Changing a boy diaper isn’t too hard, if you know what you’re doing. Whether you’re changing your first baby diaper ever or are used to changing baby girl diapers, or just want to brush up on the skills, today we’re going over the basics of how to change a baby boy’s diaper.
Before my boys were born, I had never changed a baby diaper in my life. Heck, I hadn’t even help a baby since my cousin was born, 18 years prior! The thought of handling changing a baby boy diaper was intimidating, but I quickly learned not to be scared.
How to change a baby boy’s diaper
Thankfully, changing a diaper is pretty easy, especially once you know how to avoid getting peed on by your baby boy. With a few tips and tricks, you’ll be a pro!
Get everything ready ahead of time!
Even if your baby is crying or the smell is unbearable, take the time to get your changing area ready. Grab a diaper and open it up, remove some wipes, get the clothes out. Not only does this make your diaper changing more efficient, but it means you won’t have to leave the baby unattended at any time.
This is especially helpful when you’re doing night diaper changes, since you’re usually exhausted and not fully there.
Remove your baby boy’s clothes.
If your baby had a blowout, you’ll want to remove their top layer (onsie, etc) from the bottom – this helps to ensure you don’t get poop on your baby’s head. If the baby is in a onesie and didn’t ruin their clothes, simply unsnap the onesie and pull the tabs back, leaving the entire diaper area free of clothing. Same applies for sleepers.
Place a towel under.
This is my favorite key to a clean diaper change for a baby boy. Grab a cloth diaper insert and place it under the baby’s booty. Some people use a new diaper in the same way, but I feel that’s a waste of a diaper. Instead, place something absorbent under your baby boy incase he pees or poops before the new diaper is put on.
Open the diaper, place towel on top immediately.
This is especially important for boys! The cold air startles the baby once you remove his diaper and can make him pee all over you, which is no fun for anyone. It’s not unheard of for a baby boy to pee in his own face!
I like to use another cloth diaper insert, but others use a wipe or a clean diaper. Another option is to crack the diaper to let in cool air, and catch the pee in the dirty diaper. I don’t find this to be as foolproof though.
Find more tips for how to avoid a baby boy peeing on you here.
Wipe down baby boy.
If your baby is a newborn, some find normal wipes are too harsh and can cause irritation or a rash. If this is the case, try using a damp cloth instead. My kids have very sensitive skin and we found WaterWipes to be the only wipe not to cause a rash.
For a boy, you want to wipe everything down, and make sure you’re wiping the testicles and crevices between the thighs. If your child was circumcised, gently wipe the site and apply petroleum jelly.
Apply any creams and allow air time if possible.
With boys, speed is key to a mess free diaper change, but if your baby has a diaper rash, you’ll want to apply diaper rash cream and, if possible, allow a bit of time to air dry.
Close up the diaper and dress.
Place your opened diaper underneath the baby, getting the back of the diaper usually about ¼ up his back. This helps to catch and prevent a diaper explosion. Point baby’s penis down before closing up the diaper. This helps ensure pee doesn’t come up out of the diaper!
Close the tabs, attaching them about 1-2 inches from one another, depending on the baby’s size. Finally, run a finger down the edge of the leg holes to make sure the ruffled edge is out. This helps catch and avoid leaks. (if you find leaks happening a lot, you might need to go up a size in diapers) Continue dressing your baby.
Fold up diaper and clean up.
Once your baby is in a safe place, fold up the diaper and throw it away, then clean up the area.
You did it! You changed a baby boy diaper! Read more baby posts here:
Everything You Need To Know About Baby Led Weaning
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