Diaper change
Some advice for successfully changing your baby’s diaper
A real hygiene and skin care step, changing your baby’s diaper is repeated very often throughout the day (up to 7 to 8 times a day at birth). It is an important step that requires effective, gentle and appropriate products that are extremely kind to their delicate skin.
The skin on the bottom is a delicate area that deserves special attention. Dampness, the acidity of urine, the corrosive nature of faeces and diapers rubbing against the skin are everyday causes of irritation.
Make this ritual a moment that your baby will appreciate. Take advantage of this moment of tenderness to talk to them and tickle them. They will thus gradually develop their sensory capacities.
To cleanse their bottom
• Regularly change your child’s diaper, as soon as they are damp, preferably shortly after eating.
• Adjust the diaper size to the size of your child: a diaper that is too small causes mechanical rubbing responsible for diaper rash and does not provide sufficient protection against any leaks.
• When changing their diaper, very gently cleanse the skin. Cleanse your baby with a no-rinse cleansing fluid, a cleansing milk or thick diaper wipes. For those who prefer to rinse with water, choose a cleansing gel or an emollient soap. The bottom should be cleansed from top to bottom, from the cleanest area to the dirtiest, so as not to spread impurities.
- For little girls, cleanse from the vulva (outer folds of the lips and then the middle) towards the buttocks.
- For little boys, cleanse the penis, the scrotum and all around, and then the buttocks.
• Let the skin air dry whenever possible; otherwise remember to dry the folds well in order to prevent any maceration.
To protect their fragile skin
• Don’t wait until your baby’s bottom is red before taking care of it!
• As a preventive measure, apply a thick layer of a protective diaper cream based on zinc oxide to their bottom, in order to protect the skin from any possible phenomenon of maceration or irritation.
• If you prefer to use talc, choose one specially formulated with zinc oxide, and pay particular attention to the folds when using it. Be careful not to sprinkle in the direction of baby’s nose, mouth and eyes!
• In the event of redness in the diaper area, leave baby’s bottom uncovered as much as possible and use a suitable skin care product. You will find more information on irritation of the diaper area in the “Your baby has an irritated bottom” section.
For further information on this topic, we recommend that you ask your pharmacist or a healthcare professional for advice. They will be able to direct you towards the products best suited to your needs.