I can’t wait to change my baby’s nappy… said no one ever. Ask yourself, will you be able to handle the smell? The mess? The grossness? The truth is, you don’t have an option!
There are a couple of things that are so helpful and so basic that it should be mandatory to know before you even think about approaching a baby with a nappy.
- Baby’s first poop – Use coconut oil to help clean it off. The first poop your baby does is NOT the norm. It might be dark, tar-like or sticky. It’s usually difficult to clean off and this little trick makes it easier.
- Fold new born nappies down in front for the healing umbilical stump – Your baby’s umbilical stump takes around 7-10 days to heal. You don’t want to get it wet so fold it down the front and leave it uncovered.
- Have a portable nappy changing basket at home rather than one station – All you really need in your portable station is: nappies, wipes, a fold out change mat, nappy bags (paper bags work too), butt cream, spatula, baby powder (if you’re using it – choose non-talc!) and hand sanitiser.
- Put a clean nappy under the dirty one for a quick switch- New-borns especially can be volatile. You never know when they’re going to let loose.
- Minimise nappy cream mess – nappy creams are one of the stickiest substances you’ll come across. If you get it on your hands, it’s a nightmare to get off and it’s likely you’re going to get your baby covered in it. To keep mess to a minimum use the little finger on your left or right hand, or use a clean face mask applicator.
- Wipe a baby wipe over baby’s tummy and wait a few moments before opening their diaper – making their tummy cold with a wet wipe should trigger them to pee before you take their nappy off.
- Get a nightlight for nappy changes- before you can become a nappy changing wizard, first you’re going to want to see what’s going on and it’s more difficult in the night.
- Use doggy poo bags instead of disposable nappy bags – this is a money saver!
Do you have any more tips? We would love for you to share them with us in the comments!
