Changing a Diaper

You can be changing baby diapers like pro in no time! Remember to gather everything you need to change your baby, ie. Clean diaper, wipes, rash guard, burp cloth. It is extremely important never to leave your baby unattended on the changing table, even for a moment.

For Disposable Diapers:

Lay the baby down flat on her back. If you are using a changing table, secure baby in straps to prevent him/her from falling off. Remove baby's clothes from waist down. Be sure, for safetys sake, to take them off completely and not just pull them down. Unfasten the soiled baby diaper. Don't remove from baby's bottom just yet - this will prevent from sudden accidents. Place a burp cloth over baby, especially when changing little boys. Take a wipe and clean the whole diaper area. Be sure to clean from front to back to avoid bacteria from spreading. Also take one hand and gently spread any folds open and clean with the wipe.

Open the new baby diaper. Gently lift baby's legs with your hands. Remove the old baby diaper, fasten closed, and dispose of in your diaper machine, or the trash. Place the clean diaper under the baby. The side with tape should go under baby's bottom. Take the rash guard and apply evenly to baby's bottom. This will help prevent from diaper rash in the future. Next, pull front of diaper through baby's legs with one hand and with the other hold it down on baby's stomach. Now, tape one side with one hand, and then tape the other side. You should be able to place two fingers inside the top of the baby diaper. This way you can tell if the diaper is too loose or too tight. Adjust accordingly if this is the case.

For Cloth Baby Diapers:

Lay the baby down flat on her back. If you are using a changing table, secure baby in straps to prevent him/her from falling off. Be sure, for safetys sake, to take them off completely and not just pull them down. Unattach the soiled baby diaper. Don't remove from baby's bottom just yet-this will prevent from sudden accidents. Place burp cloth over baby, especially when changing little boys. Take wipe and begin to clean the diaper area. Be sure to clean from front to back to avoid bacteria from spreading. Also take one hand and gently spread any folds and clean with wipe.

Folding and Attaching a Cloth Diaper:

There are several ways to fold cloth diapers as well as many ways to attach them. If the idea of a diaper pin frightens you, as it does many people, there are many ways to fasten diapers, such as Velcro or snaps. The msot popular method of folding a cloth diaper on a baby is the triangle method. Gently lift baby's legs. Remove old baby diaper and place clean one under baby. Take rash guard and apply evenly to baby's bottom. Attach cloth baby diaper with diaper pin or Velcro.