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One of the things they never tell you about having a child is that you will use a lot of baby wipes. Think pallets full of baby wipes and you will be close! So you may start to wonder, do baby wipes expire?
The good news is that there is no such thing as too many baby wipes and, while they do lose some of their moistness after a certain time, they do not technically have an expiration date.
As any mom of a child in diapers knows, a long-lasting diaper product with great absorption is key to a happy baby. But, do diapers expire? Is there a time when they should be tossed away and replaced with a new batch?
The good news is that diapers do not expire, but there are some things you need to know before breaking out that box of diapers that was saved from your last child.
Theoretically, diapers can last forever. As a paper product, they can be just as effective on day 101 after manufacturing as they are on day one. While they generally retain their shape and their performance, the large diaper manufacturers do recommend that they be used within a 2-year time frame so that consumers can experience them at their best.
We called Huggies, Pampers, and Luvs to get the information straight from their customer service representatives about the products themselves. Not only were they helpful in explaining how their products work, they were also happy to answer questions in regard to their diapers and wipes.
Related Post: Do Baby Wipes Expire?
The cheerful customer service representative at Huggies explained that there is no expiration date on the diapers. They are a paper product that should perform the exact same way no matter when they are used. As with all paper products, they did explain that there may be some yellowing of the paper itself with age. The elastic, as with all elastic products, may also lose its elasticity over time. For consumers, this may mean that the longer you wait to use the diapers, the greater there is of a risk of leakage.
Although there is no expiration date for Pampers diapers, they do suggest using them within a two-year time frame. That time frame is the optimal window for all of the products components (i.e. – elastic, paper, absorption material) to work the most effectively. While using them outside of that timeframe can certainly be done, the company claims that they are at their peak performance within those two years after manufacturing.
For those who prefer to use Luvs diapers, there is again, no expiration date for the products. Their diapers are tested for a two-year shelf life, so they recommend using them within that time period. That is when they are the most effective for absorbing liquids and protecting from leaks. Luvs does have a money back guarantee, but it is limited to within 45-days of purchase, so it would not apply to diapers that have been sitting on your child’s changing table for a few years.
Although we have established that diapers do not expire, it is important to be aware of the fact that some of the components of diapers can change with age.
Since diapers are a paper product, over time, the color of the paper may change. It is not unusual to find some yellowing on the outside of the diaper after a couple of years have passed. The discoloration should not impact the diaper’s effectiveness though.
The elastic used at the waist and around the legs can also deteriorate with age. The humidity and heat of the area where the diapers are stored can also speed up the elastic’s deterioration. High humidity and heat dry out the elastic and make it much less effective.
While this does not impact the diaper’s ability to absorb, it can create quite a mess should the diaper leak from the sides or the top.
Since diapers do not expire, it is okay to use them years later and expect them to still be able to absorb.
If you are thinking about using older diapers though, it is a good idea to check the coloring of the paper, as well as the elastic.
Should you find the elastic is loose and does not provide that secure seal around the edges, you may want to put a diaper cover (typically used for cloth diapering) on over the diaper. Just be sure to change the diapers frequently as the extra moisture from the plastic cover over the diaper could irritate your child’s skin.
When it comes down to disposable diapers, the rule of thumb is that there is no expiration date, but they are most effective and perform the best when used within two years of their manufacture date.
Can you use diapers that are older than two years? Absolutely, but just be aware that they may be slightly discolored and that the elastic may have loosened.
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Sometimes mothering comes naturally and sometimes I need special instructions. When it came to diapers I thought it would be super easy, who needs instructions on diapering…right? Well, turns out there were some great tricks that I was happy to learn from some of my experienced mom friends.
Nicknames can make someone’s given name a lot more fun. This is why many choose to call their children, friends and family members by a variation of their full name. When it comes to selecting the best nicknames for William, there are many things to consider.
Thank goodness for online childbirth classes. Being pregnant with your first child can be scary and exhilarating all at once. Your body is going through so many changes, and your schedule is filled with so many appointments that it can be challenging to manage it all. Throw in the need to attend a childbirth class, and it can be downright overwhelming.
Thankfully, organizations and companies are now catering to time-crunched expectant parents by offering online childbirth classes that can be taken any time of day from any location. Is this type of class right for you? If your schedule is packed, your local hospital’s classes are at an inconvenient time, and your due date is quickly approaching, online childbirth classes could be your saving grace.
Choosing a name for your baby can be a fun adventure. While some people choose to go with more original and unique names, others opt for classic names that have stood the test of time. Charles is one of those names that has been used for many years, making it a classic name choice for males. While you may be considering naming your child Charles, it is important to keep in mind that there are several variations of the name. In fact, there are many different nicknames for Charles that can be used to change up the name.
When it comes to selecting a nickname, it is important to keep a few things in mind, and learn more about the name itself, its meaning and its origin.
When it comes to naming your child, there are a few factors that come into play. You want to choose a name that will not only suit your wants but suit your child. If you want to choose the best nicknames for Elizabeth, there are quite a few options to choose from.
The name Elizabeth is a beautiful choice if you are having a baby girl and it is not uncommon for parents to choose a nickname. It is also a good idea to keep in mind that throughout your child’s life, their friends, siblings, other family members and even significant others will address them by a nickname as well.
Oh, the joys of teething and trying teething remedies. At such a young age, our poor little babies are not easily able to communicate their woes.
Except for crying.
Day after day, night after night of endless, inconsolable crying.
When my children were teething, the distress and pain they experienced broke my heart. As adults, we likely do not remember the struggles of this stage of growth as babies. The main cause of our child’s distress can be difficult to identify and can often be frustrating not only for our child, but for us as concerned – and exhausted – parents.
There are so many great nicknames for brothers and nicknames for sisters out there. Some of them can be creative and silly and others can be derived from their common name. Many brothers and sisters develop nicknames for each other, names they use as terms of endearment to speak to each other.
The bond between siblings can be an amazing one. Not only is it strong and honest, having a sibling can be like having a best friend that you live with. While there may be a little bit of sibling rivalry here and there, the true bond brothers and sisters share never waivers.
Here are also some Cool Nicknames for Aunts and Uncles and Fun Nicknames for Grandma and Grandpa for these special people in your life.
This post was sponsored by Window Covering Safety Council as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
I’ll admit that I had never thought that I needed to baby proof our windows when we had our kids. If you are like me, we didn’t start baby proofing until our kids started rolling and pulling up on things. Then all of a sudden it became urgent to make everything baby-friendly.
