Nappy Care - All You Ever Needed To Know About Nappies

Nappy care, an essential care of infants, helps parents to know not only how to change napkins, but to also the best way to protect babies from infection and discomfort. Once learnt it soon becomes second nature. Most parents need to realize that newborns need more frequent nappy changes as they dirty a nappy after and during each feed.

Here are a few things worth noting about nappy and nappy care:

  The first few napkins of a newborn would contain stools that are thick, sticky and black or dark green in color; containing me conium, the color will soon turn to greenish brown and then yellow as the infant starts feeding on milk. Most hard to clean, parents should make sure to protect the newborn’s clothing or blanket.

The stools of breast fed babies are generally loose, of grainy mustard consistency and smells sweet in a range of colors from yellow green to bright yellow. Consult the doctor if the stools are more green than yellow. It is observed that breastfed babies rarely suffer from constipation.

Smelly, brownish yellow molded stools are produced by formula-fed babies; loose and watery stools signify diarrhea and hard pellet like stools constipation.

Keep your baby and yourself comfortable by change a baby’s nappy after every poo or stools; unless absolutely necessary avoid changing the nappy at night as the sleepy baby could turn wide awake.

The use of disposable or washable nappies is a question of one’s own preference and environmental issues. Disposable nappies and washable ones are both polluting due to creation of huge amount of waste and washable material respectively. They cost almost the same though washable nappies require an upfront initial outlay and a dedication to use them; washable napkins are also to be changed more often and could be more difficult to dry if you do not have a drier.

How to change a baby’s nappy: 

• Cleanliness and hygiene is to be adopted in changing the nappy of your baby. First wash your hands and then lay the baby on the back on a mat and raise his/her vest and remove socks and booties; most babies love to kick away at their dirty nappies and create a mess that is difficult to clean.

• Next inspect the contents of the old nappy and lift his/her legs gently with one hand to clean; know that baby boys wee in the air when their penises are exposed, while girls are a bit less dramatic.

• If there is poo and stools pull the front part and use the inside to clean up the baby’s bottom; prevent sores by wiping away the wee also. Remember to wipe from front to back for girls so that the genitals do not get infected. Fold the nappy and keep aside for disposal.

• Sometimes babies may develop a red, sore area around the bottom caused by the ammonia in urine and due to the sensitivity of some baby’s skin. Known as nappy rash, apply a barrier cream to help keep bacteria at bay. Let the baby kick with a bare bottom for several minutes a day by putting down a towel to soak up any unexpected leaks. Avoid talcum powder as the baby could inhale the dust and develop breathing problems.

• Next open the new nappy and fasten at waist making sure to do it below the belly button if the baby still has the cord clamp. Put on the baby’s clothes.

• Lastly do not forget to wash your hands again.

Hope you are well equipped with nappy care to bring up a healthy and happy baby.