How To Change A Diaper Newborn

Dont Freak Out About Funky Looking Poop

Baby poop can give you clues to what is going on inside your child. And while its typically something to note, changes in poop arent typically anything to freak out about. Anytime you introduce kids to a new food, it can take the body time to get used to it. You might see some natural variations in different colors or consistency, says Dr. Jana.

If you get bright red blood, sometimes its not even coming from in the intestinal tract, she continues. Your baby could have a little cut in the skin as a result of constipated hard poop. It could also mean theres some allergic reaction to a food that irritates the intestinal lining. Thats where you might also potentially see some blood so anytime you see it, its obviously worth bringing up, but its doesnt mean you have to panic.

What Do You Need To Change A Diaper

Hereâs what you need to change a diaper:

• Diapers. Although you only need one diaper at a time, it can be helpful to have plenty of diapers on hand so that you donât run out when you need one. You may even like to have some of the next size up so that youâre ready with those when the time comes. Store the diapers within your easy reach, but out of your babyâs reach.

You might like to set up a diaper changing station in your babyâs nursery where youâll have all the things youâll need for diaper changes as well as the clothes your little one will change into. This way, with everything in armâs reach, you won’t have to take your eyes or hands off your baby.

How Often Should You Change Babys Diaper

So youve gotten the rundown on how to change a diaperbut the question remains, when to change a diaper? You should change baby whenever their diaper is wet or soiled. Goldstein suggests getting newborn diapers with a color-changing stripe that indicates when the diaper is wet. In the first three to four days, you really arent getting many wet diapers, so we just look for that stripe, she says. It makes wet diapers much easier to identify. In a newborn we like to see that five to eight times a day, definitely at least five. If youre ever concerned that baby isnt producing enough wet diapers, call your pediatrician this could be a sign that baby isnt getting enough to eat.

As baby gets older and starts eating more and soiling more diapers, changing them every three to four hours during waking hours is a good baseline.

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Does Your Baby Need Diapering

Don’t rely on smell as a cue to change your baby’s diaper she can soil up to 10 diapers a day, if not more. You may notice the diaper is heavy, or you can check the diaper by pulling out the waistband or the leg to see if it is wet or dirty, or you can check your baby’s diaper before and after each nap. Always change the diaper immediately when it’s soiled that way, your baby will stay warm and dry and you’ll prevent chafing and diaper rash.

How Frequently Should You Change A Diaper

Experts recommend changing your babyâs diaper after every poop, and frequently in between to ensure a wet diaper doesnât stay on too long.

Depending on your babyâs age and whether sheâs breastfed, bottle fed, or eating solids, as well as other factors like digestive issues, your baby may have a bowel movement anywhere from after every meal, once a day, or even once a week. All these can be normal.

When it comes to pee, your little one may pee as often as every one to three hours, or only about six times a day.

Remember that in the beginning your newborn will need about 10 diaper changes a day.

When diapers are not changed frequently enough, the moisture is held against your babyâs skin, which can lead to diaper rash.

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What To Do If The Diaper Is Leaking

If leaks and blowouts start happening, it might be time to go up a diaper size. As your baby grows, so does the quantity of pee and poop. A bigger diaper may not only fit better, it can also hold more liquid.

Even if the diaper is the right size, if you donât put it on correctly you could still experience leaks. Double check that you havenât fastened the diaper too tightly or too loosely, that the tapes are symmetrical, and that the leg cuffs are turned out.

What Are The Signs Your Baby Needs A Bigger Diaper

Here are some signs that your baby needs a bigger diaper:

• The tapes donât reach the centre of the waistband

• You canât fit two fingers under the waistband

• There are red marks on your babyâs tummy or thighs

• The diaper doesnât cover your babyâs bottom

• Your baby seems uncomfortable .

Our diaper size and weight chart can help you get the right fit.

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Throw Out The Dirty Diaper

For disposables, wrap the diaper into a ball, using the tab fasteners to secure. Then throw away in your diaper pail, plastic bag or trash can .

When you’re away from home, carry a stash of plastic bags. Place the dirty diaper inside and tie the bag before tossing it into the trash. Put cloth diapers into a bucket with a tight-fitting lid ,or a vinyl bag if you’re out, until laundry day.

Additional Diaper Supplies Youll Need:

• Clean diapers, sized for your baby.
• Diaper rash cream.
• A fresh set of clothes in case of a fecal blowout.
• A disposable bag for dirty diapers.
• Fasteners for cloth diapers, if applicable.
• Gentle baby wipes for sensitive skin. You can use warm water and a soft cloth for newborns.

Whether youâre at home or out on the town with your little one, make sure to keep your diaper bag supplies within reach.

Note: Your baby canât be left unattended on the changing table.

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How To Change A Babys Diaper

Make sure you have everything youâll need for the diaper change on hand. Once youâre ready, hereâs how to change your baby’s diaper in a few easy steps:

S To Change A Newborns Diaper:

Lift your Babys Leg

Im going to start by taking off the security straps on this diaper. Im going to fold this down. Im going to lift the babys legs up and again, remember babies are not fragile. Its okay to lift them up. Im grabbing both feet just to get a good view of the area to wipe. That way you can make sure you dont leave anything behind. With girl babies, the most important thing is that you wipe from the front to the back.

