Hi everyone! I’m Melissa from Cloudmom.com and I’m here to walk you guys through how to clean a newborn baby boy or baby girl during a diaper change! Make sure to check out my video for more detailed information and a step-by-step demo for how to clean your baby’s diaper area.

How Often to Change a Baby’s Diaper 

Before I dive into my demo, a quick comment on the issue of how often you should change a newborn baby’s diaper. In the early days and weeks after your baby is born, your doctor will want to know how many diapers your newborn baby wets in a day since a wet diaper indicates that your baby is ingesting a good amount of breastmilk or formula. When my first baby was born, I actually tracked his wet and soiled diapers in a journal. With later babies, I did not manage to keep a journal but I tried to keep a mental checklist. If your baby’s diapers are dry, you should check with your doctor immediately because this is a sign that your baby is not in fact ingesting enough milk. When your baby’s diaper is wet, change it promptly since wet and soiled diapers can cause a baby’s delicate skin to become red, swollen or to break out into a diaper rash.

How many Wet Diapers should a Newborn Baby Have per Day?

According to my doctor, a one to two-day-old baby should have 1-2 wet diapers. By day three, expect 2-4 wet diapers. By day 4, anticipate 4-6 wet diapers a day and by day 5 and beyond, your baby should have 6 or more wet diapers over a 24 hour time period.

Baby Diapering Essentials 

Another quick word about what must haves you’ll want to have on hand to change your infant’s diaper.  Try to have the following newborn diapering essentials within easy reach before your begin to change your baby, since you never want to leave your baby unattended on a raised surface:

• Newborn diapers 
• Wipes (or cotton balls and a bowl of warm water, which some doctors recommend in the early days) 
• Diaper Cream or Diaper Rash Essential Oils 
  • a white, oily thick cream like Desatin
  • a waxy, clear-colored cream like A&D
  • an essential oil will provide great lubrication and be gentle on the sensitive sin of your baby’s diaper area
• Changing Table Pad Covers  
  • These flexible covers go around your changing pad, like fitted sheets. Opt for terry cloth or an absorbent fabric.
• Waterproof Disposable Diaper Changing Pads 
  • Lie these atop your changing table or station. They will greatly cut down on laundry since rather than needing to launder the changing pad cover, you can simple replace one of these.
• Diapering Gloves 
  • These will help you avoid frequent hand washing and maintain a sanitized environment for your baby.

Best Diapers for Newborns 

The best diapers for newborns with sensitive skin are undoubtedly organic baby diapers. Diapers get very expensive so buy in bulk and if you can, subscribe to get even better pricing by trying to predict your baby’s growing size. The best organic diapers for newborns combine chemical-free and environmentally friendly materials with all the characteristics you are hoping for in a conventional diaper: absorbency, good fit, anti-leakage, and even fun designs. Like most things when it comes to babies, it pays to buy a few smaller packages and experiment when it comes to picking a diaper brand. I also advise buying big because when you fit the diaper high and tight, you run less risk of having baby’s pee and poo climb up the back, which soils baby’s pants and top, and does not make for a fun diaper changing experience.

Best Baby Wipes for Newborns 

The best baby wipes are chemical and fragrance free and manufactured to be gentle on your baby’s skin. Meanwhile, they are easy to separate from the pack of wipes, thin and malleable enough to allow you to easily wrap them around your index and middle fingers for effective cleaning, and resistant enough to allow you to use just one for a diaper change involving just pee and a few for a diaper change involving poo (although if poo has spread broadly and gone up the back, you will need more wipes, for sure). For babies with sensitive skin, try to opt for organic. With organic baby wipes, you’re paying more but you have the consolation of knowing that harmful chemicals have been kept at bay. There are a plethora of good quality organic baby wipes. In my view, the best organic baby wipes are largely water based, certify the absence of chemicals, and are easy to lift from the pack, wrap around your fingers, and resistant and absorbent. [amazonapi title=”Diaper cream, organic diaper cream, strip for diapers”]

Why do I Need a Baby Changing Table?

I’ve had two baby changing tables over my six babies: an Italian brand with drawers that were terrific for storing all of my diapering supplies, and an IKEA table with open shelves that I’ve used for Bracey. I supplemented the IKEA table by buying square-shaped flat baskets for my creams, ointments, diapers and extra clothing. My IKEA changing table cost not much more than a pack of diapers, and has worked out great.

Portable Baby Changing Table 

If you like to have your baby with you in different parts of your house, as you clean and get different tasks accomplished, consider a portable baby changing table that allows you to move it easily from room to room and change your baby wherever you are. This modern baby changing table concept is also super for day trips to Grandma’s house. Make sure your table is sturdy and provides enough storage for your diapering essentials.

How to Clean a Baby’s Private Parts

So now that we’ve got all of our diapering essentials lined up, let’s dive into how to actually clean your little baby, shall we?

How to Clean a Baby Boy Privates 

With baby boys, make sure to clean the penis well first with a wipe or cotton ball with warm water and gentle liquid and to wipe out all the folds before moving onto the anus. Pick up your baby’s legs by holding their feet with one hand in order to clean with the other hand.

How to Clean a Baby Girl’s Private Parts

When it comes to how to clean a baby girl’s genitalia, wipe front to back since poo in the vagina can cause inflammation and infection. Make sure to wipe all the folds, even if you don’t see anything, since you want to make sure this area stays clean. Wipe downwards and then, while holding up the feet with one hand, wipe down your baby’s bottom area. If there is poo in the vagina, gently clean it with warm water.

How to Change your Baby’s Diaper Area Step by Step 

• Step One: Wash your hands.
• Step Two: Gather everything …

you need in one place, within arms reach, including: your wipes (or cotton balls with warm water), diapers, diaper cream and a waterproof disposable pad, and set on a clean, safe, surface, ideally a changing pad.

• Step Three: Lay your baby down …

and pull down their clothing, taking off the pants. If your baby is wearing a pajama, push the pajama high above your baby’s diaper area so that if your baby pees, their entire outfit does not get wet.

• Step Four: Place your new diaper …underneath your old diaper. 
• Step Five: Unfasten the old diaper …

wrap a wipe around your fingers (or wet your cotton ball) and begin to clean, starting with the upper area. Wipe down cleaning within all the folds. If it is a very poopy diaper, you can use your old diaper to wipe out part of the poop. Roll up the old diaper with whatever wipes you have already used, and discard. While holding your baby’s feet with one hand, wipe the baby’s bottom front to back. If the diaper area is very dirty, you’ll need to use several wipes or cotton balls. Some folks even use a spray bottle with warm water to help clean more easily. Allow your baby’s diaper area a few minutes to dry or dry off with a clean towel. A damp diaper area can cause rashes.

• Step Six: Once you’re finished cleaning … 

apply diaper cream if your baby’s diaper area is irritated. If not, you can skip the diaper cream, ointment, or essential oil.

• Step Seven: Fasten your new diaper. Re-dress your baby in their clothes. 

Your baby is good to go! Thanks for reading and watching Cloudmom.com and see you back soon.