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When you have a baby one of the first things you will have to do as a parent is to change its diaper. The first time changing a diaper can be nerve-wracking. Luckily, your baby will give you plenty of chances to practice.
Preparation is your best friend when it comes to changing diapers. The more chances you get to change a diaper, the more these will come second nature to you.
In this article, we’ll go over what you’ll need, how to change the diaper, and some helpful tips to help keep the mess to a minimum.
Diaper Changing Supplies
No matter what age your baby is when you are changing their diaper, there are a few essentials you’ll need to prepare.
- Changing area
- A diaper changing area can be anywhere from a changing table in your home to a Towel on the floor. Regardless of where you decide to change your baby, you always want to make sure they are on a relatively flat surface so they don’t slide everywhere.
- A flat surface like a changing table or a bed makes it easier for you to maneuver the way necessary to get your baby all cleaned and changed.
- For travel, a foldable changing mat works wonders since you can place it anywhere while keeping your baby and their bum sanitary. This one even has storage so you can keep all your supplies in one place.
- Diaper
- There are so many diaper Brands on the market nowadays, but you just have to choose one that works for you and your little one.
- Keep in mind some diaper brands cause irritation on your baby’s skin and some will just be leaky all the time. This is why it’s good to try many different brands at first until you find the one that fits your lifestyle.
- Wipes
- Wipe warmers” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener sponsored nofollow”>Wipe warmers are also helpful for changing diapers on newborn babies. Wipes get cold no matter where you keep them. The wipe warmer will keep them warm for when it’s time to change your newborn’s diaper. As your baby gets older, they will get used to the cold feeling on their bum and it won’t bother them as much.
- Diaper/rash cream.
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- There are plenty of diaper changes you’ll have that aren’t messy and clean-up will be simple. Regardless of what kind of dirty diaper you’re changing, you want to keep a waste bin or disposal area nearby.
- This could be as simple as a trashcan, a trash bag, or even a diaper genie. Disposing of your baby’s dirty diaper properly will reduce odors and keep potential messes to a minimum.
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Although some of these items are optional as needed, they are always good to have handy, especially if you’re going to be away from home.
5 Steps to Change a Diaper
Step 1 Undress your baby from the bottom down.
When changing your baby’s diaper, taking off and putting on their clothes is about half of the process, especially when you have a delicate newborn or a wiggly toddler. Undressing your baby from the bottom down makes it easier to get them back into their clothes afterward.
Some clothes make it easy to change diapers like the onesies that button on the bottom.
No matter what you choose to do, always make sure you clear any clothing from under the baby’s bum to make sure you avoid any messes on their clothes.
Step 2 Unfasten the dirty diaper
Once you unfasten the diaper you’ll want to hold the diaper in place since your baby will be squirming around.
This will keep any surprise messes from your baby in the diaper.
Keep covering the diaper in place until you have your wipe prepared.
Step 3 Wipe your baby’s bum clean
This is the most important part of changing your baby’s diaper!
Giving your baby clean skin is the whole point of starting this adventure in the first place.
The best way to wipe a baby with female anatomy is to go from front to back. You’ll want to make sure you clean the vulva and try to avoid stool getting to the vagina.
For babies with Male anatomy, you’ll want to wipe down their genitals to make sure no urine residue stays on them.
Place the dirty wipes in the dirty diaper for easy disposal. Make sure you keep these far away from the baby’s reach to avoid a mess.
Step 4 Put a fresh diaper under your baby
At this point, you’ll need to open up the clean diaper(if you haven’t already). Lift your baby’s bottom to slide the clean diaper underneath them.
Now’s the time to add your rash creams or diaper barriers.
Cover your baby up with the diaper and fasten it using the velcro straps.
These fasteners work well to keep the diaper on your baby so there is no need to make it too tight.
You can test the tightness by feeling the tension under the straps. You should comfortably be able to place 2 fingers underneath without much effort.
Tip for boys, point the penis down before placing the diaper on so that you can avoid leaks.
Make sure the diaper is put on correctly before moving on to the next step.