Clean all the folds

Also, make sure youre cleaning any folds, so Ill take my wipe, I start at the very top and work all the way down. You can discard your wipe here or if you have space left on the wipe, you can fold it over and use a clean section. Im going to take another wipe here. Then a wipe on the side here, making sure I get everything out of these folds and then Im going to wipe your on the other side, making sure I get everything out of these folds.

Diaper Setting

Once you see that the area is clean, you can go ahead, remove the dirty diaper, put it on the side, gently place your baby back down. Youre going to pull this front of the diaper up into place. If your baby is brand new, theres going to be an umbilical stump and or a Lotus that is still attached so you do not want your diaper to rub against this area. If your baby is on the bigger side, you might not have to do anything to the diaper, but if your baby is small, you may have to fold the front of the diaper down like so and secure it under your umbilical cord.

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Tip #: Wash Your Hands

Before you jump into actually changing your babys diaper, its wise to wash your hands. This is an often overlooked, yet important, step for keeping your baby healthy. But sometimes, you wont have water and soap available…or, honestly, you might just forget.

Thats okay. Just grab a diaper wipe, like our Certified Organic Cotton Wipes with Water, and give your hands a quick rub. Only have a few wipes left for your baby? Try using Mustelas No Rinse Cleansing Water to clean both your hands and your babys bottom.

Tips For Baby Girl Diaper Changes

There are generally no surprise soakdowns with girl diaper changes. One important thing to note: If youre changing a baby girls poopy diaper, its especially important to clean them from front to back, wiping away from their vagina. The urethra is inside the body and more susceptible to infection from any bacteria introduced. “If you dont wipe front to back, theyre at risk for a urinary tract infection, explains Goldstein.

It may all seem daunting right now, but once you learn how to change a diaper, youll be amused that you were ever intimidated in the first place. Trust us, youll be an expert in no time.

About the experts:

Melissa J. Goldstein, MD, is a pediatrician at Carnegie Hill Pediatrics in New York City. She is also the co-founder of the Ready to Parent Lecture Series, a program that seeks to prepare new parents to bring newborns into their lives. She earned her medical degree at Cornell University Medical College in Ithaca, New York.

Jada Shapiro is a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, lactation counselor and birth photographer. She is the founder of Boober, a marketplace that connects expectant and new parents to high-quality classes and on-demand, expert care providers like lactation consultants, doulas, mental health therapists and more. She graduated from Wesleyan University.

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How Many Diapers Does An Average Baby Use Per Day

The number of diapers a baby uses every day can give you additional information about their health. A newborn baby less than a month old is probably using between 10 and 12 diapers. As the baby gets older, they will start to need fewer diaper changes. Babies older than five months usually need up to eight diapers per day.

How To Change A Babys Diaper: All The Tips Youll Need

Changing dirty diapers has to be one of the worst parenting duties.

Once youâve dressed a babyâs bottom, youâll never want to do it again. Unfortunately, youâll be repeating the process in a few hours, and you may end up on diaper duty for years.

While the process can be frustrating, itâs made easier by having the right supplies and skills. Hereâs everything you need to know about changing a babyâs diaper.

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Cleaning Babys Bottom And Putting On A Clean Nappy

Lift babys bottom and gently clean with wipes, a damp washcloth or damp cotton wool. Always wipe front to back. Put on nappy cream.

Cloth nappies: hold babys legs up and put a clean nappy beneath babys bottom. Follow manufacturer instructions for fitting the nappy. Dont cover newborn belly buttons.

Disposable nappies: hold babys legs up and put a clean nappy beneath babys bottom. Fold the front flap up, tuck it around babys waist and attach tabs. Dont cover newborn belly buttons.

For Your Babys Health

• Your doctor should provide cleaning instructions for umbilical cord stumps and circumcisions. Follow the instructions diligently.
• Skin thatâs dry to the touch, a dry diaper that persists for 24 hours or more, or dark yellow or brown urine are all signs of dehydration. Contact your healthcare provider immediately.
• Donât wrap the babyâs diaper too tight. If you do, it applies pressure to the stomach, which can make your little one vomit or cause red marks, diaper rashes, or friction burns around your babyâs waist and legs.
• Contact your pediatrician if a diaper rash doesnât clear up after a few days. It may indicate a more serious health concern, like an allergy to the diaperâs material.

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When To Change A Newborns Diaper

How often should I change my newborns diaper? is a question that many doctors have probably heard. Because they feed more frequently, you can expect to be changing a newborns diaper more often . Diapers with feces should be changed right away, while slightly wet diapers are not yet full.

Diapers full of urine will swell, and diapers with feces will have that distinct odor. When you use scented diapers, this masks the smell of feces so you may not realize its time for a fresh diaper.

Babies and parents tend to set a pattern over time as parents begin to sense when to change diapers. Eventually, parents get used to these cues. Some babies make a distinct facial expression when having a bowel movement, or newborns may cry when a full diaper makes them uncomfortable.

Babies with more sensitive skin may not be able to tolerate even somewhat damp diapers and will need more consistent diaper changes.