How to Prevent Diaper Blowouts: A Mom’s Guide

Want to avoid diaper blowouts? Follow these tips on how to prevent diaper blowouts up the back, leaking out the leg, diaper overflowing, and fitting a diaper properly. A diaper blowout happens when the diaper just can’t contain all the poop or pee. I’ve summarized these diaper blowout solutions step-by-step below. Or keep reading for detailed instructions on preventing diaper blowouts.

To prevent baby diaper blowouts, make sure the diaper is put on snugly and properly. Ensure that the diaper is the right size using the diaper tabs. A diaper for active babies will help with diaper blowouts up the back.

1. To prevent or avoid baby diaper blowouts, first make sure the diaper is on properly: pulled up to the belly button, the leg ruffles pulled out, and the tabs fastened straight and snug.
2. Second, the diaper should be the right size. Your diaper may be too big or too small.
3. To prevent diaper blowouts up the back, try a brand for active babies.
4. If the diaper is overflowing, go up a diaper size, use overnight diapers, a diaper insert, or a cloth diaper cover over the disposable diaper.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

If you are in a hurry, check out these affordable cloth diaper covers on Amazon that work great for me. Those have saved me from daily leaks and blowouts because they hold the diaper on more snugly.

Put the diaper on properly to prevent blowouts.

First, it’s important to understand putting the diaper on properly to prevent leaks. When putting a diaper on your baby, the back of the diaper should be about even with the baby’s belly button. With baby boys, ensure the penis is tucked down before fastening the diaper. Ensure the outer diaper ruffle around the legs is pulled out. This elastic ruffle prevents leaks around the baby’s legs. Fasten the diaper snugly with the tabs, from back to front. You should be able to fit 1-2 fingers inside the waistband.

Tips for preventing diaper blowouts – go up a diaper size

Now that the diaper is properly secured, let’s talk about other ways to avoid all types of leaks and avoid diaper blowouts. Diaper size is key. Diapers typically come in ranges of overlapping sizes. For example, Size 1 diapers typically range from 8-14 pounds and Size 2 are 12-18 pounds. So if your baby is 12 pounds, wearing size 1 and experiencing blowouts, try moving to size 2. Many diaper brands have an indicator on the front showing when it’s time to go up a size.

A larger size diaper has more room and more absorptive material, which will prevent leaking. However, going up in size too soon may mean the diaper is too big and leaks will occur if the diaper doesn’t fit the baby well.

Huggies website explains: “The Size Up Indicator can be found by identifying the “button” graphic. A good fit would mean that the tabs land on or over the “button”. If the tab does not reach the “button” comfortably it is time to consider transitioning to the next size diaper. ”

Second, the diaper needs to be fastened properly. The tabs should be fastened snugly around the baby’s waist, and you should be able to fit one finger between the baby’s waist and the diaper, and the baby’s legs and the diaper cuffs.

I found I wasn’t always fastening my daughter’s diaper tightly enough, which caused lots of blowouts! I like to fasten the tabs, then go back and pull them a little tighter for a snug fit.

=Related Post: 7 Simple Tips to Ensure Proper Diaper Fit=

Try diapers meant for active babies

Is your baby moving around a lot when a blowout or leak happens? Brands like Huggies Little Movers and Pampers Cruisers tend to be extra sturdy and flexible to make sure the diaper stays in place while your baby is moving around.

How to prevent diaper blowouts up the back – Use a brand with a pocketed waistband

What do you do if the diaper is leaking up the back? Most disposable diaper brands have an elastic band that goes fully around the back of the diaper. Check the fit of the elastic. It should fit snugly. You should be able to fit one finger between your baby’s back and the back of the diaper.  The diaper should completely cover your baby’s bottom and fit tightly.

Again, fastening the diaper tabs snugly is key!

Try a diaper with a higher waistband

Try diaper brands with different waistbands if the elastic waistbands didn’t help.

Pampers Swaddlers tend to be taller than Huggies, which prevents poop from going higher up the back. But Huggies Snug & Dry have great, stretchy elastic around the top, where Pampers are more open. And Huggies have a pocketed waistband, which may help catch a blowout. Take advantage of that awesome pocketed waistband and check the price of Huggies on Amazon.

