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Changing Pads

August 11, 2009 By Kerri Leave a Comment

As parents of a newborn baby, you will be doing a lot of diapering for quite a while. A number of diapering accessories will make life easier for you. Changing pads typically do not come as part of the changing table. You will have to buy them separately. For convenience, your changing pad should be lightweight, waterproof and portable. Baby changing pads can be flat or contoured and disposable too. Good models come with tabs at the bottom that help you secure the changing pad to a table. The bottom of a changing pad is usually stiff and coarse, making it slip-resistant and safe for use.

As most moms will tell you, it is much easier to change diapers at arms level than bending over a bed, or on the floor. That’s where changing pads become handy. Their greatest advantage is that you can place them on any flat surface like a table or a dresser and lo, your changing table is ready. This is most useful when you are on the move and may need to change your baby when away from home. If you have a changing pad, you can even place your baby on the ground and diaper him.

When your baby is little, contoured changing pads are useful because they help to keep your baby stationary. The design of the contoured changing pad makes it much safer to keep a wiggling baby safe. The pad will be about 1-1.5 inches thick in the middle and may rise to 4.5-5 inches at the sides. This makes it almost impossible for a young baby to roll off.

Some models have a safety belt with buckles that can be tied across the center. But, as your baby becomes bigger and is able to really move about, the high sides may become dangerous.

Changing pads usually have a waterproof surface. This makes it easy to clean and wipe away any mess. Most changing pads come in attractive colors and quilted patterns. Vinyl covering seems to be the most favorite, as it is soft to touch and easy to clean. But vinyl is cold and may make young babies uncomfortable. Besides, any irregular patterns on the changing pads may cause accumulation of dirt or bacteria. I’d personally feel comfortable with a terry cover or a denim cover over the vinyl covering, before placing Junior in it. Even an ordinary hand towel can be placed over the vinyl.

Changing pads are essential accessories of a diaper bag. Store-bought diaper bags come equipped with plastic covered changing pads. But these may not be soft enough for a young baby. You will be using thinner and flatter changing pads with a diaper bag. So, get yourself a changing pad that is made of layers of spongy fleece material with a water resistant top. These kinds of changing pads are comfortable for travel because they fold up very well. They will also fit nicely into a diaper tote if they are soiled.

Changing pads can be very trendy and stylish. You may like to go for a piece that suits the theme of your nursery. For parents who are interested in color coordination, you get changing pads that perfectly match your diaper bag. However, it’s nice to remember that changing pads are useful only until your baby is potty trained. So, it doesn’t make much sense to spend a fortune on them.

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How To Change Diapers – Diapering Tips

August 10, 2009 By Kerri Leave a Comment

Ah well – diapering is one of those sidekicks of parenting that you may wish somebody else could take care of some of the time. With newborn babies, diapering seems to be a non-ending process.

Diaper changing may seem a little complicated at the beginning. New dads especially may take a little time to get used to the wailing baby, and everything else that goes with diapering. But with a little practice, you will soon see that keeping a baby dry and clean is a piece of cake!

The most important thing is to keep all necessary supplies at hand. Never start the changing process with your supplies strewn here and there. Some of the essentials you’ll need are:

- A diaper
- Diaper Pins (for cloth diapers)
- Baby Wipes or warm water and cotton balls
- A changing table, or a changing pad where you can place the baby while you diaper him

Diapers usually come in various sizes and shapes. Two broad categories are: disposable and cloth diapers. Disposable diapers are usually more expensive. But they are easy to put on and easy to use while traveling. Cloth diapers, of course, need diaper pins to keep them in place. Regular washing, drying and hygiene are some hassles associated with cloth diapers. For the baby, cloth diapers are comfortable and healthy. Diaper rashes are less likely when clean cotton cloth diapers are used.

How to get it on:
Hold your baby’s feet firmly while changing. DON’T LET GO of those feet. Once you have removed the soiled diaper, first clean the baby’s bottom with the unused part of the diaper. This is just so that there is less mess for you to wash off your changing table. While wiping your baby, many parents use wipes. However, soft cotton balls dipped in warm water are the safest. Always wipe the baby from front to back. Wiping the other way – back to front – will cause any infections to spread; in girls, this may even lead to urinary infections. Never forget to wipe the creases in the buttocks and thighs.

If you are changing a boy, keep a clean diaper over his penis if you don’t want to get a liberal sprinkling while changing him. Exposure to air causes boys to urinate.

Once finished, pat the baby completely dry. You may use a light coat of cornstarch powder to ensure that the bottom and creases are completely dry. Airing the baby’s bottom for a few minutes is a good idea. Before you put on clean diapers, make sure that there is not residue of powder stuck to creases. If a diaper ointment is needed, apply it and allow it to get absorbed into the skin for a few minutes. When diapering a boy, place the penis in a downward position before fastening the diaper.

Disposable diapers are easy to put on. The only trick is to learn to tape the adhesives quickly before your baby wiggles out of the correct position. Do not diaper the baby too tight. As a rule, you should be able to place a finger between the diaper and the thigh, and it should not feel too tight. Cloth diapers will need safety pins to hold them in place. Folding the cloth properly may require some practice.

Always wash your hands before and after a change. NEVER ever leave your baby alone while you collect the necessary materials for diapering. Even a young infant may astonish you by rolling off the changing table in a split second.

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