Disposable diapers - pros and cons, benefits and harms. Disposable diapers. Pros and cons!!! About disposable diapers

With the advent of a newborn baby, especially if it is the first-born, a young mother faces a lot of questions about care, feeding, and education. The controversy surrounding diapers is another exciting topic.

1. Does keeping a child in a diaper for a long time have a harmful effect ()?
2. Up to what age can diapers be used and when is the best time to potty train a child?

This article is based on my own experience and the experience of other mothers, and I hope it will help you resolve your doubts about diapers.

Pros and cons of diapers

Being in an “interesting situation,” I studied a lot of literature on this topic and decided for myself that I would not keep my future baby in a diaper all the time, but use it only on walks, when going to the clinic, and at night. The most compelling arguments against the continued use of disposable diapers were the following:

• Constantly wearing a diaper can cause the extinction of the innate genitourinary reflex, and, as a result, a significant decrease in bladder volume;
• Continuous stay of a baby (especially a boy) in a diaper can cause overheating of the genitals and adversely affect his reproductive abilities;
• Children who are constantly in diapers are very difficult to potty train.

Moreover, I was very interested in when my baby would start asking to go to the potty on his own.

Raising a child without disposable diapers is possible, but is it as economical as some mothers think?

Disadvantage of a reusable diaper

Reusable diapers, in my opinion, are a relic of the past. Can't imagine what it looks like? A diaper folded 4 times, put on the child like panties and secured with pins(!). There are even several options for folding and wearing a reusable diaper.

Perhaps someone has adapted to this option, but I couldn’t. The diaper gets confused, does not stay on the bottom and, worst of all, it is wet all the time. At the end of the day there is a pile of wet, often pooped, diapers and the same number of wet panties. However, all this heap of dirty laundry needs to be washed by hand with baby soap, bleached for 6 hours in oxygen bleach, rinsed, and then machine washed in a full program, dried in a well-ventilated area and ironed on both sides (!).

Are you really capable of such heroism as to perform these actions every day? Add to this the characteristic smells throughout the apartment.

If you don’t wear a disposable diaper at all, but only a blouse and rompers, then the situation will not be much different: the same pile of dirty laundry and daily laundry.

This is how our grandmothers and mothers raised their children, and this is how you, dear readers of the article, grew up in wet diapers.

About disposable diapers

Someone will object: disposable diapers are expensive. But if you calculate the cost of electricity, washing powder, depreciation of the washing machine and your strength, then, believe me, diapers will cost less. The benefits of using this small benefit of civilization become obvious and undeniable.

And now I will give the most important argument in defense of disposable diapers. Many mothers try to get their children to sit on the potty as early as possible, but despite all efforts, children begin to ask on their own at about 2 years of age (give or take six months). It is at this age that children mature and can control their urges, that is, be patient a little. It happens that babies ask to use the potty by the time they are 1 year old, but this is an exception to the rule.

Let me give you the example of a friend of mine who was proud that her daughter grew up without a single “diaper” and washed all her diapers by hand (!) because she took care of it. washing machine. At what age do you think her child began to consistently ask to go to the potty? After two and a half years!

What is the difference between children who were raised without diapers and children who grew up “dry”?

Parents try to potty train children who are raised without disposable diapers from six months of age. As a result, they understand its purpose and do “their business” there when planting it, but they don’t ask to use the potty themselves. Often kids carry a potty or point a finger towards the toilet, but only “after the fact”.

Children growing up in diapers most often resist being planted and are even afraid of the potty. It is indeed a little more difficult to toilet train such children. In any case, potty training children is a long process. Be patient and use washing powder. ()

At what age is the best time to potty train a child?

Experts advise starting after a year: 1.2-1.6. But it’s worth introducing your baby to the potty when the baby starts: at 6-7 months. This way he will understand the purpose of this item and will not resist planting in the future. By putting your little one on the potty immediately after sleep, after meals and walks, you can save 2-3 diapers a day.

