How Chux Pads Saved Me
- May 14, 2012
- by Melissa Lawrence
Hello, hello!
Today’s video is all about one of my favorite baby essentials! Drum roll please, for the…Chux Changing Pad! If you’re like me and you absolutely hate doing laundry, especially with a young baby in the house to attend to, you’ll definitely want to keep watching this video!
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Chux Changing Pads
Babies are messy – it’s just a way of life. In the early days of welcoming home a new baby, my diaper pad cover always needed to be washed due to leaky diapers – ugh! For someone who hates laundry, the best thing for me was a disposable changing pad! Welcome to the wonder of Chux pads!
Not only does it work for home, but these pads are also very useful when changing your baby in any public restroom. Definitely a diaper bag essential! Watch for more on how Chux Pads saved my life!
Baby Registry List: Diaper Bag and Changing Essentials
Once you’re home with your new baby, you’re going to spend more time than you can believe talking about poop! In fact, I have a whole show on what’s normal when it comes to what’s in your baby’s diaper.
During your first few weeks at home, you could be changing baby’s diaper up to 12 times a day! So what supplies do you need at your changing table? Here’s my complete list, from diapers to wipes to diaper creams and beyond:
Diapers
Duh! Here’s my advice after nearing nine straight years of diapering babies. Get quite a few diapers to start, but not too many in newborn or size 1 (or preemie, as was my case!) because your baby will grow quickly, as will her diaper size. Some of the newborn ones have a gentle curve along the top so that they don’t rub on the healing umbilical cord– they didn’t make these when I had my first, and I think they are ingenious. My preference with diapers is to slant big; I feel that this way more gets held into the diaper, better retention! I’ve always used Pampers but there are other good brands, including organic brands. Different brands work better for different babies depending on body types, which is another reason not to stock up too much before baby is born. You can also go the cloth route, as my mother did, God bless her, but I certainly can’t advise on that!
Wipes
I like the Pampers wipes because they easily lift from the stack inside the wipe holder, but not all Mommy minds think alike: my partner Deirdre is a fan of Huggies which are thick and absorbent. Try them out and see which brand you like. You’ll need the big box for your changing area and the thin plastic container for the wipes in your diaper bag. You can never have too many of these so definitely stock up!
Now for all the next few items I have additional shows you can watch that get very specific. For your purposes right now, I would recommend getting the following:
CHUX Changing Pads
My favorites! With these, you don’t have to be constantly changing the cover of your changing pad; rather you just use a nice fresh CHUX. I love these. They are great for travel too or for your diaper bag because you can put the Chux underneath your own changing pad, so in that way they protect your own changing pad from dirt or grime. You never know where you might have to change your baby! And after you are done you just throw the CHUX pad away.
- Champion Blue Disposable Underpads (Chux), Case/100
($27.95)
- Summer Infant Contoured Changing Pad ($17.95)
Diaper Creams
There are a number of different brands. The basic point here is that you have petroleum jelly ointments (Vaseline-type) creams such as Aquaphor and A&D, and white thicker creamier options like Desitin and Balmex. I have found that it’s good to alternate between the two types. I think you can use these creams very generously when you see a diaper rash coming, but that when the bottom is lookin’ good, you don’t need to always use them. The priciest choice is Triple Paste — it is the Cadillac of diaper creams, and it really does work wonders on a raw, sore fanny.
- Triple Paste Medicated Ointment for Diaper Rash, 8-Ounce
($15.97)
- Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment, Diaper Rash and Dry Skin Protectant ($12.82 )
- Desitin Rapid Relief Creamy, 4-Ounce Tube, (Pack of 2)
($11.58)
- Motherlove Organic Diaper Rash and Thrush Relief ($9.95)
- Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm Zinc & Lanolin Free Calendula Herbal Diaper Cream, 2 Fluid Ounce ($8.86)
Diaper Bag
I also include this on the Baby Gear list, but you’ll need a diaper bag for changing your baby on the run. Get a fun, roomy bag that is rain-proof that fits nicely on your stroller. It should come with a handy changing pad and good pockets, both outside for bottles and inside for creams, wipe containers, and other things. Remember fashionistas, the outside look here is less important than the functionality — but nowadays, you often can combine style and substance!
