One of the first adjustments to make when bringing your baby home is adjusting to nappy changes. Until your baby grows into a toddler or small child and completes their toilet training, nappy changing will be a big feature of your life and theirs. In this guide, we give you tips and tricks on how to change a baby’s nappy easily.
The First Nappy Changes: What To Expect
Newborn babies feed frequently and in small amounts. This can result in highly variable toilet habits and anywhere up to eight changes or more per day.
Your newborn’s poo will consist of meconium – the waste product of amniotic fluid and other nutrients that has built up inside them during their time in the womb. Meconium will appear black and tar-like and often won’t have a strong smell. This is normal, and once your baby starts breast or formula feeding the appearance, smell and consistency of their poo will change too.
Newborn babies have very delicate and sensitive skin, so it’s important to change them at the first sign they need it. A good routine to develop is to check them after every feeding session.
How to Change a Nappy Step-by-Step
Wash or sanitise your hands
Prepare everything you need for a nappy change
Move your baby into their preferred changing position
Remove your baby’s clothes and soiled nappy
Gently wipe your baby from front to back with wet cotton wool, a damp cloth or disposable baby wipes.
Either pat your baby’s skin dry with a towel or allow them to air dry for a few moments.
Secure your baby’s nappy and put on fresh clothes
Some tips to remember when changing your baby’s nappies:
Never leave your baby unattended on a change table or elevated surface.
A good habit is to always have one hand on your baby while changing.
If your baby is developing any redness or rashes, apply a baby friendly lotion after changing.
Nappy Changing Essentials
Make your nappy change procedure more convenient with our recommended baby changing essentials:
Changing surface, such as a change table
Baby towels and warm water or alcohol-free wipes
Nappy bins
Nappy cream
Clean baby clothes
How to Manage a Public Nappy Change
While nappy changes may be one of the more unpleasant parts of parenthood, it’s a completely natural part of your little one’s daily routine. As much as you love your baby, it’s normal not to love their dirty nappies. When they soil a nappy in public, strangers might have less tolerance for that stinky mess than you do. But, to help you through it, here are our tips on how to manage those sticky situations in public!
Changing Nappies in Public: Is it okay?
First things first–is it okay to change a nappy in public? The short answer is yes, but being considerate of those around your and your baby should be something you keep in mind.
Remember, it’s important to change your baby’s soiled nappy as soon as possible. In fact, it’s always a good practice to have your nappy bag with you when going out with your child. Your little one’s skin is particularly sensitive and can become dry and irritated easily. With all the wetness, rubbing and drying that comes with changing nappies, the skin under a baby's nappy can become sore or inflamed. Sitting in a soiled nappy may worsen your baby’s discomfort and increase the chance of nappy rash.
Be considerate, but don’t be ashamed! Sure, changing a nappy in public may feel awkward. You may even get side-looks or scoffs from bypassers. Poo can be taboo amongst a lot of adults! When nature calls, your baby has to answer, so keep in mind that while others may act offended by your baby’s mess, it’s only natural and shouldn’t stop you from cleaning them up.
If you’re close enough to home, consider heading back to your changing area to save yourself some fuss. Sometimes it’s not an option to pack up and leave on the spot, in which case be thoughtful of others around you. While it’s not okay to shame parents for removing a dirty nappy in public, it does matter how you deal with the process.
Choosing an Appropriate Area to Change Nappies
You’re at a café halfway through your meal when all of a sudden, it’s change time. Don’t use the spare seat next to you as a change table and expect the people trying to enjoy their eggs to be okay with it. If the establishment doesn’t provide a change table, take your little one to a nearby patch of grass, or the back of the car. If you do use a change table, remember to keep your eyes and a hand on your little one at all times to ensure their safety.
A change pad, such as the BabyRest Nova Change Mat, can turn any surface into a clean and comfortable place for nappy changing. It’s a good idea to keep a change pad in the car whenever you’re out and about. If you find yourself without one, clothing or a blanket that can be washed later will do.
Public Nappy Changing Essentials
Always bring your change bag with you! Newborns can go through 8 to 12 nappies a day, so you’ll be changing them every couple of hours, roughly. Your change bag should have:
Wet wipes
Hand sanitiser
Nappy cream
Baby powder
Fresh nappies
Bags to dispose of dirty nappies
Towel for patting them dry
Spare cloths or towels, because you never know when you’ll need extra clean-up material, or something to lie your baby down on.
How Often Should Nappy Changes Be?
The frequency of nappy changes vary for every baby and can be affected by several factors, including age and diet. One of the ways you can approximate how many times you’ll be changing your child’s nappy is by considering their age.
Newborns
Newborns need to be changed around 8-12 times each day or every 3-6 hours. This will vary depending on their diet as well. Breastfed newborns may poo after each feeding, while formula-fed newborns may poo as low as five times a day. During this time, it’s recommended to simply keep track of when they need to be changed and do so as necessary to avoid skin irritations.
Toddlers
Toddlers who aren’t finished with toilet training may need a nappy change 5-6 times a day. This may be less, especially if they’ve gotten the hang of using the toilet.
Happy Changing!
Nappy changes are a normal part of every parent’s life–and it can be a considerably difficult one. At Baby Bunting, we recognise that changing your child’s nappy can be a challenge which is why it’s important to be prepared with the right essentials and to have the guidance and support of both loved ones and experts.
We hope this guide helped you understand the basics of how to change a nappy and guided you through your nappy changing sessions with your little one.