The R+F Blog

When to size up diapers for your baby

When to size up diapers for your baby

When to size up diapers for your baby

Knowing when to size up diapers for your baby can go a long way in preventing leaks, keeping them comfy and making change-time easier.

In this article, we cover:

  • Signs that indicate your baby is ready to size up in diapers
  • How to choose the right diaper size
  • An introduction to baby training pants
  • How to transition from baby diapers to training pants
  • How to make change-time easier with Rascal + Friends and CoComelon training pants

Signs that your baby is ready to size up diapers:

Here’s a few signs that your baby is ready to size up their diapers:

1. Your baby’s diaper has started to leak

Growing out of their current diaper size is one of the most common reasons why your baby’s diaper may start to leak. When parents experience diaper leaks for the first time, our first recommendation is to try the next size up. The weight range of our diaper and training pant sizes overlap, meaning your baby may be ready for the next size up, even if they’re still within their current size range.

Learn more tips on how to prevent your baby’s diaper from leaking.

2. Your baby is leaking through the night

Comfy and contained throughout the day, but leaking through the night? This is another sign that your baby is ready to size up their diapers. Rascal + Friends premium diapers are made with unique 3D Core Technology for up to 12 hours of leak protection, and can absorb 15x their weight in liquid.* Say goodbye to leaking diapers, soiled onesies and washing your baby’s sheets every morning (you’re welcome!).

*Based on diaper weight and total absorbing capacity.

3. Your baby has red marks on their legs

Little humans come in all shapes and sizes, so sometimes your baby may be in the recommended size but their diaper is fitting too snug. If you start to notice any red marks or discomfort, try sizing up to give your little one a little extra room in their diaper.

4. The waistband is getting too snug

If the waistband of the diaper and strong grip tabs are no longer wrapping around your baby’s waist, it’s time to try the next size up. Remember, our strong grip tabs are designed to sit comfortably on your baby’s hips. You can read more about finding the perfect Rascal + Friends fit in this article: How to prevent your baby’s diaper leaking.

Alternatively, you could try our premium training pants. Read more on this below.

5. Your baby is pulling off their diaper

The discovery of your baby taking off their diaper is just as amazing as it is terrifying. If change-time is getting a little too playful, it could also be time to try our premium training pants.

How to choose the right diaper size:

Our premium diapers have a unique design and fit, so we recommend choosing a size based on your baby’s weight. Enter their weight into our Diaper Calculator for a recommended size and estimate of how many diapers they’ll use per day.

Tip: If you’re between sizes, we recommend sizing down.

Still have questions? Reach out to our friendly Customer Love team to get their expert advice on finding the right diaper size and preventing those sneaky leaks.

  • Diaper

  • Training Pants

1 3 - 5kg
2 4 - 8kg
3 6 - 11kg
4 10 - 15kg
5 13 - 18kg
6 16+kg

What are diaper training pants?

Diapers, Pants, overnights, hybrids… the diaper aisle has grown a lot over the years. Luckily, our diaper experts are here to guide you through the diapering world to find the best fit for your little ones. If your baby or toddler is nearing the age of potty training, you may want to consider trying diaper training pants instead of buying traditional diapers. What are diaper pants, and how are they different than regular diapers?

Diaper training pants are a great option for the little human always on-the-move or starting to potty train. Unlike traditional diapers, they’re made with a pull-up design, extra stretchy waistband and easy-tear sides. Available in sizes 3 – 6 (or 2T – 5T), make change-time easier with Rascal + Friends CoComelon training pants.

When should you transition from diapers to training pants?

While there aren’t any rules to when your little one should transition from diapers to training pants, there are some tell-tale signs to when your little one is ready to try their “big-kid” pants. Often, parents make the switch to diaper training pants around the time potty training starts. Sometimes though, your baby may be showing signs that they are ready for the switch before their potty adventures begin.

Signs your little human is ready to try training pants:

  They bring you their clean diaper or baby wipes to ask for a change.

  They can put on shorts or trousers by themselves most of the time without help.

  They prefer to “do it all by themself” or show frustration when you offer help.

  They are potty training already.

  They no longer want to lay down for diaper changes and fight against them.

