Baby care:Diapering

How do I properly change my baby's diaper?

No parent gets by without diapering their baby! In the early months, it may seem that you are changing your baby's diaper every hour. Generally, breastfed babies soil their diapers more often than formula fed babies. Even though the diapering process gets tedious and repetitive, frequent diaper changes are the best way to avoid irritation and diaper rash on your baby's sensitive skin. During the daytime and when your baby is awake, change her often. You do not need to wake a sleeping baby for a diaper change. Unless the baby is very wet or has soiled her diaper, you do not need to change her during nightime feedings. The light and activity can interfere with your baby getting back to sleep. Your baby will let you know if the diaper is bothering her during the night and when she does, you should follow her cues.

Before you start to change your baby's diaper, make sure you have everything that you will need on the changing table or in your diaper bag. If your baby has sensitive skin or has a diaper rash, avoid using baby wipes. Wet washcloths work just as well and will not further aggravate your baby's delicate skin. If possible, wash and dry your hands before you begin to change the diaper. If you are not able to wash your hands, wipe them down with a baby wipe or sanitizing solution. If you will be changing the baby anywhere other than a changing table, lay a protective cover down to protect the surface and give extra padding for your baby.

Unfasten the diaper that your baby is wearing. If there is a bowel movement, use the diaper to wipe away the majority of the mess. If you have a baby boy, you should try to keep the diaper over his penis to avoid any "showers". Once the mess is mostly cleaned up, fold the diaper down under your baby's bottom. Use a warm, wet washcloth or baby wipe to cleanse your baby's front and backside. Lift your baby's legs up to get any residue off of their bottom or back. Remember, only wipe a girl from front to back to prevent an infection. While holding on to your baby's legs, slip the old diaper out and slide a clean diaper under her bottom with the tabs side under your baby's bottom. If there was a rash or irritation, apply the diaper ointment or cream. Then, simply bring the front of the diaper through your baby's legs and fasten the tabs making sure they are pressed down tightly. If the umbilical cord stump has not yet fallen off, fold the front of the diaper down past the navel to keep urine off of the stump.

Fold the tabs over the old diaper and throw it away properly. Wash your hands, your baby's hands and the surface that you changed your baby on. NEVER leave your baby unattended during a diaper change, unless she is on the floor. Small babies can roll off of beds and changing tables and get seriously hurt.

Necessary Items:

*A clean diaper
*Wet washcloth
*Dry washcloth
*Baby wipes
*A change of clothes
*Diaper cream or ointment

Comments: Baby care - Diapering

Comments 1 to 22 of about 22.
1

hyd1986 - 899 days ago.
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longchamp - 1257 days ago.
I am practicing that now~~ lol....

pantone - 1277 days ago.
We have used cloth on all of our kids and will do so for the rest who are yet to come : ) We loved using cloth diapers so much, my husband started an online discount diaper store, carrying discontinued colors and factory seconds (crooked stitching). The FAQ section can answer many of your questions. The site is www.dapadiapers.com Reduce, Reuse, Rediaper! Dapa Discount Diapers

manda-may - 1335 days ago.
Hi... we started using huggies newborn nappies until my twins were a couple of months old and we had the hang of it all ( bulk bought when I was still pregnant!). I had also bought a dozen 'bumgenius' OSFA pocket nappies (just buy the one size and it adjusts so you can use on newborn up till 2 years or more. Comes with 2 inserts - one small, one big.) Have found them really really good. They don't leak, are easy to put on and do up with velcro not domes so no fiddling around at two in the morning. They dry really quickly too. I put them on a clothes rack inside quite often and they often dry over night. We have been using disposable nappies at night since they have been sleeping 12 hours plus which works well for us. I have found that huggies and pams are good brands, and that treasures leak a bit. Good luck to all.

EloiseAndHarrys-Mummy! - 1335 days ago.
i have the same question as babymakermachine, i would like to use cloth/washable nappies at home and was wondering what all your thoughts on them were. They've been trying to get more mums into using the washable/reusable ones here in england and gave me a free one to try out. when eloise was big enough but it was so bulky and i could barely get her trousers on after, it just looked rediculous. Anyone recommend any certain brand?

ElliottnDeclans-mummy - 1373 days ago.
We use huggies as we found that pampers and our local supermarkets own brand just leaked constantly. We used pampers as that is what we were given at the hospital, but they leaked like crazy, then we switched to the supermarkets own brand, but they were just as bad. We then made the switch to huggies and have never looked back.

jessicagraham310 - 1373 days ago.
I am pregnant with my 3rd baby and I used cloth diapers on # 2 from the time he was 3 months old. I loved them and used them when I left the house as well as when I was home. I plan on using them on the new baby as soon as we get home from the hospital.

