Knowing how to change your daughter's diaper will give your confidence a boost and make adjusting to your new arrival a bit easier. After a few months, you'll be a diapering professional.
Prepare for the Diaper Change
Step 1
Gather the necessary materials. You will need a clean diaper, fasteners if you use cloth diapers, a clean washcloth and small basin of water or diaper wipes, diaper ointment and a changing pad or cloth diaper, advises the KidsHealth website.
Step 2
Position your baby. Place the changing pad or clean cloth diaper on the area where you will change your child's diaper and lay your child down on his back on the pad or diaper. Choose a safe location and always keep one hand on your baby. Although a newborn cannot roll over, babies do squirm and can fall if not properly supervised.
Step 3
Remove the soiled diaper and clean your baby. Gently remove your baby's clothing to allow access to the diaper. Lift the tape from the sides of the diaper if using disposable diapers or unpin the sides of the diaper if using cloth diapers and pull the front of the diaper down. Clean your baby's diaper area with a wet washcloth or a mild wet wipe. It is especially important to wipe from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria that can cause infection in baby girls, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Thoroughly clean the folds and creases of your daughter's skin as well. Gently hold your baby's ankles and lift her legs up to remove the soiled diaper from your child.
Step 4
Apply ointment, creams or lotions. If your daughter's diaper area appears red or chafed, apply diaper cream or ointment to the irritated area. The cream works as a barrier to prevent further irritation and might help prevent increased redness.
Disposable Diapers
Step 1
Open the diaper and slide it beneath your baby. Holding your daughter's legs at her ankles, gently lift upward to elevate her rear and slide the diaper beneath her. The adhesive strips need to be folded down and be positioned underneath your child. The strips should be at bellybutton level on your daughter to ensure an even fit of the diaper.
Step 2
Bring the front of the diaper up toward your baby's stomach, between her legs. If positioned correctly, the front of the diaper should be just below or at your daughter's bellybutton and should cover her entire rear and genital area.
Step 3
Secure the adhesive strips to the front of the diaper. Gently hold the sides of the front of the diaper to your daughter's side, unpeel the adhesive strips from the back of the diaper and secure the adhesive to the front of the diaper. Keep the edges of the front of the diaper tucked into the sides while securing the adhesive to ensure the comfort of your child. Make sure your baby's entire rear is covered and that the diaper is not secured too tightly or too loosely.
Step 4
Dress your child and wash your hands. Place your child somewhere safe such as in her crib and wash your hands thoroughly. Always wash your hands after changing a diaper to prevent spreading germs.
Cloth Diapers
Step 1
Fold the diaper. Traditional cloth diapers are shaped like a square and require folding to fit your daughter. Fold the square in half, one corner to the opposite corner, so the diaper is shaped like a triangle. Gently hold your daughter's ankles and lift her legs upward so her rear is elevated. Slide the diaper underneath her with the long end of the triangle at her back and the tip of the triangle pointing toward her feet.
Step 2
Fold the front of the diaper up and bring the sides to the front. Bring the point of the triangle that is pointing toward your daughter's feet up and between her legs. The point should fold up to her belly. Bring one end of the long straight triangle piece that is behind your baby's back to the front of her diaper so it overlaps the triangle tip. Then bring the other end of the long straight triangle piece to the front of your daughter's diaper so it overlaps both the opposite side and triangle tip. Secure all three pieces with a safety pin.
Step 3
Cover the cloth diaper with a diaper cover and dress your child. Plastic covers can be used over cloth diapers to prevent the moisture from your child's urine soaking through the cloth and soiling her clothing, bedding or anything else her bottom happens to touch.
Things You'll Need
- Clean diaper
- Diaper fasteners if using cloth diapers
- Diaper wipes or a clean washcloth and small basin of water
- Diaper ointment
- Changing pad
