How to Change Diapers - Top Tips from a Mother of TRIPLETS

Just like a chef is well prepared with all the ingredients for a dish in advance, making it easier for him to cook the dish quickly, similarly keeping all things you need for diapering ready and handy will make your diaper changing experience quick, easy and hopefully mess free.

So before you start on How to Change Diapers, here are a list of things you need to be ready with, before your newborns diaper change:

• Diaper— Thumb Rule of Diaper Change – Make sure you have clean diapers (cloth or disposable, whichever you are using, in the right size) nearby when you are changing the baby. You don’t want to go hunting for them at the last minute.

• Diaper Wraps & Inserts—If you are using cloth diapers, keeping extra inserts is a good option. Change only the inserts if the whole diaper is not soiled. But in case the whole diaper is affected you will have to use a new diaper wrap and insert. Keep extras of both ready for such a situation.

• Diaper Cream/Natural Moisturizers—If your baby has redness or rashes using a diaper rash cream will help soothe the irritation. You may not need it always, but keep it close in case you require it. You can also try some home remedies for diaper rash to keep the rash at bay by using some natural ingredients as well. You can also refer to our post of 5 Best Diaper Rash Cream Easy to make DIY.

• Clothes—Pooplosions may cause not just a dirty diaper, but also dirty clothes. So keep a few baby clothes handy. We would actually changed our baby’s clothes after every diaper change. It really makes the baby feel fresh.

• Disposable Bag—Dirty diapers need to be thrown, so keep disposable bags ready. Ensure these a different as the diapers tend to stink a lot if directly thrown into the bin. In case you are using cloth diapers, keep a tray or basket with you. Rinse the cloth diaper insert immediately, but you can wash them later once you collect enough clothes for laundry. 

• Sanitizer—This has become THE MAGIC WORD in the Covid 19 times. Well while changing diapers it is essential for you to sanitize the changing area before and after using the changing table and changing pad ensuring the area is germ free and safe for use next time. You can also use it to sanitize your hands if needed.

• Wipes/Cloth/Cotton Balls—You need wipes to clean your baby’s tush before you can diaper them again. You can even use clean cloth or cotton balls with warm water. For babies with sensitive skin, cloth or cotton balls should be preferred over wipes as per pediatricians. Always remember wiping your baby’s bottom is the first thing to do as soon as you remove the diaper. Do it gently and wipe into the skin crevices to ensure poop or urine is removed properly.

• Warm Water—If you prefer to use cotton balls or cloth instead of wipes then you need to keep warm water ready. Water and cotton make a gentle cleaning combination. Then you can further clean away with wipes as well if needed. Remember to dry your baby’s bottom properly before you have the other diaper on.

• Changing Table/Changing Pad/Changing Mat—It is not mandatory to use changing table or pads, but if you are using them make sure you secure the baby in the straps provided and follow the instructions to secure the pad to the table. It is less tricky to change diaper of a newborn as they only wriggle a little, but once they are a few months old, they are ready to crawl and roll around. Leaving them unstrapped on the table is a disaster waiting to happen. Secure practices from the start will help you keep the baby safe. Changing mats and portable changing pads are also good options when diapering newborn especially while traveling.

• Diaper Bag— To ensure that you can promptly get on with the step by step guide on How to Change Diaper, having a diaper bag ready with the essentials listed above will help you change the baby on the go anytime, anywhere. You can use a clean towel/changing mat/portable changing pad instead of a regular changing pad when you are not at home. We had actually made a diaper basket for changing in the house and a diaper bag for changes whilst traveling or when out of home. 

• Distraction—If your baby is restless and does not stay still, keep a few toys around or a music box to distract them. You can make your own diaper change song which you could sing while diapering newborn. Over a period of time when you regulary sing the same song or tell the same story with a big smile, baby gets comfortable which eases your diaper change. You could also come up with a story like poop monster and diaper knight. Over a period of time when you regularly sing the same song or tell the same story with a big smile, baby gets comfortable which eases your diaper change. 

• Fasten the Diaper (sticky tape diaper) —Using a powder or a lotion is optional. Once you have applied the necessary things, close the diaper. Bring the front of the diaper over the belly and then open the tabs and secure them on the fastening surface of the diaper. If you do not have a special diaper for a newborn that has an umbilical cord cut out then fold the normal diaper you have so that it avoids the cord. You should be able to insert two of your fingers through the waistband comfortably to make sure the diaper is not too tight.

• Dress the Baby—If the clothes were soiled dress the baby up in fresh clean clothes. If the clothes are clean, you can dress the baby up in the same clothes. But it is a good practice to change the clothes every 5 to 6 hours. We used to generally change clothes with every diaper change, just so to freshen up the baby. 

• Throw Away Dirty Things—Make sure you throw away the used diapers, wipes, cotton balls, etc. into a diaper bin or a specific device like the diaper genie. Sanitize the changing pad and changing area for future use. These small things make a huge difference and form basic of changing a diaper. 

• Clean Hands Again—Clean both your and your baby’s hands, in case there is any ointment or poop residue left on the hands. It will prevent contamination and infection. This should be practiced with every diaper change. 

• Eat, Sleep, Diaper, Repeat—Enjoy the few hours before you have to carry out the entire process again. Changing diapers is going to be a major part of care-giving for a few years so be prepared. Remember ‘how to change diapers’ step by step like the back of your hand and you will become a pro at it in no time.