Diapers - both for and against them have been spoken out since the moment of their invention by both specialists and parents of newborn toddlers. And although it would be more correct to call them diapers, the original nickname “diapers” has become so firmly ingrained in the consciousness that products from any manufacturer are already called in the old fashioned way. Undoubtedly, diapers make everyday work much easier and sleepless nights mothers and provide babies with maximum comfort. However, those who appreciate the benefits of disposable pads for some reason prefer a mountain of washing when it comes to a child. Let's figure it out, are diapers as harmful as the rumors reaching us make them out to be?

The inability to restrain its natural needs characterizes any newborn child. Therefore, there were analogs of “diapers” at all times, among various nationalities. Their type and material of manufacture depended on climatic conditions, religious and other traditions. In countries with hot climates, children's genitals were mostly left open, which allowed the diapers to dry faster. The children of the desert were dressed in some kind of sand diapers that absorbed moisture. The nomadic peoples of the north came closest to the modern invention: they placed compressed moss diapers on their newborns, which had excellent absorbency and separated from the baby’s skin in the form of a dense mass as it was filled.

Middle-class mothers used reusable rags, which were continuously soaked, washed, dried and ironed, and again placed between children's legs in the form of diapers. The problems this cycle creates are obvious:

• The baby’s “pees” reach several dozen times a day, so you need to have a huge supply of rags, a place to dry them and time for washing and ironing;
• night awakenings plague women who are forced to frequently get up, wash, and change babies;
• It’s impossible to take a long walk with your child, and getting ready for a walk turns into a nightmare when you don’t have time to dress the baby and he’s already wet.

Surprisingly, the world owes the invention of diapers to a man. The deepest love for his work, family and, of course, for himself pushed Victor Mills, a chemical technologist at the famous company Procter & Gamble, in the 50s of the last century to try to make the everyday life of mothers drowning in an endless series of washing and ironing reusable diapers. He experienced all the difficulties women experience when caring for newborns “on his own skin,” caring for his young grandchildren. The first experiments with diapers packed in plastic panties were carried out on them. It is clear that the idea of ​​​​packing the most delicate skin in plastic was not the most successful, and diapers went through a number of transformations before they were put into mass production. Then, in 1961, the topic of whether they were harmful was not even raised, because hundreds of parents of boys and girls appreciated the advantages of diapers compared to reusable models.

Now the production of diapers has been put into production by various manufacturing companies. High competition forces them to constantly improve their products. At the same time, thematic debates began to arise about whether diapers are harmful for boys, and myths began to multiply that wearing diapers provokes various harm to children's health. Misconceptions are debunked by E. S. Keshishyan, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Research Institute of Pediatrics and Children’s Surgery in Moscow.

The most burning question for mothers is: “Is it harmful for boys to wear diapers?” The doctor replies that research results do not confirm the creation of the so-called “greenhouse effect” when wearing modern models disposable diapers. There is also no confirmed negative effect on blood flow in the testicles of boys, an increased risk of genitourinary infections and pressure on the genitals, leading to masturbation. The professor noted that tight swaddling and lack of hygiene when using gauze pads have a much greater impact negative influence on boys than wearing disposable diapers.

Myths surround not only boys, but also little representatives of the fairer sex. Opponents argue that diapers are harmful because they lead to infections or gender identity disorders. Numerous studies indicate that there is no significant connection between wearing diapers and diseases of the genitourinary system in girls, and issues of gender identification generally relate to the field of genetics and social environment. Among the myths, one can also note the idea that the harm of diapers extends to the condition of the legs of boys or girls and to the speed of their potty training. E. S. Keshishyan, Dr. Komarovsky and orthopedic specialists deny the involvement of diapers in the curvature of children’s legs and even note their benefits for the prevention of early hip dysplasia in children. But diapers influence the speed of training to send their needs to a specially designated place: children are potty trained not reflexively, but consciously, respectively, a little later.

Those who ask whether diapers are harmful for boys are unlikely to be familiar with their modern design. Behind the outer primitive structure of diapers lies complex technology that is constantly being improved by developers to ensure dryness, softness, anatomical conformity and comfort. Now you can find specimens with Velcro or elastic bands, which are easy to put on even in public places. Disposable briefs usually consist of the following parts:

1. outer “breathable” porous layer, providing air flow to the baby’s skin and “closing” excess liquid, preventing it from going out;
2. an internal soft layer with good permeability, directly adjacent to the baby’s skin;
3. the thinnest conductive layer ensuring uniform distribution of liquid throughout the diaper. Thanks to this layer, you don’t have to worry about the appearance of lumps that create discomfort for the baby;
4. an absorbent layer capable of retaining huge amounts of moisture by turning it into a gel;
5. an additional barrier in the area around the baby’s legs;
6. fasteners that make it so convenient.