Bri - 1375 days ago.
cpeake - Try a different diaper brand. For me pampers leaked so badly. Huggies weren't better but then we tried the Huggies Supreme. The ones in the burgandy box/bag. They are awesome. I have found that diapers very in shapes. Many rounder babies do well with pampers and those like my son who are long and lean are better in Huggies. Huggies Supreme are a little more expesive but not by much. Safeway has sells on the all the time too. I love them. SInce we started using them we didn't have a leak again. Well, except for the occassional blowout that no diaper could contain. HAHA! Pee should be easier to contain. Also, sometime moving up a size works. Because a baby could be longer and skinnier the weight for size may not be right for your baby. If you are set on Pampers then try going up a size. Either way may help you. Good Luck!

cpeake - 1375 days ago.
I'm having an issue with my son peeing....it seems he pees right out of the diaper everytime. it just runs to his back and side. I've been using swaddlers newborn size because he is only 6pds. 14 oz. and have been trying make sure that his pp is always pointed down but nothing seems to be working. we are going through 10 onesies a DAY!! PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!

lissie *team blue* - 1417 days ago.
Pampers were the best for us for both my daugter and son.. i tried lots of brands. Sometimes when they leak it may be time to go a size up.

lissie *team blue* - 1417 days ago.
Just have to say be careful not to leave baby on changing table...I was only reaching down to get ointment and my daughter fell off! It was horrible and I am so lucky that she only had a concussion. I felt like the worst mom ever for not buckling her in..which I am sure to do now!!

DeklansMommy - 1467 days ago.
In this economy, and environmental climate, cloth diapers can be a great choice! Cloth has been made easy now, and I love it! I've already saved hundreds of dollars on diapers and wipes, and I feel like I'm doing my part to decrease waste. Think about how many diapers go into landfills from your home every month. Now multiply that times all the babies in the U.S. Yikes!! We still use Pampers at night for convenience, or in the diaper bag to go to Noni's house, but that's about it.

iamjustmeforme - 1474 days ago.
If anyone wants to order from diapers.com, use Referral Code BLIN2774 on the check out page for your first order and get $10 off!!

Bri - 1520 days ago.
Same with us. Pampers leaked out the top of my son's diapers. We use Huggies Supreme. The regular Huggies didn't work either but the gentle care and then natural fit worked perfectly. I've come to find out that it depends on the shape of your baby. Kekoa is tall and very skinny with muscular legs. I've noticed that bigger tummy babies work better with Pampers but tall babies in Huggies. Whatever works!

jenakers - 1520 days ago.
Funny Pampers always leaked for my son and they smelled funny. I use Huggies. No leaks! I guess everyone has different experiances with brands.

bamamaof4 - 1521 days ago.
I have used Pampers Swadlers from day 1!! She is 8 mon old today. We tried Huggies a few times cause we got a free try of it. IT leaked!!!! I mean BIG TIME!!! We used the Luvs cause we got a free sample, LEAKED!! She hasnt had ANY diaper rashes AT all when using Pampers. Pampers are a great price, too.

Mommyof2Kidos - 1543 days ago.
I used Pampers with my son after Huggies failed me on several occasions. My son had really fat legs so the Huggies would always leak on the sides. I would recommend trying them both and see which one works best for you.

happyforest - 1583 days ago.
so we had two leaks last night! one was in huggies and one was in luvs... i dont have a certain brand i use bc im still using all the diapers from my shower. usually we have no leaks with any so i dont know what happened...maybe just a lot of pee!?

ElliottnDeclans-mummy - 1583 days ago.
I agree with you 'imreadythistime' I had the same problem with pampers so switched to huggies and have not looked back.

ibuna-nadine - 1583 days ago.
My daughter wears MamiPoko (Japan brand). It adsorbs well

veesalazar - 1648 days ago.
Reading back there seems to be a toss up between Pampers and Huggies, anyone know if there is a poll up between the 2?

veesalazar - 1649 days ago.
Hello, I havent had my little angel yet but I had a question. I havent had a baby in the house in over 8 years and I was wondering if anyone knows of any brands out there that still make those plastic lined diapers. Ive bought Huggies and Pampers but they are both the cloth type. Does anyone know of any brand I dont even care if its generic that still makes the plastic lined type diapers??

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