What Do You Need To Change A Diaper
Hereâs what you need to change a diaper:
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 within armâs reach, youâll won’t have to take your eyes or hands off your baby.
Tips For Newborn Diaper Changes
You might be intimidated at the idea of changing an itty-bitty, fragile newborn, but heres the good news: At this age and stage, they dont really squirm or resist. Still, here are a couple handy tips for how to change a newborn diaper:
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Be careful of the umbilical area. If your newborns umbilical cord stump hasnt fallen off yet, you can fold down the top of the diaper so it sits under their belly button area, which will make them more comfortable. Many newborn diapers are designed with a dip that contours around the stump.
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Follow circumcision care instructions. If your newborn has been circumcised, follow your doctors instructions for diaper change care. Generally, youll want to keep the wound clean and lubricated until the scab heals. You may need to replace the gauze and reapply ointment during babys diaper changes.
How To Change Your Newborns Diaper
If youâre a first-time parent, you may find it takes a few tries to get used to changing your newbornâs diaper. Following the above steps will help you get the hang of it.
Just after your baby is born, your midwife, doula, or one of the nurses may give you some hands-on lessons.
Keep in mind that your newborn will go through about 10 diapers a day, so youâll have plenty of chances to practice how to change his diapers.
For the first several weeks, as you wait for your baby’s umbilical cord stump to fall off, you might like to use some of the diaper changes to gently clean the umbilical cord area and check for signs of infection like a yellowish discharge or red skin in the area around the stump. If you do notice anything like this, contact your babyâs healthcare provider.
Your babyâs first few poops will be a thick, greenish, almost tar-like substance called meconium. As the meconium passes your babyâs poop will change color to a yellowy green.
Donât be surprised if you notice a little vaginal discharge in your baby girlâs diaper â this is normal. Also, you might see a little blood in your newbornâs stools in the first few days. This is quite common and usually harmless, but it’s a good idea to let your baby’s healthcare provider know if you spot this.
Be sure to check with your babyâs healthcare provider if you have questions about what youâre seeing in your newbornâs diaper.
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How Often Should You Change A Newborn Baby’s Diaper
There is lots to consider when you have a newborn and knowing how often to change a newborn baby’s diaper might be a little tricky. After a while, youll know your baby best and when their diaper needs changing but as a guide, these times are generally when you should consider changing their diaper:
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After every feed
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As soon as possible after theyve done a poop
Once your little one can sleep through the night, well-padded diapers should last 12 hours so you wont need to worry about changing again until the morning!
The first time I changed my babys diaper was when a nurse reminded me, quite a few hours after hed been born, says Luisa, mom to Luca, 4. I was mortified because it hadnt even occurred to me to change him – I was just lying there staring at him! But he was all fine and from then on it was in my head to do it regularly.
How To Change Your Toddlers Diaper
As your little one gets older, you might find it harder and harder to keep her still for diaper changes. After all, thereâs so much for your toddler to do and discover, and diaper changes tend to interrupt all the fun and activity.
You could try using diapers with stretchy sides to change your wriggly toddlerâs diaper. With these diapers, pants, you simply pull them up like you would pants. Then, to take them off, you simply tear the sides for easy removal.
As you change your toddlerâs diaper, you might like to tell your little one what youâre doing â this way she can start to become familiar with whatâs happening as an early step toward potty training. You might also like to dump the poop from the diaper into the toilet or potty in front of her so that she can begin to make the connection that thatâs where poop should go.
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Lift Your Babys Legs With One Hand And Wipe With The Other
Clean your babys bottom with wipes by gently wiping from front to back. Try not to wipe more than a few times, as this can cause redness and discomfort for your little one.
That said, make sure you remove all urine and stool from the area. Any residue left behind could cause a rash or infection. Its also important for the area to be dry before putting a fresh diaper on. If there is any remaining moisture on the skin, gently pat it dry with a soft cloth. If there is evidence of a rash or skin irritation, wash the area with mild soap and water and allow to air dry.
If your child has loose or watery stools, it may result in skin irritation, so you can also apply a thin layer of vaseline over the diaper ointment, which will create a moisture barrier and help with healing.
Easy Steps To Change Cloth Diapers
1.Assemble everything youll need. These include clean nappies, diaper cover/wet bag for the dirty diapers, wet wipes, safety pins or diaper fasteners.
2.Remove the dirty nappies and thoroughly wash your babys bottom. Its best you let the skin air-dry before putting on fresh diapers. If you dont have that much time, use a washcloth to pat dry the skin. Apply an ointment for diaper rash if necessary.
3.Now slide in the fresh nappy under your babys buttock. The back edge of the diaper should be at the same level as his belly button.
4.Now pull the front of the diaper to your babys belly. For a newborn baby, you should fold down the front half to prevent it from covering his umbilical cord stump. Spread the diaper as wide and flat as possible between his legs.
5.Now, carefully fold the sides and secure it with fasteners, grips or safety pins . It should neither be too tight or too loose, take care of that.
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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.
Read more about reducing leaks and blowouts.
Even if you don’t always love diaper changes, you will love knowing that your little one feels dry and comfortable in his diaper. Plus, as you become a diapering pro, diaper changes will become easier and easier. Before you know it you’ll be done!
How we wrote this articleThe information in this article is based on the expert advice found in trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. You can find a full list of sources used for this article below.The content on this page should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult medical professionals for full diagnosis and treatment.
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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:
Lay your baby down on her back and remove the used diaper. Wrap it up and stick the tapes down to seal the bundle. Toss the diaper in the diaper pail or set it aside to throw out later in the garbage can. If youâre throwing the diaper into a garbage can, place it in a plastic bag first to reduce odors.
