7 Mistakes We Make When Putting on a Baby's Diaper

If you have a baby, you most likely spend a great part of your day changing diapers. But are you doing it correctly? In this article, we’ll highlight the most frequent mistakes parents make when putting on a baby’s diaper.

Changing a baby’s diaper seems like a basic task to most mothers and fathers. However, while some parents can do it with their eyes closed, others need a bit more practice.

Many people feel a sense of rejection to the idea of changing a baby’s diaper. This is especially true when it comes to people who are easily upset and those who are afraid of “handling” small babies.

Despite what many people might believe, this rejection isn’t a sign of poor parenting. It’s usually caused by a lack of information and practice.

That’s why many parents find themselves struggling to change their baby’s diapers correctly.

7 common mistakes made when putting on a baby’s diaper

Like most newbies, some parents are prone to make certain mistakes when it comes to changing their children’s diapers. Here are a few examples:

1. Not having everything ready

Once the baby is put on the changing table, to remove a dirty diaper and put on a new one, we should make sure that we have everything we need. Here are a few things to have handy: a clean diaper, wet wipes, special creams or powders in case you use them.

Parents should be prepared so they never have to leave their babies alone. Although they’re still very small, babies can move around and this could cause a harmful fall.

2. Adjusting the diaper too much or too little

Ideally, a baby’s diaper should be securely fastened to the baby’s body. However, this doesn’t mean that you should restrict the child’s circulation. If you notice that you adjusted your baby’s diaper too tightly, try to loosen it a bit.

The other extreme is not adjusting the diaper enough. If it’s not properly adjusted, the baby’s diaper will end up on the floor. To avoid problems, make sure the diaper fits just right.

3. Cleaning your baby incorrectly

In addition to thoroughly cleaning the baby’s private parts, we must also make sure we do it the right way – from front to back. This is useful when it comes to preventing infections.

4. Taking too long

It’s important to change a baby’s diaper soon after it has been soiled. This isn’t too much of a problem with urine since nowadays, diapers are very absorbent. Fecal matter, however, can be harmful if left for a prolonged period of time.

It’s also not wise to leave your baby without a diaper for prolonged periods of time. The child may get cold and may even have an accident on the bed or other important furniture.

“Once a baby is put on the changing table to remove a dirty diaper and to put on a new one, make sure you have everything you need” 

5. Not having a change of clothes

A change of clothes isn’t an option; it’s a necessity. Although babies have diapers on, their clothes can be soiled easily.

It’s important to always have a change of clothes handy. Remember to pack a few backup clothes whenever you’re preparing a bag to leave the house.

6. Putting on too much cream

Moisturizers are useful to protect babies’ delicate skin. However, we shouldn’t go too far. Anyone who has used sunscreen or any other type of lotion knows how annoying it is to apply too much.

Applying too much cream creates a feeling of humidity that could make the baby feel uncomfortable. In addition, they could also stain the child’s clothes.

7. Buying too many newborn diapers

You can usually find packages containing useful items that are specially prepared for the first days of a newborn’s life. They contain items such as wet wipes, baby bottles and creams.

Parents shouldn’t get carried away at this stage. Newborn baby diapers can only be used for a short period of time.

Newborns grow quickly, so it’s better to buy diapers as they grow. It goes without saying that you should always have a weekend reserve of diapers.

These mistakes made when changing a baby’s diaper are common among first-time parents. Don’t feel bad if that is your case. No one is perfect and you’ll learn through practice. Every day that passes will bring wonderful experiences.