Diaper Details

Your baby’s tender skin gets a lot of wear and tear in the diaper area! Here’s how to keep it clean, dry and comfortable

By Holly Bennett

You’re probably already a diaper change pro. But here’s a reminder of the basic steps:

Have all your supplies at hand, including a change of clothing, just in case.
Open the old diaper, and if baby has soiled, use a tissue to clean the bulk of the bowel movement into the diaper. Roll it up and reseal to contain the mess.
Wash your baby’s bottom with mild soap and lukewarm water or a no-alcohol wipe and rinse thoroughly. Baby girls should be washed and dried from front to back, to prevent urinary tract infections.
If your baby is just wet, rinse the area without soap. Too much soap can dry out the skin.
Slide the new diaper under baby’s bottom, with tabs at the back.
Pat your baby’s bottom dry. Make sure the skin is completely dry, even in the creases.
Apply a thin film of petroleum jelly or zinc oxide ointment, to provide a protective water-repellent barrier on the skin.
Fasten the diaper snugly, sticking the back tabs to the front. (Cloth diapers with Velcro tabs work the same way.)
Rinse dirty cloth diapers in the toilet and store in the diaper pail until wash time. Some communities now provide recycling for disposable diapers — check with your municipality.

Some babies are extra-sensitive and prone to diaper rash. To help prevent rashes:

Keep baby as dry as possible by changing frequently. You may need to change her in the middle of the night, even if she is sleeping through.
Avoid potential irritants like scented soaps and lotions. Perfumes in disposable diapers may also cause a reaction.
Cloth diapers may retain traces of detergent or ammonia. Try adding a half cup of vinegar to the rinse.
Plastic diaper covers hold in heat; if you use cloth diapers, try breathable covers.

Diaper rash often begins as a mild redness. Left untreated, it can become very painful.

If your baby has a rash, use no soap, only lukewarm watter to wash his bottom and apply a medicated diaper rash ointment once the skin is perfectly dry.
Exposure to the air helps, so lay your baby on a towel with a bare bottom several times a day.
If the rash is very red and inflamed, or isn’t responding to your home care, see your doctor. It may be caused by a yeast infection and require special medication.

A change area on every floor of your home will save you a lot of steps. No need for two change tables, though — a contoured change pad on a dresser or a laundry basket stocked with diaper supplies, sleepers and a soft change pad will do the trick.
Have masking tape handy for refastening disposable diaper tabs that have lost their stick.
Baby boys are liable to pee as soon as the diaper is removed. Keep an extra cloth diaper or small towel handy to contain the spray.
Put an unbreakable mirror or simple black and white drawing of a face on the wall beside the change table, or hang a mobile, so your baby will have something interesting to look at while you clean him up.
As your baby grows, change time is a lovely opportunity for face-to-face play. Take time to sing a song or give your nice clean baby a shower of silly belly kisses.

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