Diaper Blowouts Are a Nightmare—Here’s How To Handle Them (2024)

Nothing ruins a sweet moment with your little one like the sudden explosionof baby poop. Whether it came with a warning rumble or erupted with a swift vengeance, diaper blowouts are never fun. The greenish-yellow streak running up your baby's back might be alarming, but it is a common (and frankly, unpleasant) part of being a tiny human.

"Sometimes babies give a 'Hershey schmear' and other bowel movements can be more voluminous," saysJonathan Jassey, DO, FAAP, a pediatrician at Concierge Pediatrics in Roslyn and Woodbury, New York.

Whether your baby is producing poopy diapers every day or once a week (both of which are normal),you are bound to experience the dreaded blowout at some point.

So, as you say try and deal with that adorable outfit that is now matted in baby poop, we will help you understand why diaper blowouts happen, how to help prevent them, tips for the cleanup, and when to call your health care provider.

Why Do Diaper Blowouts Happen?

A diaper blowout is exactly what it sounds like—your baby's bowel movement escapes from the diaper before it has a chance to be absorbed.Why, exactly, does this happen?

You have a newborn

If your baby is between 1 and 8 weeks old, you are likely living the blowout life.

"Physiologically, newborns are most at risk," explainsFlorencia Segura, MD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatrician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics practicing at Einstein Pediatrics. "They stool very frequently, up to eight to 12 times per day, and their stools tend to be a watery liquid consistency, making blowouts more likely to happen."

Diaper issues

Dr. Segura adds that if your baby is wearing the wrong size diaper, you are in for more blowouts. "If the diaper is too small, it won't be able to contain your baby's stool. If the diaper is too large, this may cause gaps and lead to leaks, especially around the diaper cuffs," she says.

A poorly fastened diaper or one that has not been changed in a while is also at risk for a blowout.

Frequency of bowel movements

Diaper blowouts can happen regardless of whether your baby is breastfed or formula-fed, although, according to Dr. Jassey, formula-fed babiesare more prone to constipation. "Sometimes blowouts can happen if babies skip a day or two going to the bathroom and all of it will come out at once," he says.

Tips for Preventing Diaper Blowouts

To help keep your baby's bowel movements where they belong (i.e., not on their back), Dr. Segura stresses the importance of proper diaper size and positioning.

"Make sure your baby is in the correct diaper for their weight range," she says. "Check thatthe diaper is fastened snuglyaround your baby's waist, back, and legs. You will know it's a snug fit if you can't accommodate more than one finger around your baby's waist. Make sure that the ruffles are pulled out on the leg cuffs to help with the fit and prevent leaks."

Dr. Segura also explains that car trips tend to be the prime time for blowouts due to your baby's inclined position. "Make sure you change the diaper right before placing your baby in the car seat and always bring a change of clothes," she says.

Cleaning up a Diaper Blowout

Depending on the severity of the diaper blowout, you may be able to salvagethat onesie you just bought. Here are some tips for cleaning your baby and their adorable clothes.

Bathe your baby

Once your baby is covered in poop, bath time seems like a no-brainer. Take your baby to the bathroom, strip off their clothes, and give them a good scrub down.

If you're in public (a cringe-worthy experience), finda changing tableor private area and use as many baby wipes as you can to get them clean—and always remember to bring a change of clothes!

Along with cleaning your baby, make sure you disinfect any hard surfaces and wash any changing pads, bedding, etc. that may have gotten caught in the cross-fire.

Save the clothes

To save their clothes (at least try to), start by removing as much poop as possible with a plastic spoon or knife, or anything that does the trick without rubbing it into the clothes. Spray the items with a pre-wash stain remover, give them a good soak (at least 15 minutes), and throw them in the wash.

With any luck, the blowout stain will disappear. If not, treat them again before they dry to avoid letting the stain set even more.

When To Seek Medical Help

There are a couple of signs that may warrant a call to your child's health care provider. According to Dr. Jassey, these are signs to look out for:

• Your baby is having 10 or more bowel movements a day
• You noticeany bright red blood, mucousy, watery, or green stools (You want to "make sure there's not a food intolerance, like cow's milk protein intolerance," says Dr. Segura.)

For the most part, though, diaper blowouts are a normal part of being a baby, especially in the early months. They are certainly messy but go easy on yourself and try to remember this phase will only last a little while!