How to make change-time easier with Rascal + Friends and CoComelon

We’ve teamed up with our friends at CoComelon to bring you a diaper that’s seriously good and seriously fun. Introducing our NEW LIMITED EDITION Rascal + Friends CoComelon training pants and diapers, featuring JJ & friends.

Made with:

  • Premium features
  • Up to 12 hour leak protection
  • Feather soft materials
  • No nasties
  • Limited edition CoComelon print

Your little human is going to love change-time with JJ & friends. Ready to join the fun?

The R+F Blog

Night time diaper changes – how to change your baby’s diaper at night

Night time diaper changes – how to change your baby’s diaper at night

Night time diaper changes

Knowing when and how to change your baby’s diaper during the night can be confusing. Especially when you’ve finally gotten them to sleep, the last thing you want to do is to disturb them in the middle of the night.

In this article, you’ll learn:

  • When to change your baby’s diaper at night, depending on their age
  • A recommendation for a night time diaper, made with super absorbent materials, innovative features and overnight leak protection
  • How to change their diaper without disturbing their sleep
  • How finding the right diaper size and fit can help prevent overnight diaper leaks

How often should you change your baby’s diaper at night?

As a general rule of thumb, night time diaper changes are necessary if your baby has soiled the diaper, or it is completely full. A little bit of urine in the diaper is fine, and you can usually wait a bit longer before changing them again. You may like to time diaper checks/changes with your night time feeds, as you’ll already be up at these points of the night.

That’s why choosing a diaper with super absorbent materials and leak protection is so important. Because if you’re waiting until the morning or til their next feed to change them, you want to make sure the diaper keeps all sneaky leaks contained!

To help you understand when their diaper should be changed, Rascal + Friends premium diapers have a wetness indicator in sizes 1 and 2. This can be found on the centre of the diaper, and will change from a yellow to purple colour when the diaper is full and should be changed. On our larger sizes it’s easier to see when the diaper should be changed, as older babies will urinate more and the diaper will look swollen. Use our diaper calculator to find the right size for your baby, based on their weight.

Choose super absorbent night time diapers

While the number of night time diaper changes varies with age, we’d recommend always choosing a diaper made with super absorbent materials and designed to last all night. Our unique 3D Core Technology means Rascal + Friends premium diapers can absorb 15x their weight in liquid*. Paired with our innovative absorbency features, our diapers can both:

Contain sneaky leaks and blowouts

Provide overnight leak protection, for up to 12 hours

So no matter how long your baby sleeps through the night, they wake up comfy and dry, and all sneaky leaks stay in the diaper. Save yourself a load of washing!

*Based on diaper weight and total absorbing capacity.

Our innovative absorbency diaper features include:

  • Double leak guards
  • Dual-tissue wrapped core
  • Liquid dispersion layer
  • Breathable outer-layer

How often should you change a newborn’s diaper?

Because they feed more frequently, you can expect to change a newborn’s diaper every 3 or so hours, almost as often as they need feeding.

You may like to use your baby’s feeding time as a rule of thumb for when to change, or at least check their diaper. Of course, this is dependant on your baby’s urine and bowel movements. As mentioned, soiled diapers should be changed as soon as possible, while diapers with just urine don’t need to be changed as quickly. This is where our wetness indicator* comes in handy, to help you know when the diaper is full and should be changed.

A common concern for newborn parents is the frequency of changes if their baby has sensitive skin or diaper rash. Some choose to change their diaper more frequently than suggested to help keep skin clean and dry. While we encourage you to continue with a change-routine that works for you and your baby, you can rest assured that Rascal + Friends premium diapers are made with sensitive skin in mind. Features like our breathable outer-layer and liquid dispersion layer, absorbs liquid in seconds and draws moisture away from your baby’s skin. This keeps skin cool, dry and helps prevent skin irritation.

*On sizes 1 and 2 of our premium diapers (made for the newborn stage).

How to change your baby’s diaper without disturbing their sleep

When the time comes to changing their diaper at night, there’s nothing worse than feeling like you’ll disturb their sleep – especially if it’s taken a while to get them down!

