Are Red Marks Normal with Cloth Nappies?

As parents we have a tendency to worry about everything. Especially when we are doing something that perhaps is not normal to most of our family and friends. Cloth diapering our babies is one of those things. I certainly didn’t know anyone else using washable nappies when I first started. Even though you are doing something that you feel is best for your family and the planet it is easy to feel judged.

Especially when you see red marks on your baby left from reusable nappies. I would not have wanted friends to see this, and wonder why. Silly right? Considering their not bothering baby and very normal.

Red (sock) marks are common with cloth nappies where the elastic sits on the skin. They are not a problem unless the marks do not disappear after 20 minutes or appear deep into the skin. Deeper marks can be fixed by adjusting the fit of the nappy.

These types of marks are often referred to as sock marks, because they are exactly that. Like the marks left around your ankles by your socks at the end of the day, or other underwear, jeans, even your glasses or watch. These marks do not make us think twice because they do not hurt and go away quickly. However it is good to know when they are more than just sock makes there are easy ways to fix them.

Are red marks with cloth nappies normal?

Slight red marks left on babies skin from the elastic of a cloth nappy are NORMAL. As long as they disappear after a few minutes they are harmless. If not you may need to adjust the fit of your reusable diaper.

What type of red marks left by cloth nappies are normal?

Normal sock marks left by cloth nappies should disappear after 20 minutes to an hour. These red marks will look darker on a baby with paler skin and more like indent on a baby with darker skin. Neither will bother baby.

What type of red marks left by cloth nappies are NOT normal?

Red marks left from cloth nappies become a problem if they appear as purple welts, cut into the skin, or do not disappear after an hour. They may cause your baby discomfort when touched, which your baby will communicate to you.

If this does happen do not panic. It doesn’t make you a bad parent, nor does mean you need to run to the shops for disposables and you have not done your baby any harm.

All of these things are fixable and part of life sometimes.

Ways to avoid red marks from reusable diapers.

1.get a good fit of your nappy.

Red marks can be caused by the either the elastic from your reusable diaper being too tight. A simple fit check could solve any problem with red marks from cloth nappies.

Make sure when you pull the nappy through babies legs you pinch it in and sit the elastic into babies knicker line. This will stop the nappy from becoming tight on the thighs or chaffing when baby moves, as well as preventing leaks. When the reusable nappy is fastened it should be snug to the leg within the knicker line but loose enough that you can easily run a finger between the elastic and babies skin. The nappy does not need to be tight around the belly, this will avoid it cutting in when baby sits up.

Extra tips for a great fit.

Keep the nappy low on babies back. Unlike disposables cloth nappies do not need to sit high on babies bottom. This will make it easier when fitting the front panel of the nappy.
It doesn’t matter if the hip snaps are uneven. Sometimes babies can be between sizes. Don’t worry about having the same poppers done up on each size. I normally do up the second one in on the first size and the loosest setting on the other. Both sides the same seems too tight or too loose.
Flatten the tummy panel flat onto babies stomach. Don’t worry if this looks high you can pull the back up later but will give you a better fit. Just make sure the elastic is in the knicker line and the tummy panel is above babies hips. This will stop any rubbing.

For a full video on getting the best fit have a watch on YouTube here…

2. Make sure poppers or velcro aren’t rubbing.

Marks left from popper are also fine, just same way you might get a slight mark from your jeans, these will disappear quickly.

Marks from the velcro on your cloth nappies however can rub and irritate baby. Make sure the velcro is centered away from babies skin or the edges could cut into baby.

3. Change often enough.

If your babies nappy becomes overly wet and not changed soon enough it could begin to leak making the elastic wet and causing it to chaff when baby moves. This is a simple fix, cloth nappies often need changing more frequently than disposables, it’s just a case of getting used to this.

4. A reaction from the detergent used in washing.

If you suddenly get marks think about any changes you might have made to do with detergent, this has been the case for us in the past.

Also make sure your detergent is washing out completely. If you nappies smell strongly of detergent (or smelly in general) you could have a build up in the elastic of detergent that is irritating babies skin. It always worth doing a quick strip wash and using my guide to assess how much detergent your using and weather you could have build up.

Read: “Do Cloth Nappies Cause Nappy Rash.”

5. Opt for softer elastics for newborns.

These kind of marks may be water off a ducks back for you, especially after you’ve just read my explanation why, but I do feel there’s one exception and that is with newborns. Silly maybe, but a newborns skin just seems to perfect and fragile, I hated red sock marks on it.

I did buy some newborn nappies before my baby arrived and I think the fact that they where a style that didn’t have the softest of elastic, add in my poor new mum fitting of the nappy and I just wasn’t happy with the red marks. I opted to sell those particular nappies and buy some with softer elastic. Once she fitted into the birth to potty nappies at about 5 weeks she seemed to have filled out more making it easier to fit nappies and any harder elastics didn’t both either of us.

This is just a personal perference but perhaps something to think about if purchasing newborn nappies. My two favourite’s with the softest of elastics I have found to be the Tot’s Bot’s Tinyfit and the Baba and Boo Newborn. Along with using any type of muslin and a wrap.

For the full low down on newborn nappies head to “Cloth Nappies for Newborns. Everything You Need to Know.”

6. Consider using something softer for night nappies.

The only other time I would worry about choosing the softest of nappies is for night time. For obvious reasons, their going to be in it for up to 12 hours so any red marks may take longer to disappear and of course because you want them to be as comfortable as possible through the night. For this reason and because I feel it is the most leak proof, I opt for nappy covers that sit loosely. Wool covers and Petit Lulu Pull Ups both sit more like shorts and the Motherease Airflow is designed to sit loosely around the top of their thighs. This eliminates any elastic having to be tight and, though you might not believe me yet, stops leaking because the elastic is not sitting next to a wet nappy which could cause wicking. If your totally confused by this head to “Night Time Cloth Nappy Solutions.”

I hope that has set you mind at rest should you have needed it.

Hannah xx