The safety of diapers is determined by numerous clinical tests for allergenicity, toxicity, mutagenicity and other potential harm to boys and girls. With such strict requirements, we can say with confidence that the products are absolutely not harmful to the health of children. However, the approach of the parents themselves plays a big role: choosing the right size and timely changing an overfilled diaper, or girls changing their panties and regular air baths. Of course, you can argue further, even after all the facts in defense of diapers, or make a decision about comfort for yourself and your baby. The choice is yours!

Thanks to diapers, caring for newborn babies has become much easier. Now mothers do not need to waste valuable time on endless laundry. But since disposable diapers have become widely popular, there has been ongoing debate about their harm to babies.

In this article we will look at which of the pros and cons are true, and which are nothing more than a myth.

Disposable diapers: benefits and harms

Today, the variety of diapers on the shelves is simply surprising: you can find both budget and “elite” models. These hygiene products are available for both newborns and older children. There are even panty diapers, especially convenient for potty training babies.

All diapers are required to undergo many checks and tests. Products made from low-quality materials simply would not be allowed for sale. Therefore, any harm to the child can only be caused by improper use of diapers.

There really are cases of irritation after wearing diapers. But basically, these phenomena occur if you do not remove the diaper for a long time - more than 8 hours.

Disposable diapers are designed for 3-5 hours for daytime, 6-8 for nighttime.

Sometimes on packages of diapers you can find the mark “up to 12 hours”. This duration of wearing may only be acceptable for children over 1 year of age.

Another thing against disposable diapers is their price. But once you calculate how much money will be spent on a huge number of onesies and diapers, it becomes clear that buying diapers is not such an unaffordable expense.

Myths about disposable diapers

We have selected a refutation for each of the myths that opponents of diapers often use.

Interesting! Child development at 3 months of life

1 Nappies are healthier than nappies. The main task of diapers is to absorb moisture well, reducing its impact on children's skin. The fabric remains wet, and the baby’s skin is in contact with the wet surface until the diaper is changed. The likelihood that diaper rash will begin to form on the baby's bottom is greater in the case of diapers. Moreover, powders and creams will save you from such irritations only temporarily.

2 A child’s legs become crooked in diapers. Of course, diapers cannot in any way affect the slimness of a baby’s legs. After all, diapers are made from very soft material, and their design is designed so as not to interfere with the child’s positioning of his legs correctly.

3 Having difficulties with potty training. Difficulties with potty sitting are rarely associated specifically with diapers.

4 The dangers of diapers for boys. It is believed that prolonged wearing of diapers by boys negatively affects their reproductive function in the future. Usually these disorders are associated with overheating of the scrotum, which occurs in diapers. But modern pediatricians have every reason to say that changes in the functioning of the reproductive system cannot be caused directly by diapers.

Firstly, the increase in temperature when wearing diapers is quite insignificant - about 0.5 degrees. Secondly, in boys, the opening of the seminal canals occurs no earlier than 7 years. Until this time, the germ cells in the testicles do not perform any functions, being in “standby mode”. Accordingly, the argument about the negative impact of diapers on men's health can be questioned.

How to use diapers correctly?

No matter how comfortable diapers are, a child should not wear them all the time. Every day you need to organize sun and air baths for your baby. It is recommended to leave the child naked for at least several hours a day - this is an important condition for his comfort.

