1. Make sure you have everything you need nearby to change a diaper.

2. Lay the baby on his or her back on the changing surface. If you are using a changing table, it’s recommended to use the safety straps.

3. Unfasten the diaper tabs. You can raise your child’s bottom off the diaper by gently grasping his ankles and lifting. If there is a lot of bowel movement present, you may want to use the upper half of the diaper to gently sweep it towards the lower half of the diaper. If you are changing a girl, make sure you always wipe from front to back to help prevent infection.

4. Slide the diaper away from the baby and place nearby, but out of reach of baby.

5. If the baby is a newborn, you will want to cleanse the area thoroughly with both cotton and warm water or with a wet baby washcloth.

6. Slide a clean diaper under the baby’s bottom making sure that the tabs are on the portion located under the child’s bottom. Most diapers today have colorful markings or characters indicating the front of the diaper.

7. Before closing the diaper, apply any ointments or creams recommended by a doctor to prevent the baby from getting rashes.

8. Close the new diaper by pulling the front up over the child’s belly and pulling the tabs open and around to the fastening surface.

9. Dispose of old diaper by wrapping tabs all the way around and securing inside a bag if desired.

10. Wash changing surface and hands. This step is especially important if the baby is ill, to avoid recontamination.

Ends