Preparing for a nappy change

When you are changing nappies, there are a number of things to consider before you can start. These include the most suitable type of nappy to use, where to change the nappy, safety of the child, and how to dispose of dirty nappies and clothing.

Type of nappy

Disposable nappies are already folded and ready to go. They come ready to use in different sizes for different aged babies. You need only have the right size and style, know which way to put them on, stick on the labels and away you go.

Cloth nappies can be either towelling or flannelette and the choice is usually a personal one. Both are folded in the same way but I'll tell you more about how to fold nappies later. There are a number of ways of securing cloth nappies, including the use of pins, velcro or plastic clips. Which you use will usually depend on the product preferred by the baby's family or the child care service you work in.

Where to change the nappy

In most cases when you're caring for children, you will have access to a change area. You will need to ensure it is hygienically clean, which means wiping down the mat that after each change with warm soapy water. If faeces or blood is dropped onto the mat, then follow the warm soapy wash with a spray and wipe of bleach. After lunch and at the end of the day, the change bench should be washed down with bleach and left in the sun to dry if possible.

Safety

Safety should always be considered while changing nappies. Keep everything that could be a safety hazard to the baby out of reach, such as all chemicals, pins and creams.

If using pins in nappies, always make sure that when they are not in a nappy they are closed and kept out of the children's reach. When pins are in use, the safety catches must be on and they should be pointing outwards on the child's body.

Many people feel that you should always wear gloves when changing nappies. The choice is yours, but you should wear gloves when changing a soiled nappy or dealing with body fluids other than urine, such as blood - this is an Occupational Health and Safety standard.

When changing a child, you must always keep one hand on them to prevent them rolling or climbing off the change bench, no matter how stable you believe the baby to be. Before you begin, make sure you have everything you need within reach so you do not need to leave the child.

Used nappies and clothing

Have somewhere to store used nappies and clothing. Nappy buckets, cloth buckets and bins are a useful idea. You should always make sure that they all have child-proof lids. If a nappy or clothing is soiled then you should sluice it before storing in the nappy bins.

Empty bins as required during the day, for example, if the bin is full or gives off an offensive odour. Empty and clean with soapy water then disinfectant or bleach at the end of the day.