“Nappy changing is a wonderful opportunity for you to bond with your baby. It is important to establish a nappy changing routine for your baby, this means changing your baby’s nappy before or after every feed. As with everything in life, preparation is key to ensuring nappy changing time is as safe stress free as possible.” – Midwife Margaret Merrigan-Feenan:
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Margaret Merrigan-Feenan’s nappy changing essentials:
- Create a changing station at home where you can store all the essentials and have your nappy bag stocked with the same.
- A couple of disposable nappies.
- A waterproof changing matt.
- Nappy wipes or cotton wool and warm water.
- Scented bags and a nappy bin.
- A barrier cream such as Bepanthen Ointment, to act as everyday protection for the skin against nappy rash.
- A change of clothes in case the old nappy has leaked.
- A distraction for your baby, such as a stuffed toy or mobile.
Margaret Merrigan-Feenan’s Top Tips for nappy changing:
- Lie your baby on a waterproof changing mat and undo the tabs on nappy
- With one hand hold the baby gently by the ankles with your fingers in between his heels to stop the ankles grinding together and raise legs upward
- If the baby has had a bowel motion pull down the front half of the nappy with your other hand and wipe the bulk of the soiling with the clean front half of the nappy
- Seal nappy and pop in a suitably positioned bin always keeping one hand on baby
- Clean your baby’s bottom and all skin creases by gently wiping the skin with cotton wool soaked in lukewarm water or use a suitable baby wipe
- Clean girls from front to back keeping bacteria from the back passage away from the front passage.Boys need to have the skin folds around the scrotun cleaned thoroughly and don’t try to push the foreskin back.
- Pat the skin dry and allow your baby to have a little kick,so air can get to the skin
- Apply a barrier cream/ointment to protect the skin and prevent nappy rash
- Lifting your baby gently by his ankles slip a clean nappy underneath him with the tabs to the back.Pull the front half up to your baby’s tummy and fasten the tabs at the sides ensuring it is not too tight.One finger should be able to slide between your baby’s skin and the waistband
- Ensure to wash your hands thoroughly before and after nappy changing,or use a hand
