If you have a friend with a baby, ask if you could practice a diaper change or two and ask them for any pointers. Or at least watch a diaper change. I was offered an opportunity by my friend BB, and I foolishly passed it up. I was nervous about holding a baby, much less, changing one's diaper! But I definitely should have tried.
The first night we had her home, my husband was changing her diaper in our bedroom. I was heading to the room and right before I opened the door, I heard "OH GOD!" LOL!! When I walked in, he was bent over her with diaper in hand saying "She won't stop! It just keeps coming!" She was projectile pooping a good several inches! Every time he would get her cleaned up, she would poop all over again! I couldn't help but laugh!! He was covered in poop and her changing table was covered in poop! After this accident, we tried several attempts to prevent that from happening again and this worked the best for us...
1. Make sure she's done! This was my husband's rule, understandably enough! In the first month, I would recommend giving her at least five minutes after you know she went, maybe even ten. On several occasions, we would hear her go, then immediately go change her. Then we would get blasted while she was unprotected on the changing table or she would get urine running up her back soaking everything in its path! As she gets older, you'll tend to know when to change as their defecation becomes more consistent. (You'll still have some accidents, but not nearly as many as in the beginning.)
2. Use an old towel for changing tables that don't really have any protection, such as the play yard or the bassinet changing tables. I fold it to provide four layers of protection and absorbency. I tried disposable waterproof pads. Waterproof, yes, but it would absorb and then run up her back. Same thing with paper towels. The best was a bath towel. Even now, each of my changing stations have a folded towel. They absorb in the same spot and don't allow the urine to travel, are reusable and easy to clean, provide a bit more cushion than the changing table provides and they also provide a warm barrier for her to lay on as opposed to the cool material of the changing table. UPDATE: 06 Mar 2013. Now that my baby girl is seven months, she no longer fits on the changing tables below and now am using her changing table/dresser with the pad and cover. I have eliminated the towel and now just use a disposable changing pad. She rarely urinates with her diaper off now, but when she has a poopy diaper, the pad protects her changing pad cover (which is white...what were we thinking!). I do cut these in half because I don't really need protection near her head and it saves some money.
3. Have all of your supplies ready to go. Fresh diaper, wipes, rash cream, baby powder. In the first two months, I would even have her clean diaper unfolded and ready to grab. As long as I had everything lined up, her changes went smoothly and quickly. Each diaper station is stocked with Desitin, baby powder, diapers, a refill pack of wipes, and a spare towel. Her wipes are in the warmer and I carry that to the station I'll be closest to most of the time. If I happen to be at the other station, I'll at least have the back up wipes.
4. Talk to your baby during the diaper change. From laying her down, to undoing the onsie, to taking off the dirty diaper, etc... It is good for them to hear your voice and they learn how to speak by hearing you speak.
5. The diaper change:
(I kept her actual diaper on and used a clean one to demonstrate.) Buckle her to changing table. While holding one leg up a little to keep bottom up, use front of dirty diaper to wipe excess poop/pee. After this initial wipe, position diaper underneath her bottom to act as a barrier for the towel from any remaining poop/pee on her bottom.
Use baby wipe(s) to clean diaper area from front to back. Place dirty wipes, dirtiest side down on the dirty diaper.
Slide diaper out of the way. Immediately place ready and unfolded diaper under bum and pull front up and over so all is covered and you are protected.
Roll the dirty diaper from the bottom towards the top, wrapping up the wipes. Pull the left tab towards middle of the rolled diaper and fasten it so it doesn't come unwrapped. Take right tab and wrap as tight as feasible around the diaper to make a dirty diaper ball and toss. We try to get them as small as possible to save room in diaper pail.
Use another clean folded diaper to fan her/his area dry. Don't forget between the cheeks. Keeping the area dry will help prevent diaper rash.
If you notice redness, apply either Desitin or baby powder. Update: So lately I've been trying to use more all natural and homemade remedies for both saving money and for better health. Here is a recipe from my friend Zoë for an all natural, homemade diaper cream:
1 cup coconut oil, 8 drops of tea tree essential oil and 8 drops of lavender essential oil.
Fasten diaper and you're good to go! This process worked the best for me. As she got older, I was able to slack on certain parts. Do what works best for you and your baby. My daughter is now four months old and this seems to work well so far. Will update as she gets older and more mobile.
6. Update: Tips on Cooperation:
Diaper changes are one of a baby's least favorite activities. If only they knew how important it is, lol! Using distractions is the best way to get their mind of the changing. And just when you find the perfect system, they'll change their minds and not like your distraction anymore leaving you trying to find something new. Here are a few things that have worked for us, at least for a few changings.
It's not always a pleasant experience to change a diaper in public when there is no place to change your baby. The worst is when you go to a restaurant that provides high chairs but not a changing table. Here are some tips to help you get through an inconvienient public diaper change.