Interesting! Proper development of a child at 8 months

Many mothers are concerned about the age at which a baby can wear diapers. It is impossible to name a specific age; it all depends on the individual qualities of the baby. The optimal time to give up diapers will be the period when you begin to potty train your child - 1.2-1.6 years. After this age, it is better to use diapers only in emergency cases, for example, when going to the doctor or visiting. There are cases when wearing diapers should be limited or eliminated altogether:

• The child was born premature. In premature babies, it is constantly observed high temperature– up to 37.4 degrees. Until the baby regains the balance of heat production and loss, it is better to do without diapers.
• Diapers are not used during periods of colds or other illnesses when the baby has a fever.
• The child has skin diseases: dermatitis or eczema.
• In the summer, during extreme heat, you should discard the diaper due to the likelihood of overheating.

So, it turned out that diapers do not pose any danger to babies. But only if parents have read all the rules for using these hygiene products. Don’t believe dubious recommendations, listen to the advice of your pediatrician, and your baby’s health will be as strong as possible.

TO physiological characteristics In newborns and infants, involuntary urination and defecation are associated with the maturation of the neuromuscular regulation of the sphincters. IN normal conditions the formation of voluntary contractions of the sphincters and the inhibition of natural secretions are possible only by 1.5–2 years. In this regard, from time immemorial, young mothers were forced to come up with various devices that helped them solve the most important tasks- keep the baby’s bottom dry and healthy, have a sufficient number of changes of underwear and the ability to keep this underwear dry and clean. For many centuries different countries solutions were different and depended on climatic features, national and religious traditions. Thus, in the southern regions they tried to ensure that the genitals of babies were always open, which made it possible to dirty laundry less and, accordingly, wash less. This was very convenient for constantly working women who had children almost every year. Everyone knows the famous Caucasian and Central Asian cradles. In the desert, children were given special half-open bags of sand, which absorbed moisture well. In the North, in conditions of cold, little water and nomadic life, pressed moss was traditionally used, which also absorbed moisture and, when overflowing, turned into a dense mass that easily separated from the baby’s skin. In the middle zone, various fabric materials called diapers were usually used. What was common to all types of fabrics was that they instantly became wet after the child’s first urination, regardless of the amount of urine. The skin immediately became damp. All these “rags” had to be washed and dried, which means: there either had to be a lot of them, or there had to be room for quick drying. If a child lay wet for even a short time, this could lead to chilling, skin irritation, not to mention unpleasant smell indoors. Parents, and most often it was the mother, had to be constantly on alert, night and day, and be ready to immediately change clothes, wash the child and wash a whole heap of linen. In some periods, this problem became the most important in a woman’s life, for example: in winter there is a high risk of hypothermia, when it is necessary to take the child out of the house, or the laundry does not dry and there are not enough dry sets. Mothers who raised their children 20-30 years ago know hundreds of similar situations. The “predecessors” of modern disposable diapers first appeared in 1961 in the USA. Then they were intended for reusable use, they were made of a chemical impervious to moisture material, suction was carried out due to layers of fluffy cellulose. Since they were quite expensive, young parents often replaced cellulose with regular fabric. The industry quickly “responded” to this by launching the production of special disposable “inserts” for diapers. It gradually became clear that this device for caring for babies could become a “revolution of the 20th century”, which would radically change the very ideology of early childhood education. Scientists and industry joined forces, and the next 20 years were marked by important discoveries in the physics and chemistry of the absorption and maintenance of dry skin. In 1997, the results of an independent study of the quality of life of European women showed that the majority of them consider disposable diapers to be an invention whose importance in their lives cannot be overestimated. Disposable diapers came in second place among the inventions that changed women's lives in the post-war period, second only to electrical household appliances. Currently, disposable diapers dominate the entire world, and in developed countries they have no competitors at all. However, in developing countries there is also a “triumphant march” of disposable diapers, and their use is limited mainly by the financial capabilities of the family. In our country, the spread of disposable diapers is happening very quickly. This is facilitated by the equalization and improvement of the financial and economic condition of families. However, as often happens in our country, when any “Western innovation” is adopted, its spread is associated with a huge number of critical comments, up to absolutely categorical prohibitions. However, even short excursion history convincingly