Step 5 Dispose of the dirty diaper
Roll up the dirty diaper from front to back and fasten it closed using the velcro straps. Throw that thing away!
Using small bags or even diaper genies will help eliminate odors that linger.
Now you can get your baby all dressed up and they’re good to go!
How to hold a baby’s legs when changing a diaper
The position of your child when changing their diaper is one of the most important things to perfect and make your experience easier and better.
You’ll want to make sure your baby is on a flat surface like a changing table or changing mat. It’s easiest to change a diaper when the baby is at stomach height or lower.
You’ll want to get into a position where you can hold the baby’s legs with one hand.
To do this, you’ll put one ankle in between the thumb and index finger of your non-dominant hadn’t and hold the other ankle between your index finger and the rest of your fingers.
The reason you need to do this with one hand is that you’ll need the other hand free to wipe and set the clean diaper in the proper position.
How often should you change a baby’s diaper?
The number of times you change a baby’s diaper depends on the baby’s urination and bowel movements.
For newborns, I find it easiest to change their diapers right when they wake up from a nap and before feeding.
This allows the baby to have a fresh diaper in case they fall asleep during a feeding.
As babies get older, you’ll change them less frequently since they’ll have more control of their bladder and bowel movements.
How to tell if a baby needs a diaper change
Most diapers now have a line or other indicator to show that the diaper is soiled. This looks like a blue line or some kind of design that will change colors when wet.
You can also tell when a diaper needs to be changed by feeling the front of the diaper. Diapers have a substance in them that absorbs moisture and turns into a gel. If the diaper is soiled with urine, it will become squishy.
Another way you can tell if a diaper needs changing is by SMELL of course. If a baby goes number 2 in their diaper you should always try to change them right away to avoid any rashes, other skin irritations, or infections.
How to change a diaper on a toddler
Changing a diaper on a toddler is a whole different ball game than changing a newborn.
For one, toddlers are capable of moving around more, throwing tantrums, and fighting the diaper change.
You’ll follow the same steps mentioned above, but to make diaper changes a little easier you can distract them with their favorite show or small toy.
It’s always best to try to make diaper changes pleasant for them when they’re smaller so that they don’t end up hating it later.
How to change a diaper on a plane
Traveling with a baby is a daunting experience. There are so many things to think about and plan on a trip, especially if you’re traveling with a baby.
One thing you’ll want to prepare for is changing a diaper on a plane. How is this even possible? Planes are small, cramped, and crowded. Well, there’s always a way for us parents to manage.
Here are some tips on changing a diaper on a plane.
Tip 1 Change your baby’s diaper right before boarding the plane
This will keep your baby’s diaper fresh as long as possible.
Decrease the chance of having to even change them? Why not!
Tip 2 Most planes have changing tables
Check with your flight attendants to see if they have any changing areas available.
Most airplanes for long travel have changing tables in the bathrooms.
Usually, they’re right above the toilet and fold down, just like the ones found in public restrooms.
Tip 3 Pack your diaper changing supplies in one easy-to-carry bag
Planes are crowded enough. When your baby leaves you a little surprise in their diaper you’ll want to carry them easily along with the diaper changing supplies.
Keeping everything in one bag will make it easily accessible and easy to carry in case you need to take them to the restroom to change.
Tip 4 Bring diaper disposal bags
Odors linger on an airplane. The last thing you want is to dispose of a dirty diaper in the airplane lavatory and stink up the whole area.
This is where diaper disposal bags come in handy. Use them to prevent odors from traveling around the plane.
Tip 5 Change the baby in your lap
If all options fail, you can always try to change a diaper in your lap. This is why it’s always good to carry a changing mat so that you can change anywhere and anytime.
Conclusion
Changing your baby’s diaper will come second nature to you once you do it enough. Hopefully, this guide walks you through all the steps to changing them successfully with little to no messes.
Remember that every baby is different and you’ll find your parenting/diaper-changing style once you get the hang of it. This step-by-step article is not a set-in-stone way to change a diaper so alter it in a way that works for you.