Huggies Little Movers and Pampers Cruisers have better elastic fittings to help diapers stay on with active babies. Both of these diapers are available in size 3, so once your baby is large enough, these are good options to  prevent a blowout.

Use a cloth diaper cover to contain messes!

Tightening my daughter’s diaper helped, but sometimes at night, she poops a ton and I really don’t want to have to change her pajamas and sheets! I found that putting an extremely affordable cloth diaper cover, like this one on Amazon, contains the blowout and save you from having to do some extra laundry! I’d rather wash one diaper cover than change my baby’s pajamas and sheets! It’s available in different colors and patterns too.

Even though this is a cloth diaper cover, just put it on over the disposable diaper. No need for inserts or any of the other stuff for cloth diapers. The snug elastic waistband will prevent a diaper blowout up the back!

Read more helpful tips on: How to stop baby boy from peeing during diaper change!

Blowout blocker inserts save you from leaks!

I haven’t tried them yet, but commenter Christie recommended Danni’s Diaper Extenders, available on Amazon here! These reusable cloth pads attach to the back of any diaper, and stop any mess from getting onto clothes or bedsheets! You can reuse them if the baby doesn’t have a blowout, or wash them if they do. Plus, if your baby leaks out the front, you can attach them to the front of the diaper too!

Double up on diapers

If you really want to double down, try putting two diapers on your baby, one over top of the other! I recommend using the baby’s normal size for the bottom layer, and one size larger for the outer diaper.

Use this trick sparingly as this can block airflow to your baby’s bottom and cause chafing. It would work great if you’re taking a long car trip, or have a special occasion where you really don’t want your baby’s diaper to leak.

Prevent diaper blowouts up the back by putting pants on your baby

You’ve probably noticed that many of the tips above involve somehow trapping the poop so it can’t overflow out the top of the diaper. Many parents dress their little ones in onesies only. But guess what? Throwing a pair of pants on your baby gives you another layer of elastic to stop messes.

Stop messes from spreading with absorbent pads

Do you have any of those puppy pads left over from training your dog? Try putting them down during tummy time or other supervised times so that any leaks or blowouts don’t get onto your carpet, couch, or even you!

Related post: Best Diapers for Tummy Sleepers

How to prevent diaper blowouts in the car seat

For whatever reason, infant car seats just seem to put babies in the right position to poop! And since they’re sitting down and squashing their diaper, there’s nowhere for the mess to go- except for out of the diaper. You can try these tips:

• Try using a waterproof car seat liner that can be easily removed and washed. Check that it is compatible and safe to use with your car seat
• Double up on diapers
• Use a cloth diaper cover
• Try a brand like Huggies with a pocketed waistband
• Put pants on your baby
• Try a blowout blocker

Diaper leaking out the leg? Check the leg cuffs

How do the leg cuffs fit? This is the main reason diapers leak out the leg. Check that the leg cuff is correctly positioned outside the diaper, around your baby’s leg.

If you notice redness or chafing around the leg, it is likely the diaper is too small. If the cuff seems loose and you can fit more than one finger between your baby’s leg and the cuff, then the diaper is too big.

Here’s an easy trick for reducing leakage around the leg. Roll down the top of the diaper so that the leg cuffs end up tight and close to the thighs. This can be helpful if the diapers you are using are too tall for your baby.

If none of those tips work, try different diaper brands. Each baby has different proportions and you may find one brand of  diapers fits your baby better than others. Different brands have cuffs made of different materials, which may give a better fit. For example, Huggies have very stretchy elastic, so they fit a wide variety of babies well. Honest Company and Babyganics diapers tend to run small, so if your baby just doesn’t fit into the next size up of diapers, give them a try! Check the price of any of these diapers on Amazon (Huggies on Amazon, Honest diapers on Amazon, and Babyganics on Amazon). They are comparable to the costs you’ll find at the store, and can have them delivered right to your house 

Finally, try using a cloth diaper cover (click to see on Amazon) over a disposable diaper (mentioned in the blowing out up the back section above) may help prevent leaking out the leg. The diaper cover has great elastic bands around the waist and legs to stop leaks.

Help! My baby’s diaper is leaking through

Another common problem is diaper leakage from too much pee.

