Wash and dry your hands. If you’ve got to keep an eye on your child, use baby wipes to clean your hands. Find a comfortable surface on which to change the child’s diaper. Make sure it isn’t cold to the touch, and that you’ve got something padded like a towel or changing mat on which to put the child. If you’re out of the house, you’ll want to look a for a smooth, flat area that is large enough to change your child. Do your best to make it as private as possible and as removed from others as you can make it. Ideally, you’ll have a changing mat to make any flat surface into a suitable changing area.
Here’s what you’ll need: a new disposable diaper, baby wipes, a cover cloth (for little boys), and a change of clothes (as necessary). If your child is prone to rash, keep some petroleum jelly or diaper rash ointment handy. Keep these objects out of reach of the baby and out of the way of their feet. The last thing you’ll want is to clean up spilled baby powder after changing your child’s diaper.
If you must leave the change area for any reason before completing the change, take the child with you or ask someone else to attend to the diaper change before you walk away from the changing area. You’ll also need to keep one hand on the child at all times unless you’ve got a changing table with some sort of strap. Even if you have the strap, however, never leave the child unattended.
After laying your child down, wait for a second or two before beginning to change their diaper. They’ll usually let you know if they’re feeling uncomfortable. If you haven’t already, invest in a waterproof changing mat. They’re padded, reliable, and incredibly handy considering how often diaper changes will be repeated. If you are changing the child’s diaper on an elevated surface, keep at least 1 hand on the child at all times.
Slide the back half underneath your child’s backside and dirty diaper, up to waist height. This serves as extra padding as well as a buffer between the surface and dirty diaper. When picking up your child’s lower half, grip their ankles with 1 hand (keeping a finger in between the ankles) and lift straight up. If it seems like the dirty diaper will be an exceptional mess, consider using a clean towel or wipes under the dirty diaper and taking care of it entirely before moving on. Double-check that the clean diaper is secure and balanced on either side before moving on. It’s far easier to adjust it now than it will be later.
Open the tabs of the soiled diaper and keep them open for use once complete. Pull the front half of the soiled diaper away from the child. If your child is male, lay a clean cloth (such as a small towel or receiving blanket) over his penis to avoid any mess on either of you. [6] X Expert Source Deanna Dawson-Jesus, CD (DONA)Birth & Postpartum Doula, Childbirth, & Lactation Educator Expert Interview. 31 July 2020. Use the front half of the diaper as a wipe, and wipe from front to back if there’s any mess left behind on your child’s bottom. Before moving the diaper away from them, fold it in half so the clean side faces the baby. Use the open tabs to shut the messy diaper, forming a tidy ball. Lift the child again by their ankles and remove the soiled diaper so that any dirty portion does not touch the child. Set the diaper to the side or throw it away if you’re close enough to the receptacle.
When you wipe, do so from front to back (especially with female children) to avoid infection. Keep the child’s bottom up while you wipe off the larger bits of stool first, then wipe off the remainder of it. As you use the wipes, place the used wipes inside the soiled diaper that you just removed. Once complete, allow your baby’s skin to air dry for a minute or so. Pat them dry with a clean towel if they’re still wet after this time. To prevent rash, you may want to include some cream or petroleum jelly before fastening a new diaper.
If your child is male, direct his penis towards his feet to prevent him from urinating over the diaper and onto himself. When your child is a newborn, position the diaper so that it doesn’t cover the umbilical cord stump. There are special diapers made for newborns with folds in this specific place. Before fastening the diaper, make sure their legs are spread and there’s as much space as possible. Doing this will avoid bunching in advance.
Once they’ve got their clothing back on, check to see if they look comfortable as one last check of the diaper’s fit. Make sure their mobility is as it should be.
Wash your hands and the child’s hands with soap and water immediately afterward to rid yourselves of any lingering mess or associated bacteria.
