Diaper Care

Parenting Resources and Community Outreach

Diaper Changing

The time you spend changing your baby’s diapers can be special when you coo and talk to your child. Some simple preparations can help you relax and make it time well spent with your little one.

You will need to have these items close at hand:

• A clean diaper (plus fasteners if cloth-type diapers are used)
• Baby wipes (or cotton balls and a small basin with lukewarm water and a washcloth if your baby is sensitive to wipes)
• Ointment or petroleum jelly (if baby has a rash)
• A receptacle for the soiled diaper

Here’s how to proceed:

1. Remove the dirty diaper and use a wipe or the water and cotton to gently wipe stool away.
2. Use the damp washcloth or a clean baby wipe to wash the area gently and thoroughly.
3. Put on a new diaper.
4. Wash your hands.

Never turn your back on your baby during diapering. Never leave your baby alone on the changing table even for a second. You cannot anticipate the exact moment when a baby will wiggle or turn over, and he might be seriously injured if he falls. Also, keep pins, powder, and ointments well out of his reach. He should be focused on you and the chatter you provide to make this a pleasant activity for your baby.

Bowel Movements and Urination

Bowel Movements: Your baby may have a bowel movement with every feeding as part of a normal reflex pattern, or she might not have a bowel movement for several days. In general, infants have from 4 to 6 stools per day. Breast-fed infants might have a few more stools than formula-fed infants in the beginning. Their stools are described as seedy and often bright yellow. The stools of formula-fed babies are usually slightly darker in color and have a thicker, pasty texture.

Babies may grunt and strain and even turn red in the face while having a bowel movement. This does not mean your baby is constipated. If the stools are unusually hard or your baby does not have a bowel movement after four days, contact your pediatrician for advice.

Urination: Your baby may urinate as often as every one to three hours or as little as five to six times a day. In a healthy child, urine is light to dark yellow in color. Sometimes babies may have a pinkish stain in their diaper from highly concentrated urine. But if you notice blood in the urine or a bloody spot on the diaper, call your pediatrician. If there are also other symptoms, such as abdominal pain or bleeding in other areas, seek medical attention for your baby right away.