Child health experts advise parents not to let the rising cost of diapers lead them to leave babies in soiled diapers for extended periods, which can cause diaper rash and infections.
Pediatricians also warn against using old clothes and rags as alternatives.
Instead, they recommend using reusable diapers and allowing babies to wear pants at home to let the skin breathe.
According to a PUNCH Healthwise report, some mothers are having hard times coping with the high diaper prices.
Mummy Sewa, a mother of three, now uses diapers only in the morning and at night, switching to pants during the day. She noted that the cost of a diaper pack has increased from ₦3,000 to ₦10,000.
Similarly, Mrs. Gideon, a mother of two, finds cleaning up after her baby more economical than spending ₦10,000 weekly on diapers. Her baby wears only pants during the day and diapers at night.
Checks show that a pack of the most expensive diapers in Nigeria costs ₦120,000, while the cheapest single diaper costs ₦644.
Dr. Ayobola Adebowale, a pediatrician, explained that wet diapers cause skin irritation due to ammonia in urine, leading to diaper rash and potential infections. She advised using reusable diapers and allowing fresh air around the baby’s skin when at home.
Another pediatrician, Dr. Tolulope Asare, emphasized changing soiled diapers frequently to prevent diaper rash and infections. He also recommended applying petroleum jelly to protect the baby’s skin and warned against using rags as napkins.
Johns Hopkins Medicine defines diaper dermatitis as skin inflammation caused by prolonged exposure to urine and faeces, leading to over hydration of the skin.
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Credit – PUNCH