Nappy Changing—What to Expect!

Nappy Changing—What to Expect!

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Your baby will need changing frequently, particularly in the early days expect to change before or after every feed. This can typically be 8-12 times or more a day for a newborn, decreasing to perhaps 6-8 for an older baby. If your baby has pooed then you should change the nappy as soon as possible, as it is the ammonia produced by the bacteria in the poo that will cause nappy rash.

The big advantage of washable nappies is it doesn’t matter how many times your baby needs changing you simply pop the washing machine on a bit sooner if you go through them more quickly than expected. Thus rather have to change a nappy when out and about many mums will quickly change to a fresh nappy before leaving home even if they only changed a soiled one half an hour previously.

It is good practice to change your baby frequently, as keeping your baby clean will help prevent nappy rash and other infections.

Newborn babies and meconium

For the first few bowel movements, a newborn baby’s poo will be a tarry dark green/brown sludge called meconium , which can stain nappies. Many parents choose to use disposables initially, the alternative is to use a flushable liner or a fleece liner if you wish to avoid staining, although the sun is a good stain shifter.

After this the poo will change to a soft runny yellow/mustard colour and doesn’t smell if breastfed, more solid and darker and more smelly if bottlefed. Some babies will poo frequently at every feed or every few hours, others will store it up and only poo once every few days.

From day to day your baby’s poo may vary a bit, but if you notice a marked change such as becoming very smelly, very watery or very pale or very hard or with blood in them then you should talk to your doctor or health visitor.

Be Organised

Before you even think about picking up your baby to change the nappy, it’s a good idea to have everything you might need ready beforehand. The best place to change a baby is often to sit beside them on the floor—they can’t wriggle or roll off; with a changing table or on the bed you must be very sure to keep one hand on your baby, and never ever leave baby unattended as that will be the time they learn to roll!

A waterproof backed changing mat with an absorbent surface, or a towel is useful as often as soon as the cooler air gets to your baby it seems to encourage a wee.

Adding Absorbency

Any cotton, hemp, microfibre inserts may be added to increase absorbency—use what is to hand, be it folded flannel or cut up towel. Putting the pad between nappy and wrap may improve fit for a smaller baby without making the whole too bulky and thus causing leaks at the leg.

Putting the booster inside the nappy may help prevent strong busts of wee running down the leg for an older child.