nappy changing tips

Nappy changing tips

taken from forparentsbyparents.com

As a new mum, much of your time will be taken up with nappies! Buying them, changing them, smelling them to see if they need changing.. and of course trying to distract and amuse baby as you clean and change them time and time again. It can seem like a minefield, but really the business of choosing and changing nappies need not be that complicated.

Firstly, you'll want to consider whether to use disposable nappies or traditional cloth nappies. The debate on which is friendlier for the environment - not to mention baby's skin - has gained momentum in recent years, to the point where you're just as likely to meet a mum who washes and reuses nappies as you will meet one who relies on shop-bought disposables. Fans of traditional cloth nappies say that the negative environmental impact of disposables cannot be ignored - according to some studies, using an average of six nappies a day over two and a half years produces about 734kg of solid waste, which will have an obvious impact on waste disposal and landfill.

On the other hand, those in favour of disposable nappies argue that both cloth nappies and disposable nappies have about the same overall impact on the environment, albeit in different ways. Disposables clearly create more solid waste but of course, reusable nappies need to be washed, resulting in an increased use of water and energy and a release of detergents, bleach and disinfectants into he environment.

So the decision on which type to use is yours, and do not feel guilty for choosing either option - both are viable. It all comes down to what will work best for you and baby. It may be that your baby has particularly sensitive skin, in which case you may prefer to use disposables made for that purpose. If you choose to use reusable cloth nappies, remember to wash them thoroughly after each use in order to minimise the risk of nappy rash and buy lots of nappy fasteners and liners to use with them.

Whichever you choose, you'll need to learn how to change a nappy! When you give birth this is something that your nurse or midwife should run through with you, but we all need a quick reminder from time to time. Here are our quick guidelines for changing nappies:

• Collect what you need to clean your baby's bottom. Have somewhere to place the nappy that your baby is currently wearing, such as the lid of a nappy bin.
• Lay out the ingredients for the next nappy - either your disposable or, if you're using a cloth nappy, first a nappy cover (if you're using one), then the cloth nappy, and then the liner. Put this to one side, close at hand.
• Open your baby's nappy, and if there is poo, wipe the worst of it off with toilet paper and then clean the nappy area with wipes.
• Tuck the dirty wipes inside the nappy, and then roll it up and put to one side.
• Slide the clean nappy into place under your baby's bottom. Fasten the nappy and then the cover.
• Put the baby somewhere safe and then dispose of the poo and toilet paper in the toilet bowl, and the nappy, liner and cover in the nappy bin.

Lastly - nappy changing used to be avoided by old-fashioned dads. But now most fathers are more than happy to get their hands dirty (literally) and nappy time can be a great way for daddy and baby to bond. In any case, you should teach dad how to change a nappy so that you can pop out for the day without having to worry about baby getting changed properly.