Ling’s Guide to Changing Diapers!

For many new moms and dads, changing diaper is a breeze after a few practices. :) Babies, like us, like to be clean. Nobody wants to sit or move around in his/her poo. And babies almost always cry to get our attention when they soil their diapers. They are actually saying, “This is so uncomfortable, hur hur *cry cry*, someone please relieve me.”

I usually change Hannah’s diaper before each feed. But in the early days, I would change diaper during a feed as a means to wake her up. Babies are normally sleepy in their first few weeks of life.

Okies, here’s how I do a diaper change with Hannah:

1) Wash my hands first before placing the baby on the changing table. Note: NEVER leave the baby unattended on the changing table.

2) Fish out a clean diaper and open its ‘wings’. Leave it aside for use later.

3) Unfasten the old diaper but do not remove it yet. Leave the baby’s buttocks sitting on it.

4) Use one clean wet wipe to wipe down (especially important for girls – wiping upwards will spread the germs from the anal opening to the urethral opening, err the ‘wee wee’ opening. You don’t want your baby to get urinary tract infection.) the genital areas first and then use the other part of the wet wipe to wipe down surrounding areas including the buttocks. If the baby has defecated, more wet wipes will be required to clean up the genital areas thoroughly. Diaper rash can develop if bits of faeces are left on the skin. I always open the folds of the genitals to check and clean. (Note: Do this gently as babies’ skin is still very delicate) For boys, place a cloth or tissue paper on his penis while cleaning just in case he sends out a projectile at you or elsewhere! You don’t want that to happen especially when you’re changing his diaper out of your home.

5) With one hand, hold the baby’s legs together and pull them up GENTLY while with the other hand wrap up the used wet wipe(s) in the used diaper and dispose them into a covered bin. (I clear the diaper bin every night after the last diaper change.)

6) Place the clean diaper underneath the baby’s buttocks quickly (she might pee or poop during this time).

7) Dispense some diaper rash cream onto the back of one hand.

8) Apply the cream, starting with the genital area in the downward manner.

9) Spread the remaining cream around the genital area and including the buttocks. If there bits of cream left, I’d wipe it off onto the diaper.

10) Bring up the upper half of diaper and adjust until it is at about the same height as the lower half.

11) Secure the diaper using the velcro/sticky strips on the ‘wings’. The diaper should neither wrap the baby too loosely nor tightly.

12) Ensure that the side gathers at the legs are facing outwards.

13) *Pulls mommy’s hair* “Thank you for making me clean and comfortable, mommy!” :)