suggests that the wheel of progress cannot be stopped. Convenience and ease of use, saving the mother's time and effort, dryness, comfort and benefits for the baby still tip the scales towards disposable diapers. What is the role of the medical professional in this process? He must imagine the structural features of the baby’s skin in general and a specific child in particular, know the technology of “working” of diapers and imagine the features of each type of diapers, including those produced within the same company. He must know the methodology for caring for the baby when using a disposable diaper, and also have a good idea of ​​what exactly the mother and the medical worker himself need to monitor, so as not to miss possible violations. Of course, this requires new knowledge and, possibly, a change in habitual ideas. Currently, disposable cloth diapers with pads made of fluff cellulose and polyethylene are practically not found. Modern diapers mainly consist of paper, the absorbent layer is a mixture of cellulose and superabsorbent crystals. The quality of “absorption” depends on the ratio of these components. With a significant predominance of cellulose, absorbency is the lowest, although these diapers are the cheapest. The creation of a superabsorbent used in the production of diapers was a truly revolutionary event, significantly increasing the efficiency of the “work” of the diaper. The superabsorbent used in diaper technology is a high molecular weight polyacrylic polymer that can swell (absorb) 50 times its weight, absorbing 6 times more liquid than dissolved cellulose or cotton. Diaper high quality(premium) usually consists of six main elements. The inner layer that adheres to the baby's skin. It must have the following essential properties: be soft so as not to cause irritation by friction against the skin (preferably cotton softness), allow liquid to pass through well, but not allow the residual liquid of the middle layer to sweat back into the inner layer. Thus, the material must act as a one-way pump. The conductive and distribution layer is the thinnest layer of the diaper that absorbs moisture and distributes it over the entire surface so that it does not accumulate in one place. Thanks to this, there are no “lumps” of gel in the absorbent layer that disturb the child. The absorbent layer, which absorbs moisture from the conductive layer, retains it inside due to chemical reaction turning water into gel. The amount of absorbent is not infinite, and at some point the diaper “overflows,” which can be felt with your hand as a significant heaviness, and this is the main signal that the diaper needs to be changed. If the diaper is not changed after being completely filled and the absorbent has been used, then it will then function like an impermeable cloth diaper and in this case all problems will arise. possible complications- , local temperature increase and greenhouse effect, compress effect. So adults who do not change a disposable diaper on time are to blame for such consequences. Internal barriers that block fluid from escaping from the side of the diaper around the legs. It would seem that this is an insignificant and decorative detail, but many high-tech requirements are also placed on it: they must be, on the one hand, dense, on the other hand, not “cut into” the child’s leg and allow sufficient freedom of movement, i.e. be as flexible as possible. The quality of the internal barriers is important when selecting a diaper for a baby, since the ratio of “density” and “elasticity” varies depending on the type of diaper. If the quality is poor, negative phenomena such as moisture leakage during the child’s movements, pinching or loose coverage of the hips, and excessive “tightness” in the genital area are possible. The outer covering of the diaper. It should not allow any remaining, unabsorbed liquid to pass through, but it should be porous. The latter is the greatest invention of our time - a porous fabric that allows air to pass through to the baby's skin, which creates an additional effect of evaporation and increased dryness. Mechanical fasteners. They can be disposable or reusable. Naturally, reusable, elastic fasteners are more attractive, as they allow you to refasten the same diaper more than once, if necessary. All diapers undergo mandatory toxicological testing, mutagenicity and genotoxicity tests. This determines their safety. Thus, even if the baby, while playing, took the diaper into his mouth, which children love to do, as long as the mother turns away, nothing dangerous to his health will happen, even if the absorbent gets into his mouth. Usually all diapers are natural white, and manufacturers most often do not use dyes. But still, those small designs that are applied to diapers, especially for older children - the second half of life, are also proven in terms of safety. Only natural and permanent dyes are used. No matter how much the baby sucks such a drawing, it does not wash off. In addition, the toxicity of dyes must undergo similar tests before their use, as indicated above. Diaper dermatitis and diapers Diaper dermatitis occurs in a humid environment, when the skin is irritated by friction of the material and is associated with a change in the pH of the environment due to the release of ammonium compounds from urine and feces. This promotes the growth of fungal flora, which is normally small quantity necessarily contained on the skin, as well as activation of conditionally pathogenic flora - epidermal staphylococcus and Escherichia.coli, which leads to the manifestation of a directly infectious inflammatory