Here’s a few tips to making night time diaper changes easier:

  1. Prepare the diaper changing area before you sleep
  2. Keep it calm: Keep lighting very low, sounds below a peep and scents at a minimum
  3. Change your baby’s diaper when they are awake to feed, either before or during the feed
  4. Change soiled diapers right away and delay changing wet diapers until full
  5. Use warm wipes when cleaning their skin

Should you wake your baby for a diaper change?

While we suggest changing a dirty diaper as soon as possible, you should avoid waking up your sleeping baby just to do so. This will disturb their sleep cycle and you may struggle to settle them again. Especially for babies 6 months and younger, they never go too long before needing another feed, which is a better opportunity to change their diaper. This is also why we recommend timing diaper changes with their night time feeds.

We’d also suggest making a habit of changing their diaper at night:

  • Just before going to bed
  • Before a night time feed, or halfway through feeding when you change sides
  • And putting baby back to bed straight after their night feed

Prevent overnight leaks with the right diaper size and fit

Choosing the right diaper size and understanding how it should properly fit can go a long in preventing leaks. Our premium diapers are made with a unique design and fit, which is why recommend choosing a diaper size based on their weight. You can learn more about this on our diaper size guide.

With a few simple questions answered, we can help you get to the bottom of leaking diapers. Read more of our tips in this article, or reach out to our Customer Love team for their expert advice on finding the right Rascal + Friends fit. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook.

The R+F Blog

How to prevent your baby’s diaper leaking

How to prevent your baby’s diaper leaking

Why does my baby’s diaper keep leaking?

Still dealing with leaking diapers? Waking up to your baby’s soaked diaper, wet sheets, soiled onesies and all the rest is probably one of the most frustrating things parents have to clean up, time and time again! But with the right choice of an absorbent diaper and the correct size, you can finally say goodbye to leaking diapers.

In this article, you’ll learn:

  • The common causes for diaper leaks
  • How to make sure you’ve got the right diaper size and fit
  • A recommendation for a super absorbent diaper, made with absorbent materials, innovative features and overnight leak protection
  • How to prevent your baby’s diaper leaking overnight

How to prevent your baby’s diaper from leaking:

Common reasons your baby’s diaper might be leaking:

  1. Their diaper is the wrong size
  2. The diaper fit isn’t quite right

With just a few simple questions, we can help you understand why your baby’s diaper is still be leaking, and suggest some of our top tips for getting the right size and fit. Ask yourself:

1. Where are the leaks coming from?

    • Leaks from the leg generally indicate the diaper is too big, so we’d recommend sizing down.
    • Leaks from the back/waistband indicate the diaper is too small, or that the diaper tabs are too tight. We’d suggest sizing up or trying to attach the grip tabs closer to your baby’s hips, rather than in toward their belly button.

2. Are you experiencing leaks overnight or during the day?

    • Sizing up can often help with overnight leaks.
    • Leaks throughout the day may suggest the diaper isn’t correctly fit, so keep reading for our tips below.

Finding the right diaper size:

Choosing the right diaper size and understanding how it should properly fit can go a long way in preventing leaks. Because our diapers have a unique Rascal + Friends design and fit, we recommend choosing size based on your baby’s weight.

Enter your baby’s weight into our diaper calculator to find the right size and an estimate of how many diapers they use per day.

Size Range

  • Diaper

  • Eco Diaper

  • Training Pants

1 3 - 5kg
2 4 - 8kg
3 6 - 11kg
4 10 - 15kg
5 13 - 18kg
6 16+kg

What makes Rascal + Friends premium diapers different?

Here are a few of our premium features, and how to ensure they fit correctly on your baby:

How our diapers should fit:

  • High back waistband: Designed to keep blowouts contained, our high back waistband should sit comfortably on your baby’s back, potentially a bit higher than other diapers you’ve tried before. In line with their belly button is about correct.
  • Soft leg cuffs: Made from a premium fibre blend to be soft on skin, our leg cuffs should sit flat on your baby’s skin and be untucked when the diaper is worn.
  • Double leak guards: The elastic guards are designed to sit flat on your baby’s skin, not on their side. When grabbing a new diaper to change into, lay it flat on your change table and untuck the leak guards to ensure they don’t fold in when changing your baby.
  • Strong grip tabs: Our diaper tabs are resealable and made to stay in place. We recommend that they sit flat on your baby’s hips, no need to pull them all the over to the front of the diaper.
  • Unique 3D Core Technology: Our unique core design means our diaper can absorb up to 15x its weight in liquid*, trapping moisture within the core so it feels dry on your baby’s skin and helps prevent leaks and skin irritation.

