The Spica Cast Diaper Change

Hi all!  I'm WAAAY overdue for a blog post here!  Things have been a little hectic around here but are returning to normal.  I ended up with the terrible stomach virus I was trying so hard to avoid about a week and a half ago.  One trip to the ER later (I had been unable to keep ANYTHING in for 17 hours... I gave it a good run but threw in the towel), I'm finally back to myself.

I've been wanting to post something on diapering a Spica cast baby for quite some time now.  It's been a tough area for Steve and I to succeed in.  Even after having Evan in this cast for 5 weeks, we still experience leaks!  So, without further ado, here is how we diaper our Spica baby. :)

You will first need a decent amount of diapering supplies.  We started out using two size 2 diapers (one to stuff in the front and one to stuff in the back) and one size 6 diaper (to diaper the whole thing together, cast and all) in the very beginning.  This proved to be WRONG.  Leaks were happening at a near constant rate. Something had to change.

So, after some "loosening" of the cast, we now use two size 5 diapers, one Poise pad, one size 2 diaper, and one cloth diaper on Evan.  Evan is pretty average in size and weight (I believe he is in the 50-75th percentile for his age). Check out our heavy arsenal below:

You've got your diaper wipes on the right, and then you've got your baby powder to absorb wetness/odor, lotion for dry skin, foot spray for the nasty ass odor that won't quit, Febreeze to spray the outside of diaper to try and kill pee smell, hand sanitizer, LOTS of duck tape, mole skin, and a wooden spoon (for the parent with massive hands that needs help threading the diaper through the cast).

 

All the diapers I list above...5 total.

Now that you've loaded up on your supplies, you are ready for the very simple task (HAAA!) of changing your Spica baby's diaper.  Be sure to have some toys on stand by to distract the Spica baby.

Once you have removed the dirty diapers and cleaned the baby up, apply some baby powder in the front area (this is entirely optional but I deem it necessary for our child), and place the Poise pad in the front section with the paper strip still on.  You will want to shove the Poise pad up there a little ways.

Next, take your size 5 diaper, rip of the sticky tabs on the sides used for "normal" diapering, and thread the top part of the diaper through the front area of the cast.  This will help catch all that pee that likes to drift upward.  Pull part of the diaper through the top and fold down.

Apply duck tape to secure at the top.

Flip-a-baby over and take a size 5 diaper and thread it through the backend of the cast.  Make sure you fan it out so it catches everything.  Apply duck tape to secure at the top, just like in the front.

Start tucking in diapers.  I turn Evan onto his side and tuck in the Poise pad in the rear, and then the front diaper in the rear.  Then I roll him back onto his back and tuck the rear diaper into his front.  It should look like the picture above once everything is all tucked.

THEN!  I take a size 2 diaper and I just tuck one in to tie the whole mess together.  It helps keeps all of the diapers securely tucked.  It should look like the picture above once you're done.  And honestly, in this picture, I can't believe he is still smiling.  He is usually SO over getting diapered at this point.  Who wouldn't be?

LAST DIAPER!  I top the entire thing off with a cloth diaper that goes around his diapers and cast.  I really recommend buying a couple of those for the duration of the cast.  I got mine at www.flipdiapers.com.  It saves money because it's one less disposable you have to use.

Button his body suit and you are ready to go!  Look at how happy he looks there!  He knows he's finally free, that's why. :)

And that's it!  See, a dozen and a half easy steps and you're done.  It took Steve and I a good 2-3 weeks to master the diapering, and by then it was "too late."  The smell of urine was already trapped inside of his cast.  The only thing we could do at that point was just keep his skin clean and dry to try and avoid sores.  We have at least done well with that.

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial!  Hang in there!
~Nikki