How to Change and Dress Your Baby

1. Unfasten the diaper: Undo the pins or fasteners on cloth diapers, or the tabs on disposables.
2. Clean up: If there’s a bowel movement, use the inside of the diaper to wipe it away from your baby. Then fold the diaper over itself, so the clean side is under the baby’s bottom.
3. Clean your baby’s front: If your baby is younger than one month, use water and cotton balls and dry with a washcloth. If he’s older than a month, you can use diaper wipes. Pay particular attention to cleaning creases in the skin.
4. Lift legs: While holding your baby’s legs in the air, clean his bottom, always wiping from front to back. With his legs lifted, remove the dirty diaper and slide a clean one underneath. For boys, keep a clean diaper in front of the penis to protect yourself from getting sprayed with urine.
    
   
5. Put on the fresh diaper: If your baby is a boy, point his penis down while putting on the diaper to prevent leaks from the top of the diaper.
   1. If you’re using cloth diapers: Make sure the extra fabric is in front for boys and in back for girls. If you’re working with diapers that need pins, put your fingers between the cloth and the pin as you slide in the pin.
   2. If you’re using disposable diapers: Make sure the adhesive tabs don’t touch your baby’s skin.
6. Dealing with dirty diapers: If any formed stool is present, drop it in the toilet. Disposables should be tied in plastic bags and discarded. Store cloth diapers in a lidded diaper pail until picked up or washed.