Cleaning your baby's bottom

Your baby’s nappy needs to be changed up to 7 or 8 times a day. An infant’s very delicate little bottom can easily become irritated from dampness, contact with urine and stools, or friction from nappies. As a result, special care is needed each time you change your baby’s nappy. Here are some tips for preserving the vulnerable skin on your baby’s bottom!
 

• Prepare everything you’ll need in advance on the changing table: nappies, cotton pads, cleansing product, diaper cream, etc.
• Change your child’s nappy as soon as it is damp or with each bowel movement, preferably a little after meals. Newborns need to be changed more frequently, since they urinate and produce stools more often than older infants.
• Choose nappies that are appropriate to your child’s size: if the nappy is too small, it can create irritating friction and will not provide adequate protection from leaks.
• When you’re ready to change the nappy, place your baby on a clean bath towel. Open the nappy, then wipe the baby’s bottom with the front part of the nappy. Fold the diaper and dispose of it.
• Clean your baby’s bottom with a no-rinse cleansing fluid, a cleansing lotion or thick nappy wipes. If you prefer, you can also use a cleansing gel or emollient soap, and rinse with water.
• Clean from top to bottom, from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest, so as not to spread impurities elsewhere. For a baby girl, clean from the vulva (the outer folds of the lips and then the middle) towards the buttocks. For a baby boy, clean the penis, the scrotum and surrounding area, and then the buttocks.
• Thoroughly dry the folds in the skin to prevent any maceration, or if possible, let the skin air dry.
• Open the clean nappy and place your baby right in the center, so that the tabs are level with the navel. If you have a baby boy, be sure his penis is properly positioned downwards before closing the diaper, to prevent leaks.
• Don’t wait until your baby’s bottom is red before taking care of it! Each time you change a nappy, apply a protective cream or a cream that contains zinc oxide as prevention.
• In case of nappy rash, leave your baby’s bottom exposed to the air as much as possible and use a suitable skin care product.
• Finally, never leave the changing table at any time during this process: a fall can happen very quickly!