From leaky nappies and blowouts to the dreaded poonamis, as a parent you’ve probably faced them all … usually when you’re out for the day and nowhere near a baby changing facility. Help!

While messy nappy-related accidents can be very common, that doesn’t make them any less stressful.

A Pampers survey found over half of parents feel anxious about public poonamis happening on a day out. And nine in 10 parents have faced a major nappy leak while out and about with their baby.

We caught up with The Children’s Medic Dr Shruti Nathwani to find out what causes soft poo and how to tackle any nappy-related issues. You can watch Dr Shruti’s expert tips in full in the video below.

How often do babies poo?

More than you’d expect! Newborn babies poo around four times a day (or more), says the NHS . This goes down to around two poos a day by the time they’re one.

Check out our baby poo guide to see what's normal and what's not.

What causes nappy disasters?

There are a number of reasons your baby might have a nappy blowout. According to Dr Shruti this includes:

1. Your baby’s diet

Just like us adults, what your baby eats can have an impact on their digestion. And you'll also notice some changes in their nappies when you start weaning.

Dr Shruti says:

'Babies just do tend to have soft poo. When you introduce new food groups, they've just been having milk for such a long time that their bodies need time to adjust. Some of the things you might notice is the stool becomes thicker and it can become darker and a bit more smelly.'

2. Medication

Some medicines can affect your baby’s poo and cause diarrhoea.

If you're breastfeeding and taking antibiotics, this could also cause your baby to have soft poo.

3. Using the wrong nappies

Choosing the right nappy is key to stopping poo disasters at home and when you’re out. Pampers know all about this, which is why they’ve created the completely unique Stop and Protect Pocket.

This helps prevent leaks at the back of the nappy and is designed to catch soft poo, stopping it spreading up your baby’s back. And it's the ONLY nappy in the UK with the Stop and Protect pocket.

It's also important you make sure you're using the right nappy size on your little one. If it's too small the nappy can leak because there isn't enough absorbency for the volume of pee or poo. If it's too big it can cause pee and poo to run out through the gaps between the nappy and your baby's skin. Find out more about Pampers nappy size guide here .

You can find the Stop and Protect Pocket from size 3-8 on Pampers Baby Dry Pants and Pampers Active Fit Nappy Pants as well as Pampers Night Pants. Here’s a demo of how it works: