How to Change a Diaper

Ah, the diaper change—a task that inspires fear in the hearts of men, and women too. Whether you have a new baby or are babysitting for a (very dear) friend, you'll want to know the ins and outs of changing a diaper properly. Overall, it's most important to be prepared: Have supplies at the ready and don't be shocked if a little spray comes your way. It's not his fault. Messes can always be cleaned up, and parents and babysitters alike are allowed to wash their hands as many times as they like. The important task is to get babies clean, dried, and soothed, all while keeping them safe.

Keep reading to learn the correct technique for changing a baby and the supplies you'll need before getting started. There's no time like the present to learn this crucial skill, as you'll soon be changing your baby every two to three hours or more! Follow these tips below to learn how to change a diaper like a pro.

• Before grabbing that little baby of yours, make sure you have everything you need.

Gather up all the required equipment ahead of time, so you aren't leaving baby alone on a changing table while you run to grab the baby wipes. Place all the supplies within easy reach so that you don't have to turn around or take your eyes off of the baby. Safety first!

You will need:

1. A fresh diaper (or two just in case)
2. Wet-wipes and/or wet washcloth
3. Dry towel
4. Diaper rash cream or ointment if necessary
5. Baby powder if necessary and approved by your pediatrician
6. A safe, flat surface (a changing table, your bed, the floor) and changing pad if not using a changing table
7. Somewhere to ditch the dirty diaper (recycled plastic grocery bags can be reused for this purpose!)

And, finally, be prepared to give baby an impromptu bath if things get really messy. This will be easier than going through a can of wet-wipes. When caring for a baby long-term, it is never a bad idea to have towels, washcloths, and soap on-hand next to the tub for just such urgent washing needs.

• It's time to get started, so place baby in the horizontal position.

1. Put down a clean towel or changing pad on a sturdy surface before laying down your baby.
2. Lay your baby down and secure the safety straps, if your changing table has them.
3. Make sure your baby is facing tummy-side up.
4. Remove any clothing that will get in the way of the diaper change. Be sure to set the outfit bottoms (if detachable) out of babies reach, and well out of range of messes. If the outfit is one piece, take care to tuck the outfit well out of the diaper region. Special Tip: Don't forget to remove socks! Babies' feet have a way of squirming right into a diaper mess in the blink of an eye.
5. You may want to put a blanket over your baby to keep him/her warm, and try singing or talking to keep tears away.
6. For somewhat "older" babies, have them hold a toy or stuffed animal to remain distracted from the diaper-change process. Baby-safe mirrors next to the changing area can provide a welcome distraction for infants.

• In with the new, and out with the old.

1. Unfold the new diaper and place it beneath your baby. If there are pictures on the diaper, they usually go in front.
2. If you are using a changing pad or towel that you don't mind getting dirty, consider removing the dirty diaper first before putting down a clean one.
3. Unfasten the old diaper.
4. Carefully grab your baby's feet together and lift them up so you can remove the old diaper, using the still-clean section to clean up any excess stool.
5. Clean the baby's diaper area with a wet-wipe or warm washcloth, being sure to get in between all of baby's skin folds. It may take four to six wet-wipes to clean] up after a really dirty diaper. Remember that, especially if you are cleaning a baby girl, you should wipe down toward the back, never up toward the vaginal area. This prevents bacteria from getting into the vaginal or urinary area.
6. You'll need to keep baby lifted slightly to clean him or her thoroughly. And don't forget the lower back, and the sides of the butt cheeks.
7. Now lower baby back down onto the fresh diaper beneath, which should be at the same level as the baby's belly button in the back.
8. If you have a brand new baby and are not using specified "newborn diapers," you'll need to fold down the top part of the front of the diaper to leave room for the umbilical cord remaining.
9. If your baby suffers from diaper rash or other skin irritation, this is your opportunity to apply any diaper creams, ointments, powders, etc.
10. Bring the front of the diaper through your baby's legs and fasten firmly.
11. The diaper should fit snugly but not too tight;make sure you can place two fingers underneath the top part of the diaper. If at first the fit is not quite right, most disposable diapers can be undone and refastened again.
12. At this point, you can put baby's clothes back on and start having some fun again.

