Changing a baby's diaper, sometimes called a "napkin" in other countries, is nothing new for parents. Keeping an infant dry and clean is standard practice for most moms and dads. But as the diaper industry continues to evolve, so does parents' needs to keep current with the most recent trends.
Keep an adequate supply on hand. If you're using cloth diapers, you may need to wash a soiled load every day or two to ensure you have enough when needed. A baby may need a diaper change every two to four hours, especially after nursing. That could add up to between six and twelve diapers a day, so be prepared. You don't want to run out when poor baby gets an upset tummy and begins to have diarrhea.
When using commercial diapers, check the first few that you use on your infant to be sure there are no allergic reactions to the materials that make up the diaper. Redness, rash, or irritation may be signs that they are too harsh for your baby's skin type. When it's time for a diaper change, here are some tips for managing your baby's diapers.
1. Whichever type your baby wears, lay out a blanket, sheet, or clean cloth on the bed, sofa, or playpen where you wish to change the diaper. Lay the child in the middle of the blanket and unwrap her clothing to remove the diaper.
2. Use the clean part of the diaper to wipe the infant's soiled area. Then roll up the soiled diaper and set it aside.
3. Use the warm, moist washcloth that you got ready before laying the baby down and carefully wipe your baby's bottom, including the folds of skin, to ensure the entire area is clean. Allow it to air dry for a moment or two as you lay out a clean diaper. Never turn your back on a child laying on the bed or a high place, as she may roll over, fall out, and get hurt.
4. Apply baby lotion on the baby's bottom to help protect her skin against drying and getting chapped. Lifting her legs, slide the clean diaper beneath her and secure it snugly with tapes or pins, whichever you are using. Take care not to stick the baby as you fit her diaper.
Get her dressed again, changing the outfit if it has become wet or soiled during this process. Discard the rolled-up diaper if it is disposable. If using a cloth diaper, place the baby in a safe area, such as the crib, playpen, or swing, while you rinse the diaper and place it in a diaper pail or laundry room for future washing. Likewise, take the blanket that the baby laid on while being changed and put it in the laundry basket, unless you feel it can be reused. Wash and disinfect your hands.
A clean, dry baby is a happy baby, which in turn contributes to a happy mom or dad. Changing your child regularly can help to prevent diaper rash, a condition in which the skin becomes irritated from too much or too lengthy of an exposure to urine, which is like having acid on your skin. If your child should develop a rash, ask your doctor about the best medicated cream to use, such as Desitin, or whatever he or she thinks best.
