Changing a diaper isn’t typically one of the major things most new parents worry about before having a baby. Sure, you might never have done it before, but after a few attempts, how hard can it be?
Well, there's certainly a ‘knack’ to diaper changing and it doesn’t always come instantly.
A tiny baby can wriggle about when you’re trying to get them out of their dirty diaper. Simultaneously, with the challenge of making sure they don’t fall off the changing table, things can get pretty complicated.
Knowing how often to change their diaper can be a bit of a minefield too, especially when you need to change a diaper while you’re out and about with your little one.
Here at WaterWipes, we want to help make diaper changing simple for first-time parents. So, we’ve put together this useful guide which includes useful tips on when to change a diaper, looking out for sensitive skin, along with some guidance on diaper changes at home and in public.
- What do you need to change a newborn baby's diaper?
- How to change a newborn baby’s diaper
- Diaper changing tips
- How often should you change a newborn baby's diaper?
- Dealing with sensitive bottoms
- How to tell if your baby has a diaper rash
- How to change a diaper in public
- Key Takeaways
FAQs
What do you need to change a newborn baby's diaper?
Before you begin, it’s important to make sure you have everything you need to change your baby’s diaper. Here’s a list of essential supplies you’ll need:
- Mat or towel for the baby to lie on.
- Barrier cream to protect your baby’s skin.
- Clean diaper (including liner and cover if applicable) for the baby to wear.
- Plastic bag or bucket for the dirty diaper.
- WaterWipes to use when diaper changing.
- A clean change of clothes. Your baby could get dirty during changing.
How to change a newborn baby's diaper
Feeling daunted and unsure how to change a newborn baby’s diaper? We’ve created some easy-to-follow steps for first-time parents to make that first diaper change a success.
Step 1. Wash your hands
Ensure your hands are clean before you begin by washing them with soap and water. You can also use hand sanitizer if you're changing a diaper in public.
Step 2. Lay your baby down and gather the essential supplies
Lay your baby on their changing mat and ensure the essential supplies are within arm's reach.
Step 3. Unfasten the dirty diaper
Unstick the diaper's tabs then lift your baby's bottom – you can hold them by their ankles and slide the dirty diaper out.
Step 4. Clean your baby
Take some time to give your baby a good clean with a WaterWipe. When cleaning a girl, make sure to wipe from front to back to avoid getting poop in the vaginal area. When cleaning a boy, keep his private area covered with a WaterWipe or a clean diaper to stop a fountain of pee. Ensure excess water is removed from your baby's private area to prevent skin irritation when putting on a new diaper.
If it is a wet diaper, you should fold the dirty diaper underneath your baby, so the clean side is now under your baby’s bottom, and wipe the area. If it is a poopy diaper, wipe as much as possible with the diaper itself then fold it underneath. Then lift the baby’s legs and clean its front with WaterWipes, then lift both legs and clean your baby’s bottom.
Step 5. Slide a new diaper under your baby
Lift your baby again and slide a new diaper under them, ready to fasten.
Step 6. Apply any necessary cream or ointment
If your baby has a diaper rash, you may need to apply ointment or cream to treat this. Apply just a thin layer to make sure their skin can still breathe.
Step 7. Close and seal the diaper then wash your hands
When you're finished, pull the diaper closed, stick its tabs down, and properly dispose of the dirty diaper. The easiest way is to flush any diaper poop in the toilet, before wrapping up the dirty diaper, sealing it in a plastic bag or container, and putting it in the trash. Then, wash your hands.
Your baby is clean and ready to go...until the next change! Now you know how to change a newborn baby’s diaper, read on to discover our diaper changing suggestions to help make that next diaper change even easier.
Diaper changing tips
Whether you're at home, in a coffee shop, or at the park, you’ll always need to be ready to change your baby's diaper. As a new parent, having either never changed diapers before or only changing a few - having top tips to rely on can be super helpful.
Here are our top tips for changing a diaper:
- Hold their feet - When changing a little one, gently hold their feet in one of your hands. Babies wriggle so they can kick and poop and leave you with a bigger clean-up job.
- Cover their private area - Baby boys can be known to pee as soon as their diaper comes off. To prevent accidents, cover the baby boy’s private are with a wipe when changing their diaper, so it doesn’t go everywhere (or even worse, hit you straight in the face).
- Use envelope body suits - If your baby’s poop leaks onto their body suit, pulling it over the body can spread it up their back. Envelope neck vests stretch over your baby’s shoulders so you can pull them down and off their body easily.
- Distract them - When your baby is old enough to hold something, hand something over to distract them – like a small toy that's kept in your changing bag. Whatever gives you enough time to get the job done!
- Be thorough - Use WaterWipes to clean the entire area – this includes the front and back and in the inner creases of your baby's groin – as any residue left behind can cause a diaper rash.
- Keep diapers out of reach - When you take a dirty diaper off, put it out of the way – babies can reach pretty far, and a little hand covered in poop is the last thing you need.
- Check your bag - Always check your changing bag before you leave the house. Make sure you have a good chunk of diapers and WaterWipes. Check out our baby bag checklist for further items to include.
How often should you change a newborn baby's diaper?
There is a lot to consider when you have a newborn and knowing how often to change a newborn baby's diaper might be a little tricky. You will eventually learn your baby's needs and when they need a diaper change. However, here are some general times to consider changing their diaper:
- After every feed
- As soon as they’ve done a poop
Once your little one can sleep through the night, well-padded diapers should last 12 hours so you won’t need to worry about changing again until morning!
