Friday, November 6, 2009

The Art of Diaper Spraying

Let’s just say I love my diaper sprayer, but it wasn’t love at first sight. It was a learning process that required a lot of practice to master the art. Fortunately, my daughter swore off solids and was really breastfed-only for about 10 months, so I had lots of time to practice.

I started off with my diaper pail next to the changing table for a quick deposit at changing time. As my daughter finally began eating more solids, I would change her and let her play with her shoes in the closet (which she loves) while I’d run 5 steps to the hall bathroom spray the diaper, flush, and make a mad dash back to the pail desperately trying not to drip on the carpet. Might I add, I almost always got water everywhere including the toilet, shower curtain, and floor. It was a disaster. I’d just hope that she wouldn’t go big potty until my husband was home and he could spray the diaper. I’m sure he had some of the same problems, but at least he didn’t complain.

Now that every diaper, after a big potty, needs sprayed I’ve finally got a handle on it.
So here’s what I’ve learned:
1. Put the diaper pail next to the toilet! We only have 1, so now the wet diapers make the 5 step trip across the hall to the bathroom (they never drip)!
2. Lift the lid and seat.
3. Spray downwards, and put the diaper as close to in-the-toilet as you are willing to risk.
4. Fold the cover over the diaper holding the newspaper fold in place so you don’t have to spray the front and back of the diaper (for prefolds only).
5. Roll the diaper in the cover squeezing out excess water.
6. Quickly dump into pail.
7. Don’t let your child follow you into the bathroom during the process, as she might try to throw her ball in the toilet.

There are certain gadgets to buy that go over the toilet and reduce spraying. I was fairly close to purchasing something like this (google Potty-Pail if interested) or rigging up my own. But I think this system works; for now I’ll do without a bucket. I’m sure everyone has their own special secrets and sprayer tricks, what’s yours?



Reader Submitted Article
by
Andrea, mama to Mary Elise
http://3muirs.blogspot.com/

8 comments:

Attila & Tamara said...

Thank you for the tips. I have been debating getting one of these but I couldn't decide if it would be worth it. Sounds like once you get the hang of it that it is worth it!

lsnellings said...

MY son is finally having more solid poops and I see a sprayer in our immediate future. Thanks for this post!

Kayleen said...

I just use a bucket ($3 from target)and the handheld showerhead. I spray in the tub into the bucket, then dump the dirty water into the toilet.

I have two 2.5 gallon buckets in the bathroom, one to spray into and one for storing those sprayed dipes until wash day. I have a wetbag hanging on the changing table for any just wet dipes.

When company comes over the buckets get put into the tub behind the shower curtain anyway. No big deal. I found open buckets never got real stinky anyway.

We have a hard line into our toilet so the sprayers you can buy won't work for us without some major replumbing/repiping. This works for us.

Denise said...

I won a diaper sprayer in a blog giveaway a few months ago & have yet to install it for fear of making a huge mess with it. My daughter is almost potty trained now & I manage ok without the sprayer.....if we are blessed again, I plan to install it for next time.

Anonymous said...

Ya know, I read this and I think, "I can do this!" But then, I sit back and think, "Noooo I'm gonna make such a mess!" You ladies are brave! I'm using the dunk & swish method and it's working fine, but there's still an ick-factor to wringing it out. (Gasp) Yes I wring it out! hahaha I just can't stand knowing that there's a soaking wet diaper in the pail until wash day. (I wash every 3 days BTW.) But the more I'm swishing (it seems for hours with the PB poos) and wringing out pee-poopy diapers, the closer I get to buying one of these sprayers and throwing soaking dipes in the pail...I'm getting there!

Nichole said...

This makes me want one even more! I think that there is going to be a project for my husband very soon!

Pumpkin Bear said...

I haven't gotten a diaper sprayer yet because my baby isn't eating solids yet. It is good to know that I might need a little practice when I do get one and that I should plan to keep the diaper pail in the bathroom- I hadn't thought of that!

superstarBJR said...

I'm a messy sprayer so we use an old cat litter bucket to spray our diapers in.

I didn't start cloth diapering until my son was 1 and a sprayer was our savior. I had no idea how to get the poop off.

 

Diaper Discussions Copyright © 2009 Diaper Discussions is Designed by 3 Little Flowers