If you can change your baby properly, it will be much easier for you as a parent. Because in the first month alone, this task occurs about 300 times. On this page you will get your most burning questions answered, learn how to deal with diapering problems and what you really need for diapering.
How often should diapers be changed?
To avoid unpleasant diaper rash, it’s better to change your baby too often than too infrequently.
In any case, you should always change your baby when the diaper is full. With a modern disposable diaper it is difficult to tell when it is wet. With cloth or gauze diapers, a full diaper is more noticeable. You should not wait until a wet spot appears on your baby’s clothes.
You will soon have experience of what a full diaper feels like. The weight is clearly different from that of an empty diaper.
Right after feeding is also a good time to change diapers. Feeding is reflexively accompanied by increased bowel activity and consequent excretion in babies.
How often should you swaddle a newborn baby?
Even with newborns, the 2-hour rule can be applied with a clear conscience. So, change every two hours – if the diaper before that is full, then immediately.
Where is the best place to change diapers?
For diapering, it is preferable to choose a pleasantly warm place with a firm but soft base.
Of course, a special changing table is particularly recommendable. In its drawers, the diaper changing accessories can be conveniently stored. But also a chest of drawers or a fixed table with a changing pad are good. In the best case, the changing mat is at hip height.
If your house or apartment has several floors, there should be a changing facility on each floor.
Diapering on the washer/dryer: A washing machine or dryer can also be used as a changing table. There are special changing tables with raised edges and a soft changing mat. These changing tops are designed to be firmly attached to the washing machine.
Where to change baby on the way?
Parents should have a well-stocked diaper bag for outings. There should also be a changing mat or blanket in case there is no bathroom with a changing area available.
At the park: Here, the changing mat can be placed on the lawn and diapered on it. This is not comfortable for the baby or for you as a parent, but it is possible in exceptional cases.
In the stroller: If you fold back the backrest, the stroller can also be used as a changing table in an emergency. Remember to tighten the brake in front of it.
Such folding changing facilities can be found in many public toilets.
In a public toilet: The toilet with the lid closed can function as a changing table in an emergency. It is important to put a changing mat underneath and/ or use disinfectant spray to ensure hygiene.
On the plane: On long-haul flights, a diaper-changing facility is located in the on-board lavatory. This is usually a folding changing table that is attached to the wall. However, most of the time this is so small that diapering becomes a real challenge with larger children. But we parents have managed quite differently, haven’t we?
On the train: In German long-distance trains, there is always a changing table in the toilet next to the on-board bistro. If necessary, the changing table is also located in the handicapped restroom. This is rarely available on local trains.
Where to change at night?
Don’t use too much light at night when changing diapers. Too much running around or noise also makes it harder for the baby to settle down after changing.
Therefore, in the best case, a changing facility is located directly in the bedroom or in the room next to it. Install a lamp with mild, warm light for nighttime diapering.
Should you change your baby at night?
In the beginning, young parents often ask themselves whether they should change their baby at night or let him sleep.
Since both your baby and yourself need sleep urgently, you should avoid changing diapers at night if possible. However, there are a few instances when you should change your baby at night:
- If your baby is obviously uncomfortable and starts crying, consider a diaper change.
- After a bowel movement, a diaper should be changed at night to avoid diaper rash.
- If there is only urine in the diaper, you should not wake up your baby to change it. Exception: Your baby already suffers from diaper rash.
- If the clothes are wet (in case of cloth diapers) you should change your baby also at night.
Before changing: Everything ready to hand?
Babies should never be left alone on the changing table under any circumstances. Therefore, it is essential to have all the items needed for diapering at hand. Here are the most important items you need to change your baby’s diaper.
Our guides in the area of diapering:
Changing babies correctly: Instructions in 3 steps
1. Step: Clean the baby
Thorough cleaning is critical for infection prevention and excellent hygiene. Therefore, we would like to give you some tips for effective cleaning when changing diapers.
Be aware that baby skin is much thinner and therefore more sensitive than adult skin.
- Open the diaper. Take both legs of the baby in one hand and lift the bottom slightly.
- Remove the coarse stool with the clean part of the diaper. Wiping from front to back.
- put the diaper aside and take baby washcloth, cotton balls or wet wipe to hand.
- Wipe the entire bottom and genitals carefully but gently. For girls, don’t forget the area between the labia, and for boys, don’t forget the area between the scrotum and the thigh. Always wipe from front to back.
- Turn baby to the side to be able to clean the crevice on the bottom as well.
- Dry the bottom and genitals well or let them air dry. Do not blow dry!
With the help of a video, the correct cleaning during diapering is once again clear: