Diapering your baby is equally important and inevitable part of parenting as clothing, bathing and feeding. Sometimes it may seem like a never-ending job but it is extremely important to diaper your baby properly and keep him or her dry and comfortable with good knowledge of the diapering basics.

Basic Facts

You should never use a diaper made with synthetic material. Always use diapers made of cotton. Cloth nappies allows your child’s bottom to get much more air making it more comfortable and reduces the chance of nappy rash. They are also significantly less expensive than disposable diapers because you can reuse them after washing. Some leakage may always occur outside the diapers if they are not of disposable or absorbent types. So it is advisable to put a large plastic cloth or rubber sheet under the child to prevent spoiling of bed sheet or mattress in case some leakage occurs.

Excellent disposable baby diapers are available in the market for going outside or during travelling.

How To Diaper a Baby

Maintaining basic hygiene is extremely important when you are dealing with small babies. Before you start; wash, clean and dry your hands. Select an area that is clean and warm. You may use a changing table; or lay a blanket, towel, or changing mat on the floor or bed. Try to keep your baby as dry and comfortable as possible.

Assemble all the supplies you need to diaper your baby:

• A clean diaper
• If your baby is prone to diaper rash, keep an ointment, rash cream or petroleum jelly
• A changing pad to place under your baby, lukewarm water and a diaper wipe

Wiping & Washing

Changing and washing of nappies is a very necessary part. No one, including a newborn, is very comfortable lying in urine or stool. Diapers should be changed after each soiling. If your baby is wet, wash the bottom with a piece of cotton wool moistened in warm water and then pat it dry. If the baby is soiled you can use a little soap to clean.

Make sure that the diaper does not cover the navel; as the navel should be kept as dry as possible. If the diaper covers the navel, there are chances that urine might sleep on the navel making it wet and act as a source of infection. Plus accidental traction on the diaper by movement of the baby or during changing can apply a shearing force on the navel and lead to minor bleeding from there.

You should secure the diapers in place preferably by tying with a knot. If you use safety pins, be careful that it doesn’t accidentally open and hurt the baby.