*Based on diaper weight and total absorbing capacity.

Quick checks to make sure the diaper fits correctly:

Once the diaper has been changed, run your finger around the inside of the diaper, between the diaper and your little one’s thighs/bottom to ensure the leak guards are sitting flat and are not tucked in. Our double leak guards are your extra protection against sneaky leaks.

Ensure the diaper tabs are securely fastened on your baby’s hips. Our strong grip tabs are resealable and are designed to sit further apart when fastened onto the front of the diaper. For reference, you should still be able to see the Rascal + Friends logo on the front of the diaper.

Our unique fit means that when the diaper is on your little one, it should be snug on their tummy (pulled up just under their belly button) and at the same level on their back.

Our stretchy high back waistband is designed to sit a little higher on their back, and helps contain sneaky leaks and blowouts.

Still having issues with leaking diapers?

We understand that every baby is different. So if you still have questions, please reach out to our Customer Love team to get their expert advice on the perfect Rascal + Friends fit and how to prevent those sneaky leaks. Contact us on Instagram or Facebook.

The R+F Blog

Dealing with anxiety as a new Mom

Dealing with anxiety as a new Mom

How to deal with anxiety as a new Mom

Written by Christine Z, Breaking Free Lifestyle Blog

Becoming a new parent comes with all sorts of challenges. Navigating the emotional and physical stress can be overwhelming, so it’s no wonder many new Moms experience feelings of anxiety for the first time. Learn how to acknowledge and deal with those feelings in this article:

  • What is anxiety like as a new Mom
  • Understanding how you may be able to overcome or cope with anxiety
  • Quick tips to relieving moments of anxiety

Experiencing anxiety as a new Mom

Understand that you are not alone:

According to a US study, about 30% of adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, with women more likely to be affected. Anxiety during pregnancy is also very common, with about 10% of mothers describing this experience. This can be due to hormonal, emotional and physical changes to your life. In short, motherhood can be scary. 

Feelings of anxiety can be all consuming, and while the experience will be very personal, you may also be surprised by how many other Moms are going through similar emotions.

Removing thoughts of isolation is a good first step.

How your body responds to anxiety:

Anxiety is a stress response that our primal brain uses to keep us safe and ensure our survival. It is a leftover from ancient times to help our species survive, but it has nothing to do with the fears and stresses we experience today. 

In high pressure situations, our first response is usually to think of a solution, or to rationalise the fear we are experiencing. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work. When we try to introduce logic and tell ourselves that there is nothing to worry about, we are missing an important clue. We are not responding to the feeling we have using the appropriate language.

The way we need to respond to our body and our needs must be in the appropriate language, the language of anxiety, the language of our 100,000 year old brain. And if we are talking logic, it is impossible for us to internalise that message and feel better. 

What we need to do, is to respond to that fight or flight response impulse in its own language. There are several ways of doing this, which we will cover later in the article. 

How to start overcoming those feelings of anxiety:

Your wellbeing as a Mom is the #1 priority

Sometimes we forget that if we’re not feeling our best, it reflects in everything we do. Looking after your own wellbeing needs to be the first priority as a Mom. Your duty is not to put your baby above everything else. Your duty is to support yourself and keep yourself healthy, so you can be the best parent to your newborn, who is entirely reliant on you for their survival. 

For this reason, on every plane ride you are being asked to look after yourself first in case of an emergency. You’re instructed to put on your oxygen mask yourself before helping those around you, even your kids. Because if you are not healthy and well, you will not be able to help others. We can apply the same principle to motherhood, even though it might feel selfish at first.

If you feel anxious and uncertain, your baby is programmed to pick up on your emotions and might develop the same feelings. This can lead to a cycle of negative emotions: stressed mother = stressed baby = stressed mother = stressed baby.

What you really need when you feel anxiety, is to love yourself, support yourself and take the time for yourself to seek and find what you need in order to be the best mother you can be. 

