An interesting observation on diaper changes

[BlessedMommy2006]

My son is my 2nd kid. I had a girl first. My girl, I generally had to wipe her after each urination or at least most of them. If I skipped a few times she would start looking red and irritated around the vulva area.

My boy, I pretty much just take off the wet diaper and put on a dry one. I rarely wipe. His skin around his foreskin stays SO healthy! Actually it almost seems to irritate him more if I wipe him too much. Does the foreskin have some sort of "anti-uric acid" effect?

[ursaminor]

I dont know, but I was noticing the same thing with my DS. I rarely wipe him if he only peed, because the wipes tend to cause irritation on his foreskin and general diaper area. sometimes I just spritz with water and let him air dry, it seems to be easier on his skin.

[Marsupialmom]

Had 2 girls and 1 boy. I don't remember my son but I know one girl I had to make sure she was dry or she would get red and yeasty. My other dd didn't.

[Belle]

I rarely ever wiped either of my daughters' vulvas after they urinated. I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times they've gotten red and inflamed. And I attibute a few of those to the bottle of cartoon-themed bubble bath that was given as a gift by a grandparent. I don't have any sons so I can't compare.

[BlessedMommy2006]

Originally Posted by Belle

I rarely ever wiped either of my daughters' vulvas after they urinated. I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times they've gotten red and inflamed. And I attibute a few of those to the bottle of cartoon-themed bubble bath that was given as a gift by a grandparent. I don't have any sons so I can't compare.

That's interesting. Maybe my daughter just has more sensitive skin.

[tutucrazy]

I never wipe my son after he urinates. I fact I was told by a pedi (very naturally minded one) NOT to wipe after every urination b/c it disturbs the natural flora. Diapers are really good at absorbing the urine these days!

I'd say your daughter might just have more sensitive skin or something.

[jessjgh1]

It might also depend on if you mean wipe using 'wipes'-- we just used water-- and no I didn't wipe after every pee, especially since I ec'ed (elimination communication).
The wipes tend to be more irritating and even a non-crunchy pedi mentioned that he recommends just water.

Jessica

[MyBoysBlue]

I have two intact boys. DS 1 was diapered with disposables and I had to wipe him even after a pee or he got rashy and I used disposible wipes. DS 2 was diapered with cloth and I only had to wipe with poos and I used cloth wipes with just water. He never had a rash.

[laohaire]

In retrospect I don't know if it was a bad idea, but after reading here on MDC that some moms don't wipe at all for pee, I tried it with DD, and she had no irritation at all.

I think it's a skin-sensitivity thing, not a sex-related thing.

If I had another baby, I'd wipe with a damp cloth. (I stopped wiping mostly to avoid using the disposables, but wasn't feeling equipped to move to cloth wipes).