Your baby will require a diaper change before or after each feeding as well as whenever she done a poop. Newborns typically need diaper changes about every two hours.
How often should I change my newborn baby’s nappies?
There is no set time frame for how often you should change a newborn’s nappy, but typically it will be every two to four hours. However, if the nappy is wet or soiled, then it needs to be changed sooner. It is also important to keep an eye on your baby’s bowel movements, as there can be signs that indicate when a nappy change is necessary.
How Long Can You Leave a Nappy On a Newborn?
A newborn baby will need to be changed every 1-2 hours.
This means that the nappy should be removed and a new one put on after each feed or if the baby is wet.
Leaving a nappy on for too long can lead to yeast infections, which are not only painful but could also cause serious health problems in the future.
Should I change newborn nappy at night?
There is no right or wrong answer to this question as every baby is different. Some babies will sleep through the night without needing a new nappy, while others will wake up wet or uncomfortable. If you are worried about leaving your baby in a soiled nappy for too long, it might be a good idea to change them at least once during the night. This will help to ensure that they stay healthy and comfortable.
If you do decide to change your baby’s nappy at night, it is important to make sure that you are as quiet as possible so as not to disturb them. Try to avoid waking them up unnecessarily, as this could cause them to become unsettled and difficult to put back to sleep. If you do need to change their nappy in the middle of the night, try to keep it as quick and easy as possible.
The bottom line is that there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to changing a newborn’s nappy – it depends on your baby.
Should I wake Baby to Change a Dirty Nappy?
Yes! It’s useful to have a clean nappy in a handy location so you can grab them to do a quick nighttime change. But if you see your child has done a dirty nappy, then always change them instantly as leaving a baby to sit in a soiled nappy will cause a painful nappy rash. I know that you might not want to wake your child at night, but a little bit of practice means you can often do this and let them sleep through it.
Baby poo is often very acidic on their sensitive baby’s skin and even if you have put a barrier cream on, it will cause a rash. Newborn’s dirty nappy will need changing straight away, as soon as you see it. And just know, if changing their nappy does wake them, once you have a fresh nappy on them they will sleep a lot better anyway!
Breastfed babies tend to poo little and often so will need changing more frequently.
Tips for newborn nappy changing
Changing your newborn’s diaper for the first time can be a frightening experience.
Your companion and you, on the other hand, will quickly acquire accustomed to it. After all, you’ll have lots of opportunities to practice! These suggestions should be of use to you along the road.
Changing your newborn’s diaper for the first time can be a frightening experience. Your companion and you, on the other hand, will quickly acquire accustomed to it. After all, you’ll have lots of opportunities to practice! These suggestions should be of use to you along the road.
Decide Whether to Use Cloth Nappies or Disposables
The first step is to select the type of diaper you will be using for your child. This is totally a question of personal preference, so consider which way is the most appropriate for you, your lifestyle, and your baby. It’s handy to use disposable diapers, especially during the first few weeks when you’re trying to get a handle on caring for your new baby.
However, if you are environmentally conscious, it may be important to you to know that disposables generate a lot of garbage that takes generations to decompose. These days, you may also purchase biodegradable nappies, which contain less or no chemical gels or bleaches and decompose more quickly than conventional nappies.
Reusable cloth nappies are available in a variety of brightly colored styles and pricing ranges to suit any budget. When used with washable or disposable liners to collect the worst of any poop, as well as booster pads for added absorbency, cloth diapers are very effective.
Given that you’ll be reusing the diapers until your child is potty trained, and you may even be able to use them for a second child, they’re usually less expensive than disposables in the long term.
Make certain that your nappies are appropriate for newborns.
No matter whether you choose disposable or cloth nappies, make sure that the nappies allow for the exposure of your baby’s umbilical cord stump.
An opening in the top of nappies made specifically for newborns is cut out to accommodate your baby’s umbilical stump. They’ll allow the little wound to breathe and heal properly once it’s been dropped off. You’ll need to use these diapers for at least the first few weeks of your child’s life.
Additionally, you may be able to fold the front half of a conventional disposable diaper in order to achieve the same result as well.
Have Plenty In
If using cloth nappies, read our guide to how many you need and how to wash them. Get into your washing routine early on to ensure you have plenty to last you.
With disposables baby’s nappies, there is nothing worse than having to run out at midnight for nappies so make sure you get all you need for those first few weeks.
Ensure you have all your baby’s nappy changing accessories at hand
For cloth nappies, this means washable wipes, your nappy bucket and a working washing machine! For disposables, you will need wipes and nappy sacks.
A barrier cream is useful to prevent nappy rash, but ensure it is one suitable for use with reusable nappies or alternatively ensures you have plenty of paper liners.
Some people using disposable use a nappy disposal system to put dirty nappies into, this however is a tad excessive and not really needed. A dirty nappy can go straight into your outside bin, you don’t need to wrap plastic in even more plastic!
Whether using disposables or cloth nappies ensure you have plenty of baby wipes. We’ve done a detailed article on baby wipes and why reusables are fantastic for this. Cotton wool is fine for those first weeks. If you are using disposable baby wipes remember to use alcohol-free baby wipes and never flush wipes, they are not designed to be flushed.
Change your baby’s Nappy Frequently to Avoid Nappy Rash!
Some babies have sensitive skin and the baby’s nappy need to be changed immediately after a wee to avoid their skin becoming irritated or infected. A wet nappy can sit and irritate a babies sensitive skin. Others aren’t concerned by the presence of moisture. It’s possible that you won’t notice that your baby is wet until her nappy grows heavy if you’re using disposable nappies, because they absorb moisture so well.
Every couple of hours, test for wetness with a clean finger to ensure that it is not excessive. Some newborn babies’ nappy is equipped with a wetness indicator, but this is not required.
You don’t have to wake your baby up in the middle of the night to change her diaper. However, if she wakes up for a feed, take advantage of the opportunity to change her; otherwise, she may wake up later because she is in discomfort. Maintain as much calm and silence as possible during the transition.
Nappy changing is a critical part of caring for your newborn baby. Make sure you have the right supplies to make it easier on yourself and take care of how you do it so as not to cause any unnecessary irritation or infection. Remember that every nappy change is an opportunity to bond with your little one by talking softly and gently while making their world just a bit more comfortable.
This article was written by: Gian MIller – Full-Time Writer, Baby Whisperer & Dad of 3.
Gian spends a lot of his time writing. A self-proclaimed baby whisperer, Gian has been through it all with his own children and is passionate about sharing his hard-won wisdom with other parents. When he’s not writing or changing diapers, you can find him playing the guitar or watching baseball (or preferably both at the same time).