Build your network of support

You may not be ready to talk to other people yet, and that’s okay.

Luckily, there’s a whole wheelhouse of information on the Internet that you can access for free, including videos, community groups and blog articles like this one. Find more on the Rascal + Friends Blog.

If you do feel comfortable reaching out to other people, you may like to share your experience with close friends, family or other Moms going through similar experiences. Not only does this help build your network of support, but the act of voicing your feelings can help be a remedy. Remember the phrase “a problem shared is a problem halved.”

Don’t be afraid to speak up. You may be surprised by how many other people will have gone through something similar.

Schedule your own self care

Self care doesn’t have to be overcomplicated, and is much easier said than done with a newborn. Remember, being the best mother starts with the best version of yourself.

Self care could be the simple act of going for a walk around the block to your favorite cafe, tuning in to 10 minutes of late night reality TV, or calling an old friend for a quick laugh. You’ll be surprised how a few simple moments of ‘me time’ throughout the day can help you feel calmer overall.

Write down a list of a few simple things that bring you joy, and push yourself to do one of these things next time you’re feeling a bit anxious. Over time, you may like to integrate these small acts into our daily routine.

 Listen to your body

As mentioned above, anxiety is a stress response that our primal brain uses to keep us safe and ensure our survival. This can impact our physical and mental wellbeing. Try calm that flight impulse with the following: 

  • Make sure you get as much sleep as possible. If you suffer from broken sleep during the night, make sure to take a nap or listen to a guided meditation to wind down. Schedule this daily so it becomes part of your routine.
  • Nourish yourself with fresh foods, and drinking plenty of water.
  • Move outside every day. Just a 10-minute walk can have a calming effect on your physical and mental wellbeing.
  • Observe and recognise your signs anxiety. Overtime, you’ll be able to quickly curb these triggers with solutions right for you.

Quick tips to relieving feelings of anxiety: 

  • Stand up straight and open your chest
  • Take ten deep breaths: count to three on the in-breath and count to six on the out-breath
  • Take a cold shower
  • Name what you’re feeling
  • Smile or tune into something that makes you laugh

Professional assistance is available:

Remember, there is nothing quite like a face-to-face conversation with a qualified professional. If you struggle to manage your anxiety, or even knowing where to start is stressing you out further, seek professional assistance.

You may like to contact your local GP or paediatrician, a therapist, psychological therapy & workshops for Moms, or local parenting groups.

The R+F Blog

Understanding Mom Guilt

Understanding Mom Guilt

What is Mom Guilt?

The looming feeling of guilt that you aren’t doing enough as a Mom, or what you are doing isn’t good enough. The repetitive cycle of disappointment, confusion, even frustration that your parenting skills aren’t up to par with your (or others) expectations.

As gloomy as those statements sound, they’re the very real feelings all mothers experience in some shape or form. A feeling so common, it’s even been given a name, ‘Mom guilt.’

How to overcome it:

The thing is – there is no ‘by the book’ method to parenting. Different challenges will come and go, and learning to understand or overcome them is all part of your parenting journey. There’s no need to find a quick fix or compare yourself to other parents. In fact, you might try a few things before finding a solution that’s right for you.

And while there’s no shortage of resources and advice on the Internet, we’ve summarised 5 simple tips to understanding Mum Guilt.  Even if you only try out a few of these ideas, we hope this helps you find your feet again.

  1. Be kind to yourself
  2. Surround yourself with a support network
  3. Make time for self care
  4. Create a care plan
  5. Let go of the ideal

Be kind to yourself

Before you dive deep into finding solutions, take a step back and give yourself time to regroup. This first step is important for setting yourself up for success.

Take stock of what you have, why you’re doing this and give yourself credit for the incredible work you’ve done so far.

Part of being kind to yourself is prioritising self-care. Especially with a newborn, it can feel like there is simply no time for the simple parts of your daily routine – such as personal care, exercise, socialising or time on your own. Giving yourself the time and space to be the best version of yourself will only positively impact your ability as a parent.

