Does he exist?
Do diapers have an expiration date?
Since diapers belong to the category of personal hygiene items, they necessarily have an expiration date, after which their use is not recommended.
The exceptions are reusable diapers and eco-diapers , in the manufacture of which exclusively natural materials and special sewing technologies are used.
For these categories of diapers, the manufacturer can set an unlimited shelf life.
Expiration dates for diapers
It can be difficult to determine their expiration date on packages of imported diapers
So, do diapers have an expiration date? Not all packages contain this information. And searching for relevant information is not always convenient, especially if you purchased a foreign product. After all, data about him cannot always be translated into Russian.
Since children's disposable diapers are classified as personal hygiene products, they necessarily have their own shelf life. And they cannot be neglected. Most diapers have a shelf life of three years from the date of manufacture. Of course, this applies to packed packs. After unpacking the goods, it is recommended to use diapers as soon as possible.
As a rule, only reusable and ecological diapers have no shelf life. And on their packaging it is usually indicated that the shelf life is unlimited. This is explained by two factors: firstly, the peculiarities of tailoring, and secondly, the use of natural materials in production.
Important point! All manufacturers label their products differently. And this must be taken into account. But most often, the packaging of baby diapers indicates the date of production, and not the end date of use of the product.
What does it depend on?
The shelf life of disposable diapers is set by the manufacturer and depends on:
- materials used;
- production technologies (sewing);
- storage conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.).
Since modern diapers from different manufacturers are almost identical in composition and production technology , the expiration dates of diapers from different brands often coincide.
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Factors affecting shelf life
The storage duration of disposable diapers is set by the manufacturer and depends on many factors :
- production technologies (sewing, pressing, etc.);
- storage and delivery conditions (ambient temperature, humidity, mechanical stress);
- materials for manufacturing.
As a rule, manufacturers make diapers from identical materials ( non-woven fabric , polypropylene, etc.), so the shelf life is often the same.
What are they made of?
Modern diapers are a technically complex product , made of special materials and consisting of several layers.
- The outer layer prevents getting wet and serves as a fixation for the diaper. Consists of textured or laminated polyethylene film.
- Absorbent, which is the main element of the diaper. It is this layer that absorbs moisture in a volume up to 50 times greater than the mass of the layer itself. Typically, the absorbent is made from cellulose.
- Anti-fecal barrier consisting of polypropylene and thermal bond. The barrier also prevents the diaper from deforming.
- The inner layer is in contact with the skin and allows moisture to pass in one direction. As a rule, it also consists of polypropylene or thermal bond.
expiration date of merries diapers
You are admitted to the maternity ward with him. That is, if you come with contractions, then they send you there, everything there is sterile. At one time it was not clear to me where, what was needed and how everything was happening.
In the maternity ward you will need:
Documentation:
- Passport
— Compulsory medical insurance policy
— SNILS
— Exchange card, birth contract, birth certificate (if any)
— Charger and phone
— Slippers are washable
— Water (0.5 bottle)
this is the only thing I needed during the birth itself, you can have one bottle, there is a cooler in the department and kind midwives if anything will fill it, or you yourself, if you are able
The nightgown and robe are disposable
— Compression stockings
(I bought white ones at the “I’ll be a mother” store, in this store they will try you on and select everything for you, but honestly the elastic of my stockings fell off, I needed a size smaller)
PS No one checks the package in the maternity room, since I got there without contractions and without stimulation, I regretted that I didn’t take something to eat, I only managed to take my tablet, which I didn’t regret. All pads and panties are needed in the postpartum period.
You give birth and lie in the maternity ward for 2 hours, they will feed you there, and then take you to the postpartum ward. They will ask whether you want to stay together or not.
If you are giving birth with your husband:
- Identity document (passport)
- Test results:
- Blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis (shelf life of tests is no more than 21 days), but this information was not confirmed in the contract department
- Fluorography or Chest X-ray (expiration date of the study is no more than 1 year)
PS The husband arrives at the emergency department, where he is given a disposable gown, cap, bandage and shoe covers and taken to the maternity room.
Package 2. After childbirth.
— Disposable panties, I read reviews for a long time and took MoliPants Comfort, 2 pairs, they can be washed, they dry very quickly, for those who do not intend to wash, take 10 pieces. You can probably use your own, but I liked these.
— Postpartum pads (pack of 10 pieces). I fell for the rave reviews and bought Samu pads.
I suffered a lot with them, they don’t stick, they only leak like this, and they don’t stick at all, my neighbor shared Seni Lady, they are huge, they don’t leak the way they should. In general, we should have switched to regular pads earlier, since everything smells very strongly, it’s better not to take pads with mesh; Seni and Always have ones without mesh (those that are soft like cotton).
