Nappy Changing

• A baby that needs changing
• A clean nappy
• Baby wipes
• Nappy rash prevention cream (were necessary)
• Sealable plastic bag

Here are the steps to changing a nappy:

1. Bring all the above ingredients (I mean the above items and baby) together on a changing mat if you do to have a changing mat then you can use a carpeted floor after you lay a clean towel. Changing a baby on the floor is actually a good idea as a good idea as it eliminates the possibilities of your baby falling on the floor which is quite a common baby injury. Obviously, the area you are changing the baby should be not too cold or too warm but just right (for baby bear!). This will help keep the baby as comfortable as possible for this unpleasant procedure. One thing you should not do is leave the baby alone not even for a moment as anything unthinkable could happen to the baby. Remove all clothing that would you from removing the nappy.
2. Get a new clean nappy and open it up and place it under the existing soiled nappy and make sure its the right way around. Unstrap the dirty nappy keeping your baby's legs horizontal. Ensuring that your baby's bottom is still to the back of the dirty nappy, unfold the front of the nappy towards his feet and this is where you should stand too.
3. Carefully grab the ankles of your bay and lift his legs up to a vertically position and so the baby's bottom is a couple of inches from the table or floor. From this position you should start cleaning the nappy area of your child making sure you clean in the baby's various folds of skin
4. Take some fresh baby wipes and continue cleaning everywhere that needs cleaning, and to prevent or minimise genital infection you should wipe front to back
5. Once you are sure that you have cleaned everywhere, and apply nappy rash on any nappy rash areas. you can now lower the baby's bottom onto the new clean nappy then start sticking the nappy straps together making sure not to tight it too much. Check the edges around nappy so that it is fitted corrected so to help prevent leakage. Then quickly seal up the dirty nappy and place in a plastic bag to discard.
6. Start putting back your baby's clothes to replace that was taken off.
7. Finally, and importantly wash your hands and do a check to see if there your nappy changing area is clean too

Video

Here are some nappy changing tips:

• Stand perpendicular to your child so that you are facing him/her
• If your baby can stand and you are confident, you can put his/her nappy on in this position
• If you are applying nappy rash cream, then as with any other topical medical cream read the label. If you find your baby is find that the nappy rash cream is not having any affect on the rash then visit your GP for advice and the possible recommendation of another cream
• Changing a nappy is usually an uncomfortable experience for a child, some ways to distract your baby is to sing, or given him/her a toy, or even talk to him/her about anything that takes your fancy
• If you do not have a changing mat, then you can use a large soft towel on laid flat on your bed or a not so cold floor
• To save on wet wipes, you could use warm wet towels. This is particular good if your child is found to be allergic to even the 'mildest' chemicals compositions found in normal wipes. You can use two wet towels, one to wipe away any stool and the other towel to finish off. Another alternative to this is to use cotton wool.
• Consider giving your child a bath if the mess is just too messy
• Babies don't like to be left naked for to long and like the warmness of their clothes, so you can use a towel to temporarily cover any exposed parts while changing a nappy
• Try not to use too much powder to dry out the nappy area as talcum powder has been reported by some researchers as being carcinogenic. The alternative to talc, is corn starch which can attract an unwanted fugal yeast infection

Nappy Changing Don'ts

• Do not leave your baby unattended, one of most common injuries for children is that they fall off a table while nappy changing was in progress
• Avoid feeding your child while you want to change his/her nappy. This is a choking hazard.
• Always reason the label for all medication which also includes nappy rash cream. Do not leave decisions entirely on the hands of your doctors as they make mistakes. So ask questions if you are not sure about anything even with the smallest details. Medical errors are unfortunately occur too often. Do not be afraid to ask for a second, third or even a forth opinion.