Changing a newborn baby’s diaper
One of the most frequent tasks that you will have to do with your newborn child is changing diapers. Here is a step by step guide.
Many people have diaper babies before becoming parents. Because of their profession, because they were his nephews, children of friends, etc. But we are not normally used to a newborn baby, since this task is almost always carried out by parents, whether they are newcomers or not, and often with the attentive gaze of grandmothers.
The newborn baby requires different care about the diaper than when they are older. We have to think that his first stools are unique, the meconium . And that they have the navel held by the clamp, which is also temporary.
Index
WHAT IS MECONIUM?
The first stools of our baby are the meconium . They are the result of their intrauterine feeding. They are very peculiar feces, due to their appearance and texture. They are very thick and sticky , very dark, black in color. As if they were a “toy”. They stain the baby’s skin a lot, as it adheres to them very easily.
The first expulsion is usually greater, then the amount decreases, until all the meconium is expelled, and then they will begin to have more liquid and yellowish stools, due to breast milk.
WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE NAVEL?
The navel is held by the clamp, but it hangs from the baby, therefore we must be careful with it. The navel should be cleaned three times a day, with 70º alcohol and sterile gauze . Morning, afternoon and night.
MECONIUM AND NAVEL CLAMP WILL AFFECT A NEWBORN’S DIAPER CHANGE
DIAPER CHANGE PREPARATIONS
Before changing our baby’s diaper, we must prepare everything necessary, as we always have to have everything at hand, so as not to leave the baby alone on the changing table. If we forget something, we must take the baby in our arms and go look for it.
We will need:
– Clean diaper.
– Warm water and sponge. Also, a small basin can be purchased just for this use. Also a soft mitt, or use the typical wipes (if you clean with wipes you must dry the area very well afterwards, as your skin is sensitive and the wipes are very wet).
– Small towel to dry the baby’s bottom after washing it.
– Protective cream for ass. There are many types, there are moisturizers for each use of the diaper, and we can also find thicker ones indicated for skin irritations in this area.
– A changing table where to put the baby on top. At home we may use the bathtub changing table, or a furniture changing table. If we are away from home, there are cotton changers, like those in the hospital, or cloth or plastic changers that fold and transport easily as they take up little space.
HOW TO CLEAN MY BABY’S BOTTOM
We remove the dirty diaper by gently lifting the baby’s legs, grasping his feet with one hand. His back is lifted a little and we can take out the dirty diaper. We leave the baby on the changing table and clean the area with the warm water sponge, we can put a little neutral soap, but very little because it is a very small area.
We lift the baby’s legs again and always gently wipe from front to back . To avoid possible infections, especially in the case of girls, although boys are also cleaned in this way. From front to back.
We must clean the folds of the groin, thighs and buttocks well , as there may be remains of urine and feces. In girls, we must clean the areas of the outer and inner lips of the vagina very well, because the poop is very liquid and there may be remains that if not cleaned carefully could cause infections.
We dry the genitals and bottom areas with a soft and single-use towel for the baby. Dry the folds of the thighs, groin and buttocks very well.
We lift the baby’s legs in the same way, and put the clean diaper underneath. We apply a little moisturizing protective cream to the anus area. The diaper must be at the correct height , not too low, not too high, this depends on each baby, their weight and size. With the strips we join the diaper, without tightening it too much, covering the navel but leaving space so as not to harm the baby.
Once put on, we must check that the diaper elastics are well placed, as they can be very below the groin and mark the baby’s skin.
TYPES OF DIAPERS
We can use disposable diapers, washable diapers or eco-friendly diapers.
The washable diapers can be used from the first day, we have to have spare parts and a suitable bag to store them in the changes outside the home. They are then washed in the washing machine and reused. They have brackets that adapt to the growth of the baby.
The organic diapers are disposable diapers, but are made without chemicals and environmentally friendly.
The disposable , are the most “comfortable” even pollute the environment. There are different brands and sizes on the market.
DIAPER CHANGING EXPERT
In a very short time you will see that you are an expert in the art of changing your baby’s diaper, which by the way is getting more and more complicated, as the baby grows and makes many movements during the change, which sometimes make it difficult for us to task.
Changing the diaper is a hygienic habit that reinforces our affective relationship with our child, it is also a special time for games, tickling and to flood him with kisses, which will make him feel very, very clean and happy.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.