— Regular gaskets (1 pack)
— Diapers for mom.
We were given one diaper a day, so I regretted that I didn’t take it with me, diapers measuring 60 by 90 are just right, maybe with an adhesive base, I like happy diapers.
— Socks for 3-4 days
— Towel (you can have two, for the body, for the head, I also took a hairdryer)
— Personal hygiene items (Shampoo, gel, toothpaste, brush, soap for intimate hygiene, disposable products)
wet toilet paper very useful.
and wet wipes for intimate hygiene (but not on the first day)
There is regular toilet paper, they give it out
They give out nighties in the district, I wouldn’t take my own, it’s easy and simple to get dirty
I took my robe and put it on only for day 3
You don't need your own mug either.
Everything for feeding:
— Breast pads (I didn’t need them, but I took them, now having tried almost all companies, I can confidently recommend gel pads from Baby line or Medela, they last me a day, usually for a couple of hours) /
— Breast pump (I was given a stationary Mefela in the maternity hospital, it was very useful to me)
— I also really needed Purelan, because... The first breastfeeding was very painful. The good thing is that it does not need to be washed off, unlike Bepanten.
I missed the Medela nipple shields (which I now actively use, for those who have small or very sensitive nipples). For me, these shields are simply a salvation from cracks and pain.
— A nursing bra (I didn’t have one, I didn’t need it, but anyone with breasts larger than size 2 definitely needs it)
For baby:
For the baby they provide diapers in any quantity, diapers from Pampers premium care. I was incredibly annoyed by the smell, so I asked my husband to bring a pack
— Huggies Elite Soft (we still use them), one was enough for us, but we were born with low weight and used them up to 4 kg. For us, the same Moony turned out to be huge, we only use them when we exceed 4 kg. 1 package is enough (27 pieces).
— Wet wipes are also Huggies Elite Soft (I didn’t like the classic, they tore and didn’t clean well) since there were problems with water in the maternity hospital, it wasn’t hot all day, and it was difficult to achieve the desired water temperature, I used wipes, good wipes too Merries (1 pack of 64 pieces is enough)
— Bepanten (we needed to lubricate our arms and legs were very dry)
No soap or diaper cream was needed.
There was no need for pacifiers either, they were already provided at home.
Bottles, if you decide to supplement with formula, they have their own bottles.
The mixture is used by Senper, I bought it for home just in case. I gave it to the maternity hospital a couple of times and everything was fine.
And of course, the food, although by the standards of the maternity hospital the food was delicious, but I can’t eat that, so the next day they brought me everything I needed, there is a refrigerator in the room, a microwave in the next department, which I never got to, a cooler with hot and There is cold water in the corridor.
Package for discharge, I put cosmetics in bag 2 in advance
so that you can calmly and leisurely put on your makeup. How does the check-out process take place? In the morning you are informed that you are being discharged, they give you all the documents, after 2 o’clock they usually tell your relatives to come, you can leave two car numbers (no more) to travel to the territory. When the relatives arrive, you tell the nurse and she takes you downstairs, takes the package from the relatives, where your clothes and the child are, and takes you to the room, where you change clothes, dress the child and go out in full dress. So, there’s not much time to put on makeup there, so I advise those who are going to put on makeup to do it upstairs.
That's probably all.
GOST about diapers
All diapers sold on the Russian market must comply with the standards established by the legislation of the Russian Federation:
- for baby diapers - GOST R 52557-2011 “Children's paper diapers. General technical conditions";
- for adult diapers - GOST R 55082-2012 “Paper products for medical purposes. Diapers for adults. General technical conditions".
According to the standards, the shelf life of children's and adult diapers is set by the manufacturer depending on the raw materials used.
The expiration date must be indicated on label .
Read the information on the packaging
Often, two dates are displayed on the packaging of diapers: the first is the moment of manufacture of the product in the day/month/year format and the second is the date of issue and the number of the corresponding certificate. This is exactly what the information component of Huggies packaging looks like.
The situation is similar with a pack of Libero diapers. Only here, first, the same release date of the product is indicated, and next to it there is a stamp indicating the batch number.
If we talk about Pampers products, the packaging of children's hygiene products contains information that is read from left to right and indicates the date of manufacture of the product, the batch number, as well as the country where the product was produced.
As for Japanese-made children's hygiene products, the situation is somewhat unusual for the Russian consumer. The manufacturing company does not indicate an expiration date at all on the packaging of its products. Instead, every 2 years an updated series of diapers appears on sale, which differs from the previous one in packaging design.
Expiration dates for adults and children
What is the expiration date for disposable diapers?
For most disposable diapers, manufacturers set a 3-year expiration date , after which it is better to refuse to use them.
