Clean & Comfortable Baby

Changing

At first, babies need to be changed about 10 times in a 24-hour window. That’s every 3 hours plus two extra changes which are inevitably necessary. It can feel like all you do in the beginning is, in fact, change nappies. So … while it’s a bit draining, it will stand to you to set up systems that work for you and keep baby healthy. It’s actually a time I use to have a really good laugh with my baby, blowing raspberries on his belly, play nibbling on his feet, singing songs, tickling, and all those silly games.

Changing mat

It’s great to be able to move your changing mat around as you need to. For loads of reasons, I’d recommend having at least one wipeable changing mat with a hard back. Every few days I tend to put alcohol rub or Dettol spray all over mine just to keep it hygienic and then clean that off. I also put a muslin cloth under his head/face area as the surface can be cold and it’s cleaner for him that way anyway. I often use this if I want to give baby some nappy-free time (which he loves) and often put him on the mat on the floor in my bathroom while I shower.

Nappy changing bag

Wow, I searched high and low for the right nappy bag. I wanted one that had straps to carry on the back as it’s too awkward otherwise with a baby in arms. I wanted several compartments inside and an insulated area for milk/food. I wanted black to go with all the other gear and I wanted the zips to open a good way down the bag so that it’s not too hard to access what’s at the bottom. I like the fact there are a few outer pockets on this one for little things too like keys, phone, etc. for me to reach without too much effort. All in all, I would recommend the Changing Bag Backpack, from BabbleRoo.

Wipes

Baby wipes are so handy on the go but personally, I find the baby cleansing pads from Aldi are much better at cleaning. I keep a bowl of water near the changing area to moisten them. That water and bowl is changed frequently. I feel it’s more environmentally friendly that way – at least from a plastic packaging perspective.

Preventing nappy rash

Nappy rash is so terribly painful for babies and it’s totally avoidable. Sometimes, teething and certain (acidic) foods can make it very hard to avoid but generally, frequent bathing, cleaning properly at nappy changes, some nappy free time when you can and a good barrier cream will do the trick. Bepanthen is pricey but it’s absolutely worth it as an effective barrier cream. At one point I wondered if I was using too much and checked with a GP but he said it was completely safe to use.

How often do babies need to be changed?

As babies get older, the Moms and I were told it’s ok to not change wet nappies at night. Otherwise, babies should get a new nappy every three hours at least and immediately if it’s a dirty one. Nappy free time where air gets to circulate around the nappy area can really help to keep things healthy.

Treating nappy rash

If you see nappy rash emerging it’s important to take action straight away. It can get to a stage where it’s extremely painful and everybody will suffer! What worked well for me was to clean the area then let it dry. As much nappy free time as you can allow is super helpful as the air helps to dry things out.

When you need to cover up, put on some calamine lotion and let it dry. Then put on some miracle-working Sudacrem and give it a minute and then put some barrier cream (Bepanthen) over that. It’s especially important to not leave a baby with nappy rash in a wet or dirty nappy too long as it will just hurt and exacerbate the problem.

Bathing

The Schnuggle baby bath was so helpful to me because there’s a little shelf for the bum to sit on that prevents the baby from slipping forwards or backward. He could slip sideways but the rubber grip on the back was helpful to a degree for that too. I was sorry when my baby got too big for it at 6 months because the new bath he has from IKEA doesn’t give nearly as much support.

Obviously, it’s critical to make sure the water is the right temperature (right the way around the bath) before baby goes in. For that, I found this floating, star thermometer very helpful. It will let you know if the water is too hot as it will flash red.

Cleaning teeth and gums

Some babies reach 8 months and more without a single tooth. By that time, mine had six. Each baby is different.

Toothpaste or no toothpaste?

They say that you should ‘brush’ baby’s teeth and gums as soon as a teeth erupt. Many disagree as to whether toothpaste should be used. There’s a risk of them swallowing the toothpaste which isn’t great but the risk of tooth decay is also real. Having checked with multiple dentists and academic reports with differing opinions I decided ‘no toothpaste’ because I live in a country where the water is very heavily fluoridated. I like these Wild & Stone Organic Baby Bamboo toothbrushes. The multipack is reasonably priced and they are environmentally friendly.

Drool rash

When baby starts teething the extra drool produced can cause a rash to appear on the face. My GP recommended cleaning and drying the area and then applying Vaseline to create a barrier and give the skin a chance to heal.

My little one had very red marks under his chins where drool or something would gather and despite every effort to keep the area clean and dry, I struggled. Eventually, the GP prescribed some Hydrocortisone cream and it disappeared immediately.

If ever in doubt, best to check with a medical professional

Prevention is much better than cure though so it’s very much worthwhile in investing in systems and processes that keep baby fresh, dry, clean and comfortable. Whenever I had a medical situation with my baby that I wasn’t sure how to handle, the first thing I did was check with a GP. They know best and it was always reassuring to get their opinion on what treatments were safe and effective.