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Diapering:

What you need: Diaper (cloth or disposable) Wipes Fasteners (for cloth) Diaper rash cream Changing pad

Wiping: With wipes, clean baby by wiping from front to back. Never wipe from back to front especially in girls as this could cause a Urinary Tract Infection. You may lift the baby’s legs to get a better reach. Don’t forget to wipe between fat rolls and creases. When changing males it’s a good idea to keep the penis covered to prevent urination.

Disposable Diapers:

If you're using disposable diapers: • Open the diaper and slide it under your baby while gently lifting his legs and feet. The back part with the adhesive strips should be about level with your baby's belly button. • Bring the front part of the diaper up between your baby's legs and onto his belly. • Bring the adhesive strips around and fasten snugly. Be careful not to stick the tape onto your baby's skin.

Cloth Diapers:

If you're using cloth diapers: • Fold the square in half to form a triangle. (For newborns or smaller babies, you might need to fold the long side of the triangle down a few inches so it fits your baby better.) • Place your baby in the diaper by gently lifting the baby's feet and legs and sliding the diaper under. The longest side of the triangle should be behind your baby's back, with the opposite corner pointing down toward his feet. • Bring the front part of the diaper up between your baby's legs and onto his belly. • Bring one side around so it overlaps the center part. • Bring the other side around so it overlaps the other two parts. Fasten all three parts together with a safety pin.

Umbilical cord care:

Keep the area clean. New evidence proves that leaving the cord stump alone is more helpful than cleaning with alcohol. Keep the area dry. The quicker the base dries up, the sooner the stump will fall off. Sponge baths only. Because you must keep the area semi-dry, you have to wait until your baby’s cord falls off to give regular baths.

Signs of infection in the cord: Redness and swelling around the cord Continues to bleed Oozes yellow puss Produces a foul smelling discharge

Preventing diaper rash: *note- diaper rash is common, but if the rash lasts for more than 3 days, a doctor should be called.

• Change diapers frequently, especially after bowel movements. • Use a diaper ointment to prevent and heal rashes. Look for one with zinc oxide, which acts as a barrier against moisture. A&D ointment is also soothing for minor rashes. • Let your baby go undiapered for part of the day. Let your baby lay on top of a few diapering cloths. (If you have a boy, place another cloth diaper over his penis when he's on his back so he doesn't spray you.) • If you use cloth diapers, wash them in dye- and fragrance-free detergents, and avoid drying them with scented drying sheets. Care of an intact penis: • Leave the foreskin alone; wash only what is external and readily visible. • Never forcibly retract your son's foreskin and don't permit anyone else to do so. • Make certain your son's medical attendants understand his foreskin is not to be retracted or tampered with. • Always stay with your son during his doctor visits and exams. • When teaching the child to bathe and care for himself, let the child retract his own foreskin if he wants to. He will not retract it beyond the point of discomfort. • A child's foreskin does not need to be retracted regularly for cleaning until the end of puberty. It should not be retracted during early childhood.*

Care of the Circumcision Information taken from http://www.cpmc.org/services/pregnancy/information/circumcised_care.html The two most common methods for circumcision are: 1)The Gomco (or Sheldon Clamp) and 2)The Plastibell Ask your obstetrician or nurse which type of circumcision method was used on your baby.

The Gomco (or Sheldon Clamp) Circumcision • A petroleum jelly gauze dressing is placed on the penis after the circumcision. Keep this dressing in place until it falls off, usually after two or more diaper changes. • After removing the petroleum jelly dressing, apply a small amount of petroleum jelly to a 4x4 gauze pad and place over the circumcision with each diaper change for the next 1-2 days. This will prevent the diaper from sticking to the healing skin. • During diaper changes, gently wash around the penis with a clean, warm, wet cloth to remove stool or urine and pat dry - avoid rubbing. It is normal for the first few diaper changes to show some spotting of blood. • Secure the baby's diaper loosely for several days to prevent uncomfortable pressure on the circumcision.

The Plastibell Circumcision:

• A plastic rim is left on the baby's penis after the circumcision. The plastic rim usually drops off 5-8 days later. Call your baby's health care provider if the rim has not dropped off 8 days after the circumcision or if the rim has slipped down the shaft of the penis. • No special dressing is necessary. Do not use petroleum jelly. • Check the circumcision for swelling. • A dark brown or black ring encircling the plastic rim is normal and will disappear after the rim drops off. • You may bathe and diaper your baby normally, but do not rub or scrub the circumcised area. For circumcisions with silver nitrate applied, the area will look black/gray and requires no special care. For circumcisions with suture, sutures are self-dissolving and there is no need to remove them.

Notify your pediatrician if...

• the baby does not void within 24 hours of the circumcision
• the area becomes red or swollen
• the circumcision starts to bleed
• there is foul-smelling discharge
• if your baby does not urinate regularly (at least 6 wet diapers per 24 hour period)