As a new parent, there’s two things that are certain - you’ll do a lot of feeding and a lot of changing! Whilst the process of changing your baby’s nappy might seem simple or obvious - there’s a few key things to keep in mind and a couple of products that will help make baby changing a breeze and avoid common issues like nappy rash.
Have your equipment ready!
Preparation is key
When changing your baby it is vital that you don’t leave them alone as they may be at risk of rolling over - so it’s important to have everything you need to hand, a bit like bathtime! A nappy caddy is a useful item to have that contains everything you need to change your baby’s nappy such as wipes, clean nappies, cotton wool, nappy cream (if needed) and a clean set of clothes just in case a poonami occurs. If you have one of these at your nappy changing station, it may also be useful to have another that easily travels for ease of use up and down stairs or to go with you in the car. The last thing you want is to be caught short!
Changing mat
Once you have your changing apparatus organised, you’ll need a soft, flat surface to change your baby on. Whilst it is recommended that you do this on the floor to avoid your baby rolling off, if you’ve recently had a c-section or struggle with back pain you may prefer to do this on a waist-level surface such as a table or a changing station. You can use a towel to lay your baby on, but a much handier solution that should involve less clean up if accidents occur is a baby changing mat. If you’re a nineties or noughties child yourself, you may remember the sometimes hard, cold plastic changing mats of the past that usually causes babies to roar in discomfort! That’s why we invented our Squishy Changing Mat that goes down a treat with your little ones. Like all of our products, we put baby at the centre whilst never losing sight of making things easier for parents. The squishy baby-safe material our changing mat is made from instantly puts your baby at ease and feels warm to the touch. The wipe-clean surface allows for quick clean ups - and because of its slightly sloped sides and raised edges - any incidents pool in the bottom of the mat away from your baby. An extra bonus of this is it can help prevent colic and reflux in your baby. It’s lightweight and easy to move around meaning it can go up and down the stairs as much as necessary. Currently available in four different colourways with a new colour to launch next month, our sleek design blends in brilliantly to any style of nursery.
How to change baby’s nappy
Having everything you need to hand is half the battle - all that’s left to do is change your baby’s nappy!
Step 1: Before changing your baby, ensure you have everything you need to hand - wipes, a clean nappy, a clean change of clothes if needed, nappy cream if needed and a way to dispose of your baby’s nappy so they won’t be left unattended.
Step 2: Next, using your baby’s changing mat lay your baby down feet first.
Step 3: Unstick your baby’s nappy. If it’s a pee, undo the nappy and let them lie for a few minutes in case they have any more to do. For little boys, remember you’ll be right in the firing line if they’re not finished - so have a muslin or towel at the ready to prevent getting sprinkled on! If it’s a poo, use the soiled nappy to clean up as much as possible and remove right away.
Step 4: Using wet wipes, clean your baby and ensure to get into all the folds. For little girls, wipe front to back to avoid any bacteria getting into their privates. For little boys, make sure to clean around all areas. Remember to use a different wipe each time you clean one of these areas, and dispose of these also.
Step 5: If your baby’s privates or legs are looking red or slightly irritated, use nappy cream to help soothe and prevent further irritation. Monitor this with each nappy change.
Step 6: Ensure you have the right size nappy for your baby adhering to the sizing guidance on the pack. Secure the nappy in place, but avoid sticking it too tight as this can cause discomfort and nappy rash. Likewise, a nappy that is too loose can cause a lot more mess.
Step 7: If a poonami occurs, change your baby’s clothes.
Step 8: If your baby gets ‘sleep’ in their eyes, you may want to gently brush this away using a cotton round and some lukewarm water.
Step 9: Dispose of your baby’s nappy - made all the more easier with our Eco Touch Nappy Bin!
How to dispose of your baby’s nappy
Nappy bin
When you’ve completed your baby changing, you’ll need somewhere to dispose of the nappies. Whilst nappy bags are typically used and cassette (refill) nappy bins - this is harmful to the environment and can create a lot more waste than needs be. If you could believe that there’s a more environmentally friendly but still efficient way to dispose of your baby’s nappy - well we’ve found it!
As parents ourselves, we couldn’t help but think how much extra waste we were creating by using nappy bins that featured refillable bags that were also not biodegradable. These bags are released from a cassette that also ends up in landfill. Whilst moving to cloth nappies may be a big ask of any new parent, switching to a more eco friendly nappy disposal system can be an easier choice to make.
Our Eco Nappy Bin was designed completely with parents in mind and targets all the key things you’ll need, but not even know you need, until you're deep in the newborn trenches! Our one-touch top means that if you have your arms full with baby you can quickly and easily dispose of a dirty nappy. We know you’re constantly on the go - so why make things more difficult? We only use biodegradable nappy bags in our bin - a bit like your kitchen food bin. Because our bin is compatible with any standard bin liner you don’t need to specifically use our bin bags either - because there’s nothing worse than running out of bin liners when you need them! Due to the fact our nappy bin has no refill cassettes or subscriptions, you can also save on money which as a new parent is definitely a bonus worth looking out for.
Our dual-seal odour airlock prevents bad smells from escaping even when the lid is lying open so there’s no need for fragranced nappy bags any longer. Its generous capacity can also fit up to 26 nappies - so replacing the bin liner isn’t quite as frequent. As if all of this wasn’t reason enough to check it out, in true Shnuggle style, its neutral and modern design fits in with any style of nursery and doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb. Our customers love it so much, we’ve even made it in an upcoming Taupe colourway!
If you’d like to get our changing mat and our nappy bin together, we offer a handy discounted bundle.
To get additional newborn tips, why not check out our helpful articles below;