• If you're changing a girl, be sure to wipe front to back, from the vagina towards the bottom, so as not to spread bacteria. If you are changing a diaper with somewhat looser stool, be sure to check the vaginal opening to make sure it isn't soiled. Leaving fecal matter can lead to infections and discomfort.

• If you're changing a boy, it's best to cover his penis with a towel or burp cloth to avoid unexpected sprays during the diaper changing process. Keep a towel nearby, just in case. Also be sure to clean underneath] the testicles. If your infant was recently circumcised, clean the area with soap and water at each diaper change and cover the healing area with petroleum jelly or A&D ointment, to keep the diaper from sticking to the wound.http://www.parents.com/baby/care/diapers/how-to-diaper-a-baby/

• You will not want that dirty diaper lying around any longer than it needs to!

1. Fold the dirty diaper in half and place the dirty wet-wipes inside--how efficient!
2. Re-fasten the tabs to keep the dirty diaper together, with the mess at least somewhat contained.
3. Put the dirty diaper into a plastic bag you can seal or tie together and bring it straight outside to the garbage. (Again, this is a great way to recycle plastic grocery or shopping bags.)
4. Or, try using an indoor "diaper disposal system"--basically just a trash can, likely with a lid, that will squelch diaper odors. The Diaper Genie is one popular brand. See Mahalo's Diaper Disposal System for more examples.
5. If the changing pad or towel beneath your diaper changing area has become soiled, be sure to add it to the laundry, and place a new clean one in its place for next time.
6. Be sure to wash your hands before resuming play! You might want to keep a bottle of hand-sanitizer near the changing area, so you can clean up quickly.

• Cloth diapers can be cheaper and softer, and they certainly take up less space in the landfill. If you go the cloth-diaper route, the process of fastening a new diaper will differ only slightly from the steps above.

1. Remove the diaper cover and diaper from the baby.
2. If the diaper cover has not been soiled by poop, has not gotten too wet, and hasn't been worn too many times in a row, you may reuse it a few times before laundering. In this case, set it to the side to use with the new diaper.
3. Wet cloth diapers should be set aside in a special collection area, either to be laundered at home later, or to be sent to a diaper service for laundering. Cleaning the baby should proceed as described above.
4. Soiled cloth diapers are a bit more complicated. Some moms place thin sheets, roughly the thickness of fabric softeners sheets, inside the cloth diaper as a liner. If this is the case, simply remove the liner with as much fecal matter as possible and toss in the trash. If there is no liner, do your best to empty or remove most pieces of poop into the trash. Then the soiled diaper must be prepped for laundering. Some parents opt to wash out cloth diapers from a sprayer system attached to the toilet. Most cloth diaper users will set aside soiled diapers (again, with most of the fecal matter wiped away into the trash), and will prewash them in the washing machine before cleaning with laundry soap.
5. Place a clean cloth diaper around baby's bottom as described above. Many modern cloth diapers are fastened with simple snaps. Very few cloth diapers in this day and age require complicated folding or pins.
6. To prevent leaks, most cloth diapers require a cover to place on top of the actual diaper. These are usually placed on the baby in an identical manner to diapers, and are fitted right over top of the diaper. Diaper covers come in many styles and colors, and may be fastened with either snaps or velcro. Make sure that the cover fits snugly over the diaper and (IMPORTANT!) that no bit of the cloth diaper is sticking out from underneath the cover. This will cause leaking.
7. And that's it! With clean diaper and cover in place, your baby is ready to go!

For more information about using cloth diapers, see How to Use Cloth Diapers

• Introduction
• Step 1: Prepare Your Supplies
• Step 2: Lay Baby Down
• Step 3: Change it Up
• Step 4: Ditch the Dirty Diaper
• Resources for How to Change a Diaper