3. Have all of your supplies ready to go. Fresh diaper, wipes, rash cream, baby powder. In the first two months, I would even have her clean diaper unfolded and ready to grab. As long as I had everything lined up, her changes went smoothly and quickly. Each diaper station is stocked with Desitin, baby powder, diapers, a refill pack of wipes, and a spare towel. Her wipes are in the warmer and I carry that to the station I'll be closest to most of the time. If I happen to be at the other station, I'll at least have the back up wipes.
4. Talk to your baby during the diaper change. From laying her down, to undoing the onsie, to taking off the dirty diaper, etc... It is good for them to hear your voice and they learn how to speak by hearing you speak.
5. The diaper change:
(I kept her actual diaper on and used a clean one to demonstrate.) Buckle her to changing table. While holding one leg up a little to keep bottom up, use front of dirty diaper to wipe excess poop/pee. After this initial wipe, position diaper underneath her bottom to act as a barrier for the towel from any remaining poop/pee on her bottom.
Slide diaper out of the way. Immediately place ready and unfolded diaper under bum and pull front up and over so all is covered and you are protected.
Roll the dirty diaper from the bottom towards the top, wrapping up the wipes. Pull the left tab towards middle of the rolled diaper and fasten it so it doesn't come unwrapped. Take right tab and wrap as tight as feasible around the diaper to make a dirty diaper ball and toss. We try to get them as small as possible to save room in diaper pail.
Use another clean folded diaper to fan her/his area dry. Don't forget between the cheeks. Keeping the area dry will help prevent diaper rash.
If you notice redness, apply either Desitin or baby powder. Update: So lately I've been trying to use more all natural and homemade remedies for both saving money and for better health. Here is a recipe from my friend Zoë for an all natural, homemade diaper cream:
1 cup coconut oil, 8 drops of tea tree essential oil and 8 drops of lavender essential oil.
Fasten diaper and you're good to go! This process worked the best for me. As she got older, I was able to slack on certain parts. Do what works best for you and your baby. My daughter is now four months old and this seems to work well so far. Will update as she gets older and more mobile.
6. Update: Tips on Cooperation:
Diaper changes are one of a baby's least favorite activities. If only they knew how important it is, lol! Using distractions is the best way to get their mind of the changing. And just when you find the perfect system, they'll change their minds and not like your distraction anymore leaving you trying to find something new. Here are a few things that have worked for us, at least for a few changings.
- Toys. Rattles, stuffed animals, any kind that young ones can hold in their hands.
- Pets. I have used this one more recently with McKayla. Not sure how well it would work for younger babies. Lately I've been restricted in lifting things so I've been doing many of her diaper changes on the floor, at pet level. She loves our animals so one day after many struggles to get her changed a thought occured to me to involve the dogs. I have one of my dogs lay down in the floor and then I ask McKayla to come lay down with the puppy. Now she does it with no issues and she just looks at the dog commenting on their facial bodyparts or how cute they are. It actually makes the task more enjoyable for me too and is definitely easier than dodging kicks to my pregnant belly. Please be safe and use your discretion when involving your pets.
- Books. Small board books are perfect for those who can grasp them.
- Sing. Sing a fun, silly, or soothing song. This worked for a little while and sporadically still does.
- Repeat after me. Have a baby who can, repeat the numbers or the alphabet to you. If they are too young, then just recite them for baby.
- Wall decals. Line the top of the changing table with wall decals. I currently have the Disney princesses and when they first went up, they worked like a charm. I would tell her their names and the color of their dresses and hair and we would count how many of them there were. Now, I'll ask her to tell me.
- Hanging Decoration. I have three paper lanterns hanging above her changing table that, again, worked well when they first went up. Taught her more about colors and counting too.
- Someone Else. Have a friend or family around? Ask them to talk or sing to her. Sometimes a voice other than yours is distraction enough. If you and they are willing, have them change them. My family/friends haven't had to fight her yet.
- Location. Try changing baby somewhere else in your house at different levels. On the bed, couch, floor, even outside if possible. Sometimes being changed somewhere new helps. Have a basket or changing organizer that has everything you need to grab on the go.
- Standing. When your child is able to stand, try changing her diaper while she stands in the floor. Not recommended for poopy diapers, but works great with peepee diapers.
It's not always a pleasant experience to change a diaper in public when there is no place to change your baby. The worst is when you go to a restaurant that provides high chairs but not a changing table. Here are some tips to help you get through an inconvienient public diaper change.
- Use your vehicle, weather permitting. I have been known to use my front seat, back seat, and trunk. Please be safe and use your discretion when changing in the trunk. If weather isn't nice, after getting the inside of your car to comfortable diaper changing conditions, do them in the seat with doors closed. Very uncomfortable for you, but if you're desperate, it can be done.
- As stated in 6 above, you can change while they stand. I have done this as privately as I could using my car doors. Or any bathroom stall will work, big ones are best.
- If your stroller will allow, do it on that. My stroller has a recline option and I've been able to change my daughter right on that at places like fairs, where there aren't many options.
- I've never really had to change her on the ground, but if you find yourself in that position, use a changing pad for comfort for baby. I've liked this one so far and have two now.
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