Bit of a specialist question

Hi all,

My name's Rachel and I'm new here...so I hope you don't mind me starting a thread

I've just recently hopped onto the cloth bus with my one year old son Harry (after taking forever to get round to doing it!) and I have a question to ask. With so many cloth users in one place, I'm hoping someone out there will be able to help me.

Harry has a couple of conditions called Hypospadius, Chordee and Hooded Foreskin, all of which require a few surgeries . Being in his private region, I was wondering if him being in cloth would be OK after his op's. I have no idea about after care or how many dressings he will need as yet. Is there anyone with experience of this, or anything similar? I didn't know if the cloth wouold be kinder to his healing skin, or if it would be safter to use sposies?

I'm a totaly novice, so any advice would be wonderful!

Thank you.

Rachel and Harry

Poor little mite! I would have thought especially if you're using natural fibres (organic cotton/cotton velour, bamboo/bamboo velour) cloth would be better than chemically 'sposies, although they don't have the stay-dry effect of fleece or minkee (... or 'sposies). I'd imagine he'll want to go nappyless as often as possible (good thing it's summer!). There are some experts on the forum, I'd be interested to hear what people think!

ETA: Welcome!!
-Rachel

I also have no idea, I would guess it wouldn't make a difference what type of nappy he wore afterwards.

Hope all the operations go well.

I dont know about the conditions really, but i have read that cloth keeps the genitals cooler as its more breathable than sposies etc, so that can only be a good thing when he is healing as the less hot and sweaty in there the better imho!

I dont know really what will be required after the op, due to dressings etc - but if he can wear a nappy maybe something like a fleece lined fitted (to keep the area dry) and a wool cover would be good as thats nice and breathable.

Good luck with his op x

i dont see why not as others have said they are cooler and more natural so i would have thought would be better
i think you would need a nice squishy nappy so as not to compress the area too much- probably a fitted or pocket with soft insert. i often use hemp inserts but the can be quite solid- iykwim

I agree with what the others have said. I don't know anything about his condition but can't see any reason why you shouldn't use cloth. I'm sure he'd be much more comfortable in it. Hope the operations go well.

Awww your poor little guy! I cant see why cloth nappies couldnt be used, Id imagine they would be more breathable and kinder to his skin than sposies anyway.

If any health professionals are negative about using cloth, make sure they know what they are talking about as loads of them are very misinformed and dont know the benefits of cloth nappies, and some discourage them for silly reasons.

I dont know about the conditions really, but i have read that cloth keeps the genitals cooler as its more breathable than sposies etc, so that can only be a good thing when he is healing as the less hot and sweaty in there the better imho!

I dont know really what will be required after the op, due to dressings etc - but if he can wear a nappy maybe something like a fleece lined fitted (to keep the area dry) and a wool cover would be good as thats nice and breathable.

Good luck with his op x

wss

i've also read that silk liners are good when lo's have nappy rash so maybe they would be good while he heals.
not tried them myself, they are relatively dear but you could still use them later

Sorry to hear about your lad's little problems, but glad he's able to get it sorted at a young age.. used know a guy who had had an op to sort out his Hypospadius and Chordee and gather it wasn't much fun as ops go at his age from the embarassment POV, which is no doubt why the current preference is to sort it young!

My recommendation is to talk this over with the consultant. It may well be they have special dressings/aborbent pads they would want you to use at least initially, or it could be they catheterise the new opening such that the catheter keeps the opening open whilst it heals (sorry can't recall any detail of op, was 25+ years ago but have a feeling it involved a catheter). Otherwise I'd think though that to use cloth of cotton or hemp or bamboo would be best as it's natural and many disposables have eg perfumes etc which could irritate repairing skin. Hemp or bamboo do have natural antibactrial properties anyway which discourage bacterial growth, so they may be your best choice. I'd think whenever possible to use just a nappy, no wrap, this will allow evaporation, keep the area cool, maybe lay him on a changing mat to allow for spillages? Where you need a wrap I'd suggest wool as this will keep coolest. I'd also recommend to put a silver liner in the nappy somewhere - anywhere will do, it doesn't have to be next to the skin, the silver is naturally antibacterial and will also help keep the bugs at bay. Once the dressing is off, you may find a silk liner is soothing to the skin which may be more sensitive, particularly if there are still stitches in.

I hope his ops are a success, and that it's not too stressful for you..