Oh goodness. Leaks? Let’s fix this. We’re going to ask a couple questions, and based on your answer, may send you over to a different blog post. Because reading one reallllly long post to try to find the answer you need, well, it’s about as productive as changing a diaper right before baby poops. So we’re going to try to anticipate the, uh, poop, and get it right the first time.

Moving on. So you say you’re having leaks with a gDiaper. Okay. Are you using a biodegradable gRefill or a gCloth? gRefill? Stay right here. gCloth? Hop over to the post dedicated to gCloth, please.

Leaks with gRefills

First, we have to ask, how often are you changing baby? Babies should be changed every 2-3 hours, regardless of the diaper they’re in (except cloth, which should be changed more frequently). If you’re having leaks within that time frame, you may just need to change more often. That aside, let’s say you just changed baby and uh oh, it wasn’t contained. Then we’ll move on to this question:

Where is the leak happening?

Are you finding that the waistband is getting wet? If you see leaks high up on the leg or near the waistband it signifies that the gPant is being secured too tightly.  If the waist is too tight, the trim on the pouch will be nice and taut up around the belly but there will be gaps underneath all four snap tabs, leaving that area vulnerable to leaking. So loosen it up a bit. The trim of the pouch should be flush against the skin. Disposable diapers require that you pull the waist super tight. It’s how they try to keep the messes inside. gDiapers are different. The waist should be secure enough to keep the trim of the pouch against the skin, but over-tightening will work against you.

Are you finding the leaks are happening in the crotch area?

If you’re finding that there’s wetness on the colorful cloth cover in between baby’s legs, it’s a pretty clear indication that the snap-in pouch isn’t sitting quite right. The trim of the pouch should run along the very utmost crease of baby’s crotch, right where inner thigh meets groin. Think of it as you would put on your own underwear. Pull it all the way up. Then, secure the little gPant. When it’s all on, take a peek under the leg bands and see if there’s any gaping. The trim of the pouch should be flush against the skin. If you can see a gap, you’ll want to re-adjust.

Those are the two types of leaks we sometimes hear about here in diaper therapy. The nice thing? They’re few and far between, and when they do happen, these little tips do the trick nicely. And once you’ve got the hang of it, you can’t unlearn it. And then we’ll pin you with a certified “deputy diaper therapist” badge and send you off into the world to change diapers, for good.