long Does It Take for a Diaper to Decompose?
Disposable diapers are made mostly of plastic and can take up to 500 years to decompose. They can take even longer if tied inside a plastic diaper bag before being thrown away. Unlike regular diapers that can last up to 500 years before they decompose because they are made mostly of plastic, biodegradable diapers break down much faster in landfills, taking only 50 years.
Side Effects of Diapers
Consistent usage of diapers can cause diaper rash. The usage of improved diaper technology contributes to keeping moisture and irritants away from an infant’s delicate skin.
While it’s true that maturation in infants develops gradually through several phases, external factors such as child-rearing practices, especially the wearing of diapers, may affect an infant’s motor development.
Key Takeaways
- Diapers have a polyester or polypropylene absorbent first layer, a super absorbent polymer middle layer, and an outer waterproof sheet.
- The materials do not get spoiled but decreased absorbing capacity, leakage issues, and changes in fragrance may occur when diapers are stored for a long time.
- Keeping the diapers properly packed, away from moisture, heat, and light exposure may extend their durability.
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