At the same time, in terms of their composition, functions, shelf life and storage conditions, children's and adult diapers are identical and differ only in size.
Brands of diapers for children popular on the Russian market have the following expiration dates:
- Pampers, Libero, Goo.N, Moltex, Huggies (most), Molfix can be stored for 3 years from the date of production;
- Japanese Moony are stored for 2 years from the date of production;
- some individual diaper models, for example, Huggies Elite Soft (5-9), have an extended shelf life of up to 5 years.
The expiration date for baby and adult diapers is indicated on the product packaging, usually on the side or seam.
Adult diapers can also most often be stored for 3 years from the date of manufacture. This statement applies to models of such popular brands as:
- Tena;
- SENI;
- Hartmann Molicare;
- Sanicare;
- Nata.
Problems with determining the production date may occur when purchasing Japanese diapers, since in them the date is encrypted in the marking code , and the rules for writing it differ from one manufacturer to another.
For the convenience of consumers, every 2 years Japanese manufacturers completely change the packaging design, so when buying Japanese diapers with the design of the previous generation, there is a risk of running into expired products.
Read about how to check the queue for kindergarten online here.
What is the period of suitability?
Most products have a shelf life of 3 years. For example, such popular children's models as “Pampers”, “GooN”, “Huggies”, “Moltex” are stored for up to 3 years.
Moony baby diapers produced in Japan must be used within 2 years from the date of manufacture.
For convenience, the manufacturer changes the appearance of the packaging film every 2 years. The buyer, having stumbled upon an outdated design, will be sure of its unsuitability.
There are some representatives, for example, “Huggies Elite”, which have a very long sales period - up to 5 years or more.
Diapers for adults are also stored for 3 years. The information applies to brands such as “SENI”, “Nata”, “Teni”, “Sanicare”.
A separate problem is determining the shelf life . Many manufacturers indicate on the label near the barcode not the expiration date, but the production time, usually in the following format: day.month number.year.
It is extremely rare to find a more convenient encryption method : the first line is the release date, the second line is the maximum period during which the products must be used.
How to store it correctly?
Diapers should not be exposed to temperature changes or high humidity . Exposure to sunlight and dust is also unacceptable, as all these factors can damage the product or reduce its useful properties.
Therefore, you should avoid storing diapers in the kitchen, balcony or bathroom. It is best to store diapers at room temperature in a dry place, such as on a closet shelf.
You should also avoid sources of strong odors, as diapers can absorb them. Diapers from printed packaging must be wrapped in a plastic bag , which will prevent moisture and foreign odors from penetrating into the hygiene product.
How long are diapers good for?
In principle, if you use diapers that are already “expired,” there will be no particular harm to your child’s health. In general, their default shelf life is three years. Young parents who are having their first child especially pay attention to this. This period is not indicated on the packaging - only the production date is indicated there, but calculate the final date yourself.
Only eco-friendly and reusable diapers do not have an expiration date. This is because they are made exclusively from natural raw materials. Manufacturers usually mark the packaging of such diapers with a “shelf life unlimited” label.
And yet, no matter what package of diapers you open, you need to try to store them correctly and use them as quickly as possible. Then your baby's skin will remain as soft as in the very first days of his life.
Adult diapers in bulk should also be purchased with the expectation that they can be used within the shelf life indicated on the packages. Paper towels, if stored in sealed containers, can be used after the expiration date.
What happens over time?
During long-term storage, the main component of the diaper, the absorbent layer consisting of cellulose, deteriorates.
It may dry out, harden, or begin to crumble.
How to understand what is not suitable for use?
Since the main element in the composition of a hygiene product is an absorbent filler, you need to pay attention to its distribution over the entire area of the product .
If the filling is clumped, hardened to a fossil, or is very crunchy, then the absorbent material has probably deteriorated and the diaper will not be able to fulfill its main purpose - absorbing moisture.
Also, a signal of unsuitability of a diaper may be:
- violation of the integrity of the external or internal layers;
- the appearance of an uncharacteristic odor when the gel impregnation used has deteriorated (for example, aloe vera).
Rules for storing baby diapers
It is convenient to store diapers in a changing table or a special organizer
How to properly store baby diapers? We will also try to answer this question, because it is no less important for young parents.
Maintaining the correct temperature is one of the most important conditions for storing diapers. The structure of a modern baby diaper has a special absorbent layer consisting of cellulose and a special gel-like substance. And it is poorly affected by sudden temperature changes, as well as high air humidity. Therefore, storing baby diapers in the bathroom is strictly not recommended.
The second important condition: diapers should not be stored next to strong-smelling substances. For example, in a cabinet with open deodorants or unsealed soap. The diaper material can absorb foreign odors. It is best to keep baby diapers in a separate, covered place, away from direct sunlight.
