User Manual

8/19/2016 DiaperChange:TipsforCleanandHealthyDiaperChanges
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/d2nstoppinggerms12/healthydiapering?print=true 2/3
dressed,makesurethatbaby’sstillclean.
Washoffyourbaby’shands.Whetherornotyou’veactuallyseenyourbabytouch
anythingnastyduringthediaperchange,it’sstillagoodideatowashherhandsonce
you’redone.
Washyourownhandsrightaway.Ifyou’renotnearasink,youcanusealcoholbased
gelinsteadjustmakesuretokeepthebottleoutofyourbaby’sreach.
Changingclothdiapers.Ifyou’rewashingyourclothdiapersyourself,theAmerican
AcademyofPediatricsrecommendspresoakingthem.Thenwashtheminhotwater
apartfromotherclothesanddoublerinseeachwash.
Betweendiaperchanges,youshouldalsogetinsomegoodhabitstoreducethespread
ofgerms.
Cleananddisinfectthechangingarea.Regularlywipedownthechangingtablewith
soapandwateroradisinfectant.Cleanthediaperpailaswellinsideandout.
Beespeciallycarefulifyouhavemorethanonekidusingdiapers.Adirtychanging
areaisaneasywayforyourtwokidstoswapgerms.
Washthediaperpadcoverregularly.Changingpadsandcoverscangetdirtyquickly.
Getinthehabitofwashingyoursroutinelyandchangeitrightawayifit’sstained.If
launderingthecoverofyourchangingpadseemsahassleoryoudon’thaveenough
spareslayareceivingblanketoverthepadsduringchanges.They’reeasyenoughto
throwinthewash.
TipsforDiaperChangesontheGo
Haveabigchangingpad.Youneverknowwhereyou’llwinduphavingtodoadiaper
changeorhowdisgustingthesurfacewillbe.Soalwaysbringachangingpadthat’s
bigbigenoughthatyourbabycanfitonwithouthavingtotouchthesurroundingarea.
Wipedownpublicchangingtables.Ifyou’reinapublicbathroomwithachanging
table,makesuretowipeitdownfirstwithadisinfectantwipe.
Disposeofthediapercarefully.Obviously,throwtheuseddiaperinthetrash
immediatelyifyoucan.Butforthosetimeswhenyou’renotnearatrashcan,always
bringsomeextraplasticbagsinyourdiaperbag.Sealthediaperintheplasticbagand
thencarryitwithyouuntilyoucanthrowitout.
Washyourhands.Nomatterhowharriedyouare,neverforget.Ifyou’renotneara
sink,useanalcoholbasedgelthatyoucarryinyourdiaperbag.
Washyourdiaperbag.Overtime,yourdiaperbagisgoingtogetyuckyespeciallyif
youoccasionallyhavetostuffadirtydiaperinthere.Sogetinthehabitofwashingit
occasionally.
Althoughit’seasytogetstressedaboutgermsandyourbabyespeciallyduringdiaper
changesexpertssayyoudon’tneedtoworrysomuch.Ababyusuallycannotgetsick
fromhisowngerms.
“Ifyoujusthaveonebaby,thegermsonyourchangingtablearejusthisgerms,”says
Jana.“Theyaren’treallyadangertohim.It’smoreabouthygieneandcleanlinessthana
healthrisk.”
Sothenexttimeyou’recleaningupafteracolossaldiaperchangingmess,reassure
yourself.Itmaysmelllikeahealthhazard,butit’snotarisktoyourbaby.
SOURCES:
TanyaRemerAltmann,MD,pediatrician,clinicalinstructor,MattelChildren’sHospitalUCLA,Los
Angeles;author,MommyCalls.
RobertW.FrenckJr.,MD,professorofpediatrics,divisionofinfectiousdiseases,Cincinnati
Children'sHospitalMedicalCenter.
LauraAJana,MD,pediatrician,Omaha,Neb.;coauthor,HeadingHomewithYourNewborn.
AmericanAcademyofPediatricswebsite:“DiaperRash.”
Murkoff,H.,Eisenberg,A.,andHathaway,S.WhattoExpectintheFirstYear,2003.
Douglas,A.TheMotherofAllBabyBooks,2002.
AmericanPregnancyAssociation:“ChangingaDiaper.”