Comments on: How to Change a Baby's Diaper

on 3/16/2006 I find that when diapering a toddler, the "newspaper" fold works great. The newspaper fold gives you variable positioning of the diaper on the baby. As we know, toddlers have now begun to eat solid foods and therefore have more solid bowel movements. Toddlers also begin to experience constipation. A diaper that is restrictive in the seat can make it very difficult to have a BM. My Mom told me she realized that by offering little room in the seat (for larger BM's) in the diaper can cause constipation. Remember, cloth diapers don't have elastic in the seat like disposables do. I think we forget that sometimes. Also we tend to give toddlers more things to drink (making them wet heavier) as they get older. I find that the newspaper fold method tends to offer greater wicking ability for the baby when he/she wets. I will take one prefold diaper and lay it flat while taking another to use as a soaker and fold it lengthwise into thirds. I will then go halfway down each side of the diaper and grab each side of outer diaper and bring toward the center of the diaper. I can then position the diaper lower on the hips with this fold, while at the same time cinching up the diaper in the crotch but allowing generous room in the seat of the diaper. It may tend to have a little sag, it isn't for looks, it's for purpose. I also use one size larger plastic pants. I tend to use Gerber baby pants or semi-transparent white Dappi plastic pants. Easy for examining the immediate condition of the baby's diaper without the dreaded reach under the plastic pants. Sometimes the tell-tale sign of a darkened crotch is a dead giveaway. So next time baby comes to you with a nicely loaded rear and sopping wet front, know that you made them a little more comfy. Happy diapering!

on 4/19/2008 With a couple of our children we went through a stage where the toddlers removed their diapers at night-time. At my wits end, here's what I did. One evening while changing my son's diaper before putting him to bed, I decided to pin my son's rubber pants right to his cloth diapers. I went through the motions of diapering him as usual, pinning his double night-time fold diapers on him, then following up by rustling on his baggy little rubber pants over the top. Reaching for a third diaper pin from the dresser top, I overlapped the very front of the rubber pants (just like one does when preparing a cloth diaper for pinning), then taking the diaper pin, I pinned right through the rubber pants (near the waistband area), into the diapers, back out through the diapers and rubber pants, and latched the safety pin. To my total surprise, my idea put an abrupt end to the night-time diaper removal game.

on 11/22/2005 When you undo the soiled diaper, put the tabs on the sides down. If the sticky tab gets on the baby's legs it will hurt them.

on 11/22/2005 Put a dress or a skirt on the baby until it is potty-trained, so that you can put your hands up the dress, take off the diaper, and put it back on with out pulling down the baby's pants.

on 11/22/2005 When your baby is starting to pull up and you have to take the mobile out of the crib, you can take it and attach it to the wall so the mobile hangs over the changing area.

on 11/22/2005 If your child gets to a stage were he figures how to take the diaper off, I found the best way to prevent him from doing that is to put the diapers on backward for at least a week.

on 11/22/2005 When changing a baby that just won't stay still, place one of their favorite toys on their tummy. This will distract him/her from other things going on and prevent nasty mishaps from all their rolling around.

on 11/22/2005 If the child is at the age that he/she can understand when you are asking to change a diaper, they will often answer no, if you are a baby sitter. It is then up to you to call the shots if you think there is a need. Stand your ground - don't be fooled.