Gently clean your babyâs diaper area, taking care to clean between the folds of skin. You can use gentle diaper wipes, such as Pampers Sensitive Wipes, or you can use a wetted washcloth. Remember to wipe front to back.
If your baby has diaper rash, apply diaper rash ointment or barrier cream on the affected area.
Carefully raise your babyâs legs and lower body by the ankles and slide a clean diaper underneath. The colorful markings should be on the front, facing you. Then, pull the front of the diaper up between your babyâs legs and lay it on your babyâs belly.
Lift the two wings of the diaper on both the left and right side, and stick the stretchy fastening tape found on each wing onto the front of the diaper. Make sure you donât fasten the diaper either too tightly or too loosely. To check this, you should be able to comfortably run two fingers between the diaper and her stomach. The tabs should be symmetrical. Turn the leg cuffs out to prevent leaks.
How Often Should You Change A Babys Diaper
Figuring out how often you should change a diaper can be confusing. Every child is different, so its important to monitor your babys behavior and response to soiled diapers. However, many recommend changing a babys diaper roughly every two to three hours or when they become soiled.
Many newborns pee and even poop with every feed and can have near-constant dirty diapers, says Rebekah Diamond, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist in New York City, assistant professor of pediatrics at Columbia University and author of the forthcoming book Parent Like a Pediatrician. As babies get older, they tend to need less-frequent diaper changes.
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How To Treat Diaper Rash
Diaper rash is pretty easy to spot. It looks like red, irritated skin around the diaper area. The rash may even look puffy and feel warm to the touch.
Small bumps might appear on your babys bottom or thighs. A typical case of diaper rash can be treated at home and usually goes away in a few days.
However, diaper rash can turn ugly. If you notice any of these symptoms, take your little one to the pediatrician as soon as possible:
- A yellowish tint to the rash
- Cracked skin or bleeding
If youre dealing with a run-of-the-mill case of diaper rash, here are a few things you can do during your diaper routine to keep your baby comfortable and make diaper rash a thing of the past.
How Often Should I Change It
Ideally, your baby’s diaper should be changed as soon as it becomes soiled. Typically, this means eight to 10 times a day for young babies but the frequency will vary quite a bit. Often, babies will need a diaper change soon after each feeding, but you’ll usually know due to the smellor you can simply take a look.
While urine is germ-free and does not usually irritate the skin, stool is very caustic. Leaving stool in contact with your baby’s skin for any length of time, especially if they are very young or have sensitive skin, will raise their chances of developing a painful diaper rash. However, note that getting a diaper rash is very common and may occur no matter how quick you are to change your baby’s diaper.
When you change your baby’s diaper, the AAP recommends rinsing the diaper area with lots of warm water in addition to using wipes. This extra step isn’t always practical if you’re on the go, but doing it at home will keep your baby’s skin healthy and free from irritation.
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Dispose Of The Dirty Diaper
Fold the dirty diaper into a ball and secure it closed with the tape fasteners. Dispose of the diaper in the garbage. To keep the smell down, you might want to seal the dirty diapers in ziplock plastic bag or invest in a diaper genie.
And thats it– youre done until the next dirty diaper! With all of the diaper-changing that parenthood involves, youll be a pro in no time.
Lastly, lets talk about something that even the diaper-changing pros and most experienced parents deal with: diaper rash. If it happens to your little angel, dont worry and dont feel bad. Its a common problem.
With a little extra care during your diaper-change routine, you can do away with diaper rash and also help to prevent it in the future.
How Often Should You Change The Diapers
This is the most frequently asked diaper-related question I get. I would say you should ideally change the diaper in every 2-3 hours. You can keep it on for a little longer during nighttime.
Change the diaper when:
- You are taking the baby out for a simple walk or a car trip.
- Before he goes to bed.
- After he wakes up from a nap.
- Whenever his diaper is wet or soiled.
- Whenever the baby is crying and you cant find any reason for it. Changing the diaper often helps in such a situation.
Thats all. Hope now you can change your babys dirty diaper without facing any problem. It goes without saying but still, make sure to keep your hands sanitized before changing the diapers. If you are using disposable nappies or liners, dispose of them carefully as you dont want bacteria to party in your trash can. Last but not the least, always carry a wet bag with you when you are away from home with your babies.
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How To Change A Baby Boy’s Diaper
Baby boys can be more challenging when it comes to changing diapers. This is because they have a tendency to pee as soon as you remove their diaper. This response is not meant to drive parents nuts , but it is simply an automatic response. Learning how to correctly change a boys diaper can greatly reduce the chances of being peed on or having to change the diaper more than once.
There are steps you can follow to prevent getting peed on or having to change the new diaper immediately after putting it on because that one got wet while changing.
Check out the How-to Guide for Newborns
The Number 1 And Number 2 Best Tips
Here are the two most important prep steps to safe, speedy diaper changing:
Like any parent will tell you, youll quickly get plenty of practice.
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Public Diaper Changing Tips
When you feel as though you dont know what you’re doing, changing a diaper in public can be a little stressful. In fact, fear of changing a diaper outside the house might get so intense that parents can be put off going out altogether.
So first of all, just know youre not doing anything wrong. There is no perfect way to change a diaper and there is certainly no perfect baby that always lies still. You’re doing your best and these tips should help you along the way.
Open The Diaper Place Towel On Top Immediately
This is especially important for boys!
The cold air startles the baby once you remove his diaper and can make him pee all over you, which is no fun for anyone. Its not unheard of for a baby boy to pee in his own face!
I like to use another cloth diaper insert, but others use a wipe or a clean diaper. Another option is to crack the diaper to let in cool air, and catch the pee in the dirty diaper. I dont find this to be as foolproof though.
Find more tips for how to avoid a baby boy peeing on you here.
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