For most new parents, handling the changing of a child's cloth diaper, also sometimes called a "nappy," can be difficult and stressful. It can also be intimidating, if you aren't used to the process. Using a cloth diaper instead of a manufactured diaper, such as those sold by Pampers and Huggies, is much more difficult, but many people believe cloth diapers are friendly to the environment, according to Slate.com, and also more comfortable for the baby. Plus, changing nappies can be easy once you understand the process.
Step 1
Find a warm, safe place for your child to lay down on. You can also lay your baby down on the floor if you have a changing mat.
Step 2
Lay your child flat on his back. Unclip or unpin the front of the nappy and pull away to reveal the child's front. Wipe off any feces using a baby wipe, if you have one, or else a wet rag. Gently wipe the excrement off the baby's skin.
Step 3
Lift your child's hips and legs up by grabbing her ankles and holding them above her hips. Slip the rest of the nappy out from underneath her. Fold up the nappy and place it out of your child's reach. It's best to do this with the baby laying on a changing mat or other easy-to-clean surface, in the event some excrement does get onto the cleaning surface.
Step 4
Consider covering the penis with a nappy liner or baby wipe. Infant boys sometimes urinate when unbridled.
Step 5
Use cotton wool and warm water or baby wipes to clean the skin underneath the nappy. Be sure to get into crevices where feces can get stuck and cause skin irritation.
Step 6
Grab your child's ankles and lift his hips to place a clean nappy cloth beneath him. Apply nappy cream, if necessary.
Step 7
Clip or pin the nappy near the hip bones, tucking in any loose corners around the leg holes. The front flaps of the nappy should be pulled above the thighs until the leg holes are secure but not constricting the leg. Place a finger between the nappy and your child's skin to avoid accidentally poking your child, if you are using a safety pin, and insert the pin through the cloth away from the bellybutton. Clips should be fastened from the top of the nappy and rest securely on the flaps.
Things You'll Need
- Changing mat (optional)
- Clean nappy cloth
- Baby wipe
- Nappy liner (optional)
- Nappy cream
- Nappy clips or safety pins