While it can be confronting to admit feelings or guilt or shame, it can be extremely liberating. Validating these feelings isn’t a sign of defeat, but helps you understand the areas affecting you most and what you need to prioritise. Sharing your experience with close friends, family or your GP should help you rationalise the thoughts whirling through your head. You might even find short term solutions that help lighten your load!

Surround yourself with a support network

Especially in the postpartum period, your support network is important. Ask for help.

Early parenthood can be lonely. Your previous way of life has dramatically changed – you’ve taken on the responsibility of a newborn and are experiencing both physical and emotional change. While it’s okay to feel this way, know that you’re the only one going through similar emotions. Good and bad days will come in waves, and

This is why a support network is so important. It can be as formal or informal as you like, such as an antenatal group, healthcare professional or just a few friends and family you have on speed dial for when you need a baby sitter or a some light relief!

Don’t be afraid of calling on your network when you need it.

The best thing for parents to do is to let it go! A new baby doesn’t care if there is laundry on the floor or dishes in the sink

Make time for self care

While finding time to do anything other than take care of your newborn is far easier said than done, it’s an important way to manage the stress of new parenthood.

Find some time for a friend or family member to take care of the baby so you can have a moment to yourself. Recharge your batteries and come back refreshed and ready to go. Plus, you’ll be amazed how much good it can do you to turn off parenting brain for even an hour!

Create a care plan

Organise a schedule with your partner so it’s clear who’s taking care of the baby, day and night. A plan can help you schedule breaks for each parent, and prevent a lot of frustration at 3:00am.

Let go of the ideal

Prioritise what’s important to you and your family at the moment. Sometimes trying to do it all can be overwhelming, and it can feel like you’re getting nothing done!

Many new parents feel creeping guilt about all of the tasks they neglect when taking care of a new baby. Managing housework, keeping up with a diet and exercise routine, or maintaining relationships with friends and family suddenly all become more difficult with a newborn.

The best thing for parents to do is to let it go. A new baby doesn’t care if there is laundry on the floor or dishes in the sink, and they certainly don’t care if you haven’t worked out this week. Complete these tasks as is comfortable, functional, and fulfilling for you, but don’t pressure yourself.

Give yourself the grace to be a little behind on things right now, and focus on what’s important – the health and happiness of your family. The special moments of early parenthood will fly by, so make the most of them.

The R+F Blog

Preparing for the baby’s arrival: Third Trimester

Preparing for the baby’s arrival: Third Trimester

Helping you prepare for the baby’s arrival

Welcome to your third trimester! Now that you’re counting the weeks (even days!) until the baby’s arrival it’s time to take care of a few things before that little one arrives.

Read below our suggestions for final preparations in your third trimester, and then use our Newborn Checklist to make sure you’ve got all the essentials on hand.

Make a birth plan

An important part of your preparation is making a birth plan with your midwife, obstetrician, doula or specialist doctor. The plan should describe your wishes for the labour, birth and any additional support you may require. A birth plan is also useful if your midwife can’t be with you during labour, as backup support will know what your wishes are.

Some things to consider when writing your plan:

  • Where you want to give birth – at home, in a birthing centre or in hospital
  • Who you want with you during the birth
  • How you would like to give birth
  • What pain relief you would like, if any
  • What you would like to do with the afterbirth/placenta
  • Postpartum care

 Take a newborn care class

If you’re a first time parent, you may like to take a newborn care class to run through the basics of caring for you and baby. Such as How to Change a Diaper, swaddling, soothing and feeding.

 Schedule maternity photos or art

While the end of your pregnancy might feel like a long time coming, the final trimester will sneak up on you. You may like to organise a creative way to document your final stages of pregnancy, such as a maternity or family photoshoot, getting a cast taken of your bump, or creating a keepsake. Find more inspiration on our Pinterest board.

 Get comfortable

The third trimester of pregnancy can get pretty uncomfortable as your baby (and belly!) grows and as your body starts to prepare for childbirth. You may experience abdominal pain, lower back and hip pain, restless legs, even insomnia.

Quick tips to helping you get comfy:

  • Take a warm bath
  • Sit in chairs with good back support, or try an exercise ball
  • Get a prenatal massage
  • Try a body pillow for extra back, hip and tummy support at night

Read and print out our ultimate newborn checklist to make sure you’ve got all the essentials before the baby arrives.