Changing your baby’s diaper for the very first time doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it may seem. It’s just a new experience! Just like being pregnant and giving birth, you’ll soon figure it out. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to change a diaper. You’ll be diapering like an expert in no time!
Before you start, make sure you have a safe and stable area for changing your baby. A changing table is preferable, since it is specifically designed for the task. The perfect height for an adult, it has a padded mattress and usually includes a security harness to keep your baby from rolling off. If a harness is not available, use a wide flat surface like the floor or bed. Little ones don’t always lie still, so remember to keep one hand on your baby at all times. A colorful mobile above your changing area is also a fantastic tool for keeping baby mesmerized and still. A calming lullaby does wonders, too.
Diaper leaks are inevitable those first few months. Robyn Mermelstein, who sometimes conducts diapering “talk-throughs” with consumers on how to change a diaper in her role as a manager of the baby/toddler brand Earth’s Best, advises, “Take your time and take deep breaths. When you are calm, your baby is calm. It is not a race. Put the diaper on the right way and fasten it properly for less leakage.” Wash your hands well — before as well as after.
Be prepared by ensuring that you have everything you need nearby — wipes and clean diapers. Additionally, you may need a diaper cream to help avoid diaper rash and chafing. A diaper pail close by for waste is helpful, too.
Ready, Set, Diaper!
Rest your baby gently onto the changing table or surface while making sure to support the baby’s head with your hand.
- Undo the tabs of the old diaper and gently pull it out from underneath the baby. You can do this by lifting the baby’s ankles. Roll up the dirty diaper, put to the side and dispose of it safely when you can.
- Clean your baby’s bottom and between his legs with wipes, always from front to back to avoid complications such a urinary tract infection from bacteria in his poop. If you have a boy, place a clean diaper or a washcloth over his penis to avoid urine spraying everywhere. It happens!
- If needed, apply diaper rash cream. Take a second to check that the baby’s skin is healthy and not red or irritated, which can happen from being in a moist diaper. If it’s irritated, the diaper cream will help. To prevent irritation, make sure his skin is thoroughly clean after each diaper change.
- Open up the new diaper and lay it under your baby. Set your baby’s bottom on the back part of it. Pull the front part of the diaper through the baby’s legs and fasten the tabs by the baby’s hips. Be careful not to make it too tight. A good rule of thumb is to make sure you can easily fit two fingers between the diaper and the baby’s skin. If you have a boy, face his penis downward to avoid having him pee out the top of the diaper.
- Check to see that the diaper is fitting the baby’s bottom properly and looks snug all around. Make sure the diaper is centered correctly on the baby’s body. Congratulations, you’ve just changed your first diaper!For more on diaper fit, check out how to make sense of baby diaper sizes.
Generally speaking, a baby’s diaper should be changed every three hours. During the night while sleeping, wait for your little one to wake to be fed and change the diaper then.
Amanda Winters, nurse and doula of Hudson River Doulas, gives this heartfelt advice: “Babies are not nearly as fragile as most people fear. Handling your baby with confidence gives assurance and fosters trust, which will mean less fussing and crying.” For added support, try to have somebody with you who has changed diapers before — an extra layer of security to help you get it right the first time. Follow these steps and you’ll wonder what you were ever worried about in the first place!
Elisabeth Vlasic is the mother of a preschool-age son. She experienced the wonder of how to change a diaper not so long ago. She writes the holistic parenting blog Willy B Mum, which journeys her experience as a first-time mother. You can also find her on Instagram.
