Here are some extra tips that depend
on the type of diaper you're dealing
with:
Cloth Diapers
If you don't get cloth diapers washed
and folded by a cleaning service,
here's how to set up a clean and
pre-washed diaper:
1. Fold the diaper into thirds so
that it forms a rectangular shape,
keeping the folds even and neat.
2. Choose an end and pull the flaps
on either side out a little, so
that the brim is a little wider
than the rest of the diaper. This
will be the end of the diaper that
gets slid under the baby's bottom.
3. When you're pinning the cloth
diaper together, keep two of your
fingers under the fabric so that
the baby doesn't get accidentally
pricked. Insert the pin away from
the baby's bellybutton. If the pin
doesn't go through the cloth easily,
stick the pin in a bar of soap first.
4. After you're done putting the
fresh diaper together, bring the
soiled diaper to the nearest toilet
and dump the poop out. Fold the
diaper up into a tight bundle and
stick it in a diaper pail with a
lid that shuts securely.
Disposable Diapers
1. When you're sliding the new diaper
into the dirty one's place, the
end with the sticky tape should
go under the baby's bottom. 2. Don't
bunch the diaper between the baby's
legs - it will hurt her baby's skin.
With newborns, avoid covering the
umbilical cord. 3. Throw all the
used baby wipes into the diaper
before wrapping the diaper together
tightly and keeping it shut with
the sticky tape. And there you have
it - a clean and happy baby. (For
the next hour or so, anyway.)
Bathe
the Baby
Before you dump the baby in a tub
full of water and start scrubbing
away, remind yourself that washing
a baby is not the same as washing
a Labrador.
Before the cleaning commences, here
are some bath tips:
·
Babies should not be bathed until
after their umbilical cord falls
out. Give the baby sponge baths
until that happens.
· Give the baby baths in
her very own smaller baby tub until
she is old enough to sit up by herself.
· Strangely enough, some
babies aren't comfortable with bathing
completely naked, so you might want
to consider undressing and washing
only portions of the baby at a time
if she fusses a lot in the tub.
· It's not necessary to wash
the baby's hair -- if she has hair
-- every time she has a bath. Two
or three times a week is suffice,
and you should always use tear-free
shampoo.
· NEVER, EVER LEAVE THE
BABY UNATTENDED IN THE TUB. This
may seem like an obvious rule, but
you should never even step out for
a second to fetch the baby's clothes
or to shut the bathroom door. We
don't want to scare you, but it's
a fact that infants can barely unclench
their hands, let alone swim.
Back.......................................................................................................Next