reaction: hyperemia, papular rashes, cracks and erosions. Diaper dermatitis and its association with the wet diaper environment were first described in 1877, and since then there has been ongoing debate about what can be done to reduce the risk of its development. Falkner and Seligman in 1969 first published the results of a comparative study of the effect on the incidence of diaper dermatitis in children using disposable and reusable diapers. These were still the first fluff pulp diapers with a polyethylene coating. But even then, it was shown in a study of 550 infants that the incidence of diaper dermatitis when using disposable diapers was significantly lower than when using traditional reusable cloth diapers. The appearance of superabsorbent polymers in the inner layer of the diaper helped reduce the moisture content of the skin under the diaper by 6 times. Thanks to this innovation, the frequency of diaper dermatitis has decreased by 2–3 times compared to fabric ones. Reduced fluctuations in skin pH when using new “breathable” diapers reduced the incidence of severe cases of diaper dermatitis by another 50%, including in children prone to atopic disorders. In Russia, the only large comparative study of the skin condition of children using cloth and disposable diapers was conducted at the Research Institute of Pediatrics of the Scientific Center for Children of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. A total of 263 infants were studied who were sequentially wearing cloth and disposable diapers. A decrease in the incidence of diaper dermatitis has been shown. Thus, when using disposable diapers, moderate and severe forms of dermatitis were 6% less common, and mild ones - 12%. In addition, it was noted that the symptoms of dermatitis stopped faster in children who wore disposable diapers after cloth diapers. It should be noted that this study was conducted in 1999, when there were no breathable diapers in our country. However, in the population there are 5–10% of infants with special skin reactions, the cause of which is currently unclear. These children, despite using the best diapers and following all the rules for their use, still remain prone to developing diaper dermatitis, and in particular its most severe variants. These are children prone to common skin processes, atopy. These children require special care frequent change and, if possible, even eliminating disposable diapers. I would especially like to dwell on the use of disposable diapers in hospitals - maternity and maternity wards. Microbiological and epidemiological studies conducted in various Western clinics have shown that in hospitals, when several children are in the same room and when cloth diapers are used, there is a fairly rapid contamination by the microbial flora of feces of almost all objects around the child - his crib, linen, toys, which is quite quickly leads to cross-infection of children, since it is almost impossible to completely avoid contact between children. At the same time, the level of contamination of surrounding objects and cross-infection when using disposable diapers was more than 5 times lower. These data, as well as greater hygiene, lower staff labor costs, savings on laundry and depreciation of linen, etc., led to the fact that even staunch opponents of disposable diapers recognized the advisability of their use in hospital settings (especially for infectious diseases). The most common misconceptions regarding disposable diapers The danger for boys is the risk of the “greenhouse effect”, male infertility. It is assumed that disposable diapers create elevated temperature , which negatively affects testicular maturation and further spermatogenesis. Naturally, we are talking about future spermatogenesis, since it begins only during puberty. One possible proof of the above thesis was the statistical increase in male infertility in the 20th century, which brought with it many technical innovations, which, along with environmental changes in the environment, undoubtedly had a certain impact on the human body. Among the many risk factors for increased male infertility, the use of disposable diapers was named. However, taking into account the fact that the study on this problem was carried out in the USA, and disposable diapers have been used almost exclusively when caring for children in the first year of life since the middle of the century, the mathematical significance of this fact as a risk factor is minimal. It is believed that a disposable diaper creates a higher temperature, which acts on the child’s genitals like a “greenhouse effect”, affecting the blood flow in the testicles, on the one hand (long-term pathological effect) and creating the necessary environment for the development of bacteria and the formation of diaper dermatitis - on the other. As mentioned above, work is constantly being done in this direction to improve the “quality of dryness,” which largely determines the temperature regime inside the diaper. Diapers of the latest series must undergo testing - the temperature in the genital area is determined at the time of putting on the diaper and when it is filled, as well as when it is overfilled. At first, when putting on a diaper, the temperature does not differ from the temperature of the rest of the body. After 2–3 hours, when the diaper is filled, the temperature in the genital area increases on average by tenths of a degree, which, according to all researchers, is quite acceptable and cannot cause a “greenhouse effect.” However, if the diaper is not changed for a long time, the temperature in the genital area increases