Changing Your Baby's Diaper: Steps & Tips

New parents struggle with spending a lot of time changing diapers during the first months of having a baby. In fact, babies can go through ten or more diapers a day – on average!

Firstly, changing a diaper may seem complicated, but with a bit of practice, you’ll find that keeping your baby clean and dry is an easy thing to do..

You might always start to enjoy doing it!

Preparation

Before you begin, gather a few necessary items to ease the diaper changing process:

• A clean baby diaper.

• Bras (if you are dealing with cloth diapers)

• Baby wipes or wet washcloths.

• A diaper rash ointment or petroleum jelly (to prevent and treat rashes)

• A changing pad or a piece of cloth to place under the baby.

Make sure you have all the items within reach.

A rule of thumb: You should never leave a baby unattended; not even for a second! Even newborns can surprise their parents with their ability to roll.

Cleaning

Using the damp washcloth or baby wipes, gently wipe the baby from front to back. Never do it from back to front, especially for girls, as this can spread bacteria that can cause upper respiratory tract infections.

You may have to lift the baby’s legs up by the ankles so you can clean underneath correctly. Do not forget the creases of the thighs and buttocks.

Keep your baby covered while changing because exposure to air often makes them urinate (on you, walls, or anything else within reach – trust me, it is a mess!).

Once you have finished cleaning, pat your baby dry with a clean cloth and apply diaper ointment.

Disposable Diapers

If you are using disposable diapers:

• Open and stretch the clean diaper to slide it underneath your kid by lifting his legs and feet slowly and gently. The back, which has the adhesive strips, should be at the height of the baby’s navel.

• Bring the front of the diaper up between the baby’s legs and toward the navel.

• Surround the baby’s body with the diaper’s adhesive strips and stick them snugly to control the mess as much as possible. Be careful not to stick the strips to the baby’s skin – it makes them uncomfortable.

Cloth Diapers

Cloth diapers come in different shapes and sizes. Traditional cloth diapers come folded or squared and need to be fastened, while newer models are shaped similarly to disposable diapers and have hook-and-loop or snap closures.

Other accessories for cloth diapers include liners (some of which are washable), extra-absorbent pads for added protection at night, and diaper covers that help prevent leaks.

If you use traditional cloth diapers, there are several ways to put them on. One of the most common is the triangular fold:

• Form a triangle by folding the square in half. For newborns or tiny babies, you may need to fold the longest part of the triangle a few inches to best fit your baby.

• Place the baby on the diaper by gently lifting the baby’s legs and feet and sliding the diaper under the child. The longest part of the triangle should be below the baby’s back, with the opposite corner pointing toward the feet.

• Bring the front of the diaper up between the baby’s legs and toward the navel.

• With one of the sides, surround the child’s body and cover the central part.

• Do the same with the other side and cover the two previous diaper parts. Fasten all parts with a safety pin to keep them in place.

Diaper Rash Prevention

It is common for babies to have a little diaper rash, especially newborns. But if the rash is frequent, lasts more than 2 or 3 days, or worsens, you must call your health care professional.

Let the provider know if your baby has a fever along with the rash or if the rash seems painful, is bright red, or has blisters.

To prevent and help heal diaper rash, keep the following tips in mind:

• Change diapers often and right after the baby has a bowel movement. Gently cleanse the whole diaper area. Avoid rubbing the area or cleaning it vigorously; doing so can further irritate the rash.

• Use a diaper rash cream or ointment to prevent and heal rashes. Look for one that has zinc oxide, which acts as a moisture barrier. A&D ointment also relieves pain in minor rashes.

• Free your baby from the diaper! Let him spend part of the day without a diaper by laying him on some clothes.

• If you use cloth diapers, wash them with baby-suitable detergents without pigments or fragrances and avoid drying them with scented dryer sheets.

If you are changing the baby’s diaper on the go, you can get a diaper changing clutch to add all the necessary items and keep yourself ready for surprises!