Are You Prepared To Change A Dirty Diaper?

As we all know, this subject is something that we could all use a little education on no matter who you are.

When to change a diaper may not appear like an issue necessary to be asked by any thinking person. However, smell or leaking may be veiled by super-absorbent diapers, and newborn’s poop generally doesn’t smell greatly. Letting wet diapers go unchanged until fully drenched increases the risk of diaper rash and discomfort, not to state leaks onto clothing and bedding. Letting soiled diapers go unchanged too long can mean a harshly irritated bottom that may need a doctor’s call.

Put your baby down and peep into the diaper leg openings sometimes. Diapers may require to be changed every time the baby eats (delay until afterward, unless your baby will not eat or cuddle until he or she is clean and dry), which can be every two hours, more or less, for newborns.

Typically 10-12 diaper changes a day is the most a newborn will require (if the baby is wetting less than eight or so a day, call the pediatrician, as dehydration may be a serious concern). Anywhere from eight to 20 diaper changes per day may be common for a newborn; with cloth diapers, which can’t hide as much liquid, it’ll be near the more-frequent end of that scale.

Diapers can, and will, require to be changed in many public spaces. At home, it’s easiest to have a changing area at waist height where everything is within reach for the parent. If you are buying a changing table, buy one with a barrier about five or six-inches high that goes all around the pad so the baby can’t roll off (they squiggle around more as they get older).

If you don’t have a changing table, or are concerned about the baby flipping off it, use the ground, covered with a waterproof changing pad. Don’t use the dining room or kitchen table unless you are ready to disinfect it after every change.

In public, not every restroom has a diaper changing “station.” But they should. Find a large, flat surface (or the floor) and cover it with your waterproof changing pad (which often comes with the diaper bag you bought). You can also buy waterproof pads, usually flannel-backed, separately. Or use clean diapers or receiving blankets in a pinch. You may desire to carry plastic bags into which dirty changing pads, diapers and diaper wraps can go until you get home.

Assemble everything you need within arm’s length before undoing the dirty diaper. For the first month, you’ll only need:

1. A clean diaper, pins and (optional) cloth diaper cover and, if the diaper leaked, change of clothes.

2. Lukewarm water and cotton balls (square or circular cotton pads may work better) or soft paper towels for washing.

3. A small dry towel or washcloth for drying.

4. Something on which to lay the baby, such as a changing cloth or clean diaper.

Place the baby face up on a changing table or clean surface, or on a diaper changing pad on the ground. Strap the baby in on the changing table or keep one hand on the baby at all times (although they can’t yet turn over, their bouncy motions can be enough to hoist themselves off anything you’ve placed them on).

With your free hand, detach the pins or tabs of the soiled diaper. Grasp the baby’s feet in one hand and lift the baby’s bottom off the dirty diaper. If there’s stool there, use wet cotton balls or pads to clean it off. If you’re using disposables, drop the dirt/pads onto the open diaper; with cloth diapers, drop the dirty pads on a tissue.

After the baby is cleansed, fold the dirty diaper and remove it immediately, or baby’s feet may kick into it. If the diaper is only wet, you may want to fold the front part of the wet diaper under the baby’s bottom (so the outside is under his/her bottom). Let go of the baby’s feet and clean the baby with a wet cotton ball or pad.

Whichever way, after cleaning, dry the baby off with cotton balls or pads or fragrance-free, white toilet tissue. Make certain to get in the skin folds between legs and torso. (You can air-dry if you want to take the risk of being wet or pooped on.)

Raise baby by the feet again and slide the new, clean diaper under his or her bottom. Attach the new diaper. Dirty disposable diapers should be folded so all fecal substance and urine is enclosed inside. Place them in a lined garbage pail (emptied frequently; it can go a day or two if you have a deodorant cake in the container).

Home-laundered cloth diapers should be rinsed out in the toilet if there is a stool. While directions say to “shake off any stool into the toilet,” you’ll quickly find that newborn stool isn’t shake-off-able (and possibly won’t be until he or she eats solids, at four months or later).

Instead, keep a pair of rubber gloves close just for this use, or buy a unique pair of diaper tongs available in baby supply catalogs. Give the diaper a good dunking in the toilet, or even immerse it there. Then grasp onto the diaper and flush the toilet so the diaper is rinsed in the clear water filling up the tank. If the diaper is only wet, wash it in either the toilet or sink, and wring it out.

Then place the diaper in an enclosed soaking pail. Make sure the diaper container is tightly covered as children can drown in only a little water. Most diaper services no longer require that their cloth diapers be rinsed. Instead, they offer a lined pail in which to place dirty diapers until pick-up. Cleanse your hands! Baby poop doesn’t come off just by rinsing – you must use soap and scrub.

When we learn, we continue on a path of growth. Therefore, learning about this subject has already helped you more than you know.