Pregnancy & Baby Index: Baby Newborn: Diaper Changing 101: Making it through the first week with baby
Diaper Changing 101: Making it through the first week with baby
Armin Brott
By the time your baby gets potty trained, he or she will have gone through about
10,000 diapers (more for boys than for girls, and way, way more for
twins), so the faster and more efficiently you learn to get the job
done, the less time you'll spend doing it.
Here's the short course:
1. Get everything you need ready before you start: fresh diaper, warm wipes,
and a new outfit (mostly for the baby but you might need one too
if things get messy enough).
2. Find yourself a nice, flat place to do the job. Changing tables-- or
any other sturdy table -- are great. Some changing tables come with straps
for holding the baby secure, but don't rely on them -- make sure you keep
at least one hand on your baby at all times. Newborns are surprisingly
strong -- and clever too -- and she'll pick the precise second you chose to
turn around to propel herself over the edge. The floor is probably the
safest spot since there's no possibility of the baby falling, but it can
be hard on the back.
3. Undress the baby enough to slip the legs out. Be sure to take the
baby's socks, if any, off. Babies love to kick their legs around while
they're being changed and have an uncanny ability to drag their feet
through their own poop.
4. Lay the baby face up on the changing surface. Some babies absolutely
love having their diapers changed and are perfectly calm throughout the
whole process. Others will kick, squirm, bounce and scream. If
your baby is less than thrilled to be there, hanging a mobile right
above the changing surface might provide enough distraction for you to
do what you need to do.
5. Open a clean diaper and place it underneath the baby. Then, unfasten
the old one, lift the baby's bottom up by lifting her ankles, and pull the dirty diaper
out. Be sure to immediately cover the baby's genitals with a towel or
diaper. This isn't for modesty purposes; it's to keep you dry when
the sudden rush of fresh air on your baby's crotch causes him or her to
spray you.
6. Clean the bottom and genitals well -- if there's a clean spot on the old
diaper, use that to make a first pass. For girls, wipe from front to
back to minimize the possibility of infection-causing bacteria getting
into the vagina. For boys, clean under the scrotum. Keep a gentle but
firm grip on your baby's ankles until you're through with step 8.
7. Put
on diaper rash cream, but only if you really need to. Skip the
lotions for the first few weeks (again, too harsh) and never, ever use
powders. Besides being carcinogens, they can damage the lungs if
inhaled.
8. Slide a clean diaper under the baby and fold down the front
edge so it doesn't rub against the cord stump. If the baby pees or poops into
the new, clean diaper, repeat steps 4, 5 and 6.
9. Fasten the diaper-- snug but still loose enough so it doesn't pinch the
skin.
10. Wash up -- your hands and the baby's feet, if necessary. I've found
that keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer is great if you aren't
near running water.
11. Get the baby dressed.
Changing diapers is an acquired skill. In just a few days you'll be able to do it with your eyes closed. (On second thought...)