Go up a diaper size

A diaper that is too small can leak because there isn’t enough absorbent material for the volume of urine. A larger size diaper will have more absorbent material and be able to handle a larger volume of urine. Check to see if your baby is at the upper end of the weight range of the diaper size they are currently wearing.

Use overnight diapers

Many brands, like Huggies and Pampers also offer an overnight version that has more absorbent material than the normal version. Get a box of Huggies or Pampers overnight diapers delivered to your house from Amazon!

Add an absorbent pad

It may not be the diaper! Some babies just put out a lot of volume. If your baby pees a lot, especially overnight, try adding a diaper insert like a Sposie Booster Pad to soak up more. These absorbent pads fit in any diaper so it can hold more pee. While it won’t help with poop-related leaks, it may help you avoid changing wet pajamas or bedding!

Diaper leaking when your baby sleeps on their side?

A diaper leaking out the side is often a combination of the diaper being too small and the cuffs not fitting properly. Try a larger size diaper, and checking that the leg cuffs fit properly. Again, overnight diapers may be a good choice, as they are extra-absorbent.

What is the best diaper to prevent blowouts? 

The best diapers to prevent blowouts are Huggies Little Snugglers or Huggies Little Movers. The elastic, pocketed waistband keeps messes contained in the diaper, and the absorbent pad soaks up lots of urine.

If you are looking for a lower-cost option, try Costco’s Kirkland diapers which also have elastic, pocketed waistbands.

What is the best leak-proof diaper?

Huggies Little Movers or Little Snugglers are the best leak-proof diaper due to their elastic waistband and leg cuffs.

If you are still experiencing leaks even with a Huggies diaper, try changing diaper sizes or using a cloth diaper cover to contain messes.

=Related post: How to check if your child’s diaper is the right size to prevent leaks=

Best diaper for skinny or tall babies:

Did you know you can buy any of these diapers affordably on Amazon? Pampers Swaddlers, Huggies, Luvs, Up&Up (Target’s store brand), Earth + Eden, and Honest Company are best for tall, skinny babies.

Best diaper for small babies:

Honest Company and Babyganics diapers tend to run small. If your baby is wetting through diapers, but is too small to go up a size, these may be worth a try.

Best diaper for babies with skinny legs and Best diaper for babies with thick or chunky legs:

This may seem backwards, but Huggies (click to check the price on Amazon) gets good all-around reviews for being great for babies with skinny legs and thick or chunky legs! Huggies is noted as having great elastic on their diaper legs and back. The elastic holds in blowouts, while fitting babies of different sizes.

Related post: Learn more about different diaper brands I’ve reviewed here!

Always be prepared for diaper leaks!

There are always unknown and unplanned variables, so be prepared! Stock the diaper bag with extra clothes, wipes, diapers, and outfits for both the baby and parents! I was leaked on twice before my baby was 6 weeks old! Since then, I’ve lost count of how many blowouts I’ve had!

FAQ

Related post: More detailed reviews on the Best Diapers for Baby Diaper Blowouts!

To Recap:

If all else fails, try putting a cloth diaper cover over the diaper!

1. Diapering: Is the diaper put on properly?
   1. Pull the diaper up to the belly button
   2. The leg ruffles go outside the diaper
   3. Fasten the tags straight and snug
2. Is the diaper the right size?
   1. If the diaper is overflowing, try going up a size
   2. If the diaper is leaking, try going down a size
3. Diaper blowout up the back?
   1. Check the elastic band on the back
   2. Try diapers for active babies
4. Diaper leaking out the leg?
   1. Check the leg ruffle
   2. Roll down the top of the diaper
5. Is the diaper overflowing?
   1. Try going up a size
   2. Try overnight diapers
   3. Add a diaper insert
6. Still leaking?
   1. Try a different brand

Have more questions about diapers? Check out these other diaper-related posts!

• Frequently asked questions about diapers
• How to change a baby girl’s diaper
• Disposable Diaper Brand Comparison
• What’s the Average Cost of Disposable Diapers Per Year?
• Pampers vs Huggies Diaper Reviews
• Kirkland Diapers vs Huggies Diaper Reviews
• The Five Best Diaper Pails for Odor Prevention
• What To If Your Baby Rips Off Their Diaper At Night