Most parents don’t need to give too much thought to nappies. But for parents of premature babies, finding a nappy that meets their baby’s requirements can be a huge challenge.
And the problem isn’t just size – the nappy also needs to be gentle on their developing, very delicate skin.
Now nappy giant Huggies have developed a nappy that fits the bill perfectly. The Little Snuggler Nano Preemie has been especially designed for babies that weight less than 900 grams.
Although only a small percentage of babies are born prematurely – around one in 10 around the world – Huggies recognised that there was a need for a special nappy. The company designed the nappy after consulting with NICU nurses and neonatal therapists.
“We’re passionate about helping all babies thrive, especially the smallest and most fragile. This Huggies diaper reflects our ongoing commitment to deliver innovative solutions for the NICU,” said Eleonora Daireaux, the vice president of Huggies North America.
“After hearing of the need for a diaper that meets the special requirements of these babies, our expert teams in skin science, research, product safety and manufacturing were inspired.”
The teeny tiny nappies have been specially designed to complement premmie development. They have a soft liner and gentle leg gatherings that prevent leaks without irritating still developing skin. And the inner pad is narrower, so the baby can easily be positioned into a comfortable fetal tuck, with their arms and legs close to the body.
Anjanette Lee, an infant development specialist at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital in Texas, was one of nine NICU experts that tested the diaper. “Good-fitting diapers are important to the healthy growth and development of our smallest patients,” she said.
“In our experience, we found Huggies Little Snugglers Nano Preemie Diapers conformed to the baby’s bottom without gapping or limiting leg movement. The thinner fasteners and less material at the waist provided a good fit for baby while still protecting their fragile skin.”
Writing for Scary Mommy, mum of twins Megan Zander says that having a baby in the NICU can be a shocking experience. “Nothing aligns with the ‘normal’ ideas of motherhood that you envisioned while you were pregnant,” she says.
Zander also notes that parents often can’t even dress their premature baby because the baby is still learning to regulate their body temperature, or because medical staff need easy access to their wires and equipment.
“Sometimes getting to put a diaper on your baby is one of the few ordinary parenting tasks you get to do, and it’s disheartening when even the preemie diapers are too large to fit properly.”
Zander says that having nappies that fit properly could make all the difference to premmie babies and their parents.