geometrically over time. Excessive pressure on the genitals. Of course, it is necessary to select diapers in accordance with the size, structure and age of the child. In addition, the great achievement of the developers of modern diapers is that they pay special attention not only to the fundamental components of diapers - softness, dryness, air exchange, but also make special demands on their convenience. The child should not be restricted in his movements, so modern diapers fit the baby according to his figure, including thanks to the presence of special Velcro and protective cuffs that wrap around the leg. The use of stretch materials that change according to the baby's movement, together with parental attention and education, significantly reduces the risk of increased genital compression. It would also be worth noting that tight swaddling, which is still practiced in a number of regions (sometimes on the advice of doctors), and tight wrapping in a reusable diaper lead not to less, but to more compression of the genitals. Issues of genital compression are directly related to the risk of child masturbation, which allegedly increases when using disposable diapers. When using disposable diapers, girls are more likely to develop. The fact is absolutely unproven, with a difficult-to-define relationship, since synechiae are formed as a result of excessive friction of the mucous membrane of the labia minora and around the vagina, on the one hand, and due to a deficiency of estrogen hormones, on the other. However, in recent years The incidence of synechiae has increased significantly throughout the world, and now they occur in almost every fifth girl. This increase in pathology is certainly alarming. The conclusion suggests itself that changes in the care system and the use of new products (disposable diapers) may be the reason for such negative changes. Confirms the minimal importance of disposable diapers in the genesis What synechiae looks like in girls and how it should be. Treatment and care for fusion of the labia in girls (information about the disease), in particular, the fact that if you start treating synechiae and continue to use diapers, the frequency of complete cure will not differ from this indicator in cases where diapers are abandoned altogether. In addition, synechiae can recur in children whose parents have not used diapers for a long time and follow all hygiene rules. The use of disposable diapers leads to an increase in vulvitis and is a risk factor for the development of lower urinary tract infections, as well as balanitis in boys. In recent years, the prevalence of these infections has clearly increased, and most often they are asymptomatic. The reason for the development of infection may be the same friction on the surface of the diaper, which means that big difference in terms of the incidence of infection when using reusable and disposable diapers there cannot be. Thus, the risk of developing infection exists in the absence of proper care, and also if you do not pay due attention to the selection of a diaper and monitoring the condition of the genitals. Children who are constantly in disposable diapers have a harder time identifying their gender. At the age of 6–7 months, boys begin to touch and fiddle with their genitals. Some parents are afraid of this, believing that such games are unhealthy and this interest can become detrimental. However, this is not true. The child perceives his genitals as another unknown part of the body. Gender identification is genetically determined and is largely determined by environment, the behavior of parents, relationships with peers, etc. Thus, the child must spend some time naked, touching and feeling himself. Therefore, no matter what diapers the baby is wearing - disposable or reusable - parents should leave him undressed for a while. In addition, air baths are essential for healthy skin. However, this has nothing to do with what diapers the child should spend the remaining time in. The diaper contributes to the curvature of the legs. This is not true. On the contrary, disposable diapers ensure this position of the hip joints infant, which is similar to the position with the so-called “free” swaddling (it is widely promoted by pediatricians all over the world, including many Russian pediatricians). Babies wearing disposable diapers are potty trained later. There is nothing to object to here - this is reality. The reason for this is the main property of diapers - they provide dryness. In disposable diapers, the child remains dry after urination and does not experience discomfort. Therefore, it is more difficult for him to compare the sensations that arise before urination, during urination and the subsequent unpleasant sensations associated with this. Based on this, children wearing disposable diapers are potty trained more consciously than reflexively. Medical workers should be aware of the peculiarities of potty training a child who is accustomed to disposable diapers, and instruct parents. You should focus on developing hygiene skills only in the second half of the second year. Thus, we can hardly talk about the significant harm of disposable diapers for a child. Based on the financial capabilities of the family, parents must choose which diapers to use and for how long during the day. Doctors are called upon to help in the selection of diapers, teach how to care for the baby’s skin and introduce them to methods of their proper use. E. S. Keshishyan, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Moscow Research Institute of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, Moscow