- Petunia Pickle Bottom Boxy Backpack ($119.99)
- Skip Hop Dash Deluxe ($65.00) A good option for dad!
- Skip Hop Jonathan Adler Dash Diaper Bags ($72.67)
- JJ Cole Collections System Diaper Bag
($52.79)
- Skip Hop Via Messenger Diaper Bag
($78.40) This is a great choice for mom or dad!
- Skip Hop Bento Diaper Tote Bag, Black
($98.99) The Bento Ultimate Diaper Bag is bigger than many others out there. It’s perfect for twins or a baby plus toddler.
You’ll be changing your baby a lot so you’ll want all of this stuff handy and ready to go. If you are heading out in the morning, I find it’s a good idea to pack your diaper bag and leave it by the front door so that in the morning so that you are ready to go. There is nothing harder with a new baby than getting out the door so having the diaper bag ready makes this that much easier!
Amazon.com prices are subject to change.
Did you end up with a lot of laundry because of your changing pad? What was your best changing pad solution? Please leave a comment below! I would love to hear your thoughts!
Comments
mdoll
Great tip. I have been using these with my 5-month old since day 1. We also have a dog and had leftover wee wee pads from house training the puppy. They’re great for public restrooms as they’re disposable, but also at home for accidents while changing the baby. We also use them on the playmat when she needs some time to air out her bum. They can hold a full pee and plenty of baby poop. We kept getting the pet pads as they were the cheapest. You can also search amazon or other online stores for hospital pads.
Melissa Lawrence
Glad you have the same idea!
DanielleWY
As a new mom (my son Avery was born two weeks ago tonight!) I can’t thank you enough for the suggestion to buy Chux pads. They seriously are a life saver!! As a breastfeeding mom, now that Avery is having the seedy yellow poop (sorry TMI!?) I can’t believe how badly the yellow poop stains things! Chux continue to save my changing pad cover time and again. I also found it helpful to put them down on my bed sheets during the first week home from the hospital, and now since my milk is fully in, I still have them in my sheets because of milk leakage during the night. They are amazing, thank you!
Melissa Lawrence
Danielle, thank you for this nice comment and I am so glad you are using these, I swear by them as well, that poop is a killer! Also try breast pads during the night to help with the milk leakage — best of luck with your baby!!! xo Melissa
yolanda
Im a first time mom of a 2 week old and a longtime lurker on your site. I bought a case of 100 chux pads at your recommendation before the baby was born and boy did they save me today. During a routine changing, right after i removed his diaper and before I got the clean one under him, my little one surprised me by peeing on our lovely nursery walls and pooping that delightful curry colored poop all over place. As he squealed with delight, I thanked God that there was a Chux pad underneath him. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Melissa Lawrence
Yolanda, you made my day! I am so happy this advice was helpful. These things really are the best! I also found that after a poop like that, you could wrap up the whole mess into the chux pad and no mess left! It’s a miracle! Best of luck with your baby!!! xo Melissa
Sepideh
Hi Melissa,
I am getting every single things in my nursery per your advice and interesting enough when I share it with my friends and family I get surprised that they admit every single bit of it. I was talking to my doctor about your videos and recommended her to offer your website for new moms to be.
for this chux underpad which brand are you using? We can’t order them from Amazon.com since we are living in Canada and Amazon does not ship to Canada, but if you mention a couple good brands we probably can find them from other suppliers. Thanks
Tracey
I use the cloth prefold diapers in my changing pad, they are a good size and catches any leaks or accidents that occur while changing. Plus they are reuseable.