Proper Diapering 

Whether or not you are a first time parent or a newbie, you will soon realize that there are many different ways to put on a diaper for your baby or toddler. While some techniques work with one child, the same may not work for another.  Don't get overwhelmed by diapering.  Diapering, like potty training, is part of the baby milestones.

Cloth or disposable diapers

Probably the first thing you need to consider when thinking of diapering is to either use cloth or disposable diapers. Cloth diapers are earth-friendly and cheap compared to disposable ones. You only need to wash, dry, iron and fold these diapers and they can be used again. However, babies on the average soil their diapers up to 10 times a day. This means that parents will be washing up to 70 cloth diapers a week. This does not include the days for double diapering. It is worth mentioning that it is common for parents who choose cloth diapers to apply double diapering to absorb more wetness.

Some parents who use cloth diapers will resort to using disposables, such as Huggies diapers, during the night or when going out. Disposable diapers are able to absorb more wetness compared to cloth diapers.  This gives the baby and the parents a more restful and uninterrupted night's sleep. Disposable diapers are also great on the go because you only need to dispose of the soiled diaper in the trash.  When choosing a brand, make sure it is a well known and proven brand like Pampers or Huggies diapers.

Learning about diapers

There are lots of resources available for learning proper baby diapering techniques. First you can ask family and friends to teach you the different ways to fold a cloth diaper. Try your mom first. She's had experience with diapering so she should be a wealth of information. If your parents are unavailable, some of your friends or siblings who have become parents might be able to give you some tips.

Books and parenting magazine are also full of helpful tips for baby diapering. They have diapering reviews, so it's a great place to learn some diapering techniques. If you're still having problems then the Internet is a vast web of resource where you can find different diapering reviews, techniques in diapering, folding diapers, and disposable diaper brands.

Fast and easy diapering tip

It is good to practice cloth diapering before trying on your child.  Here's a fast and easy diapering technique that works well for most people. For this example, you will need cloth diapers, safety pins and your baby or toddler. It is also possible to practice on cloth diapering on a life-sized baby doll. After you have made sure that your baby is clean, fold the cloth diaper into a square. Now fold the square in the middle to form a triangle. Make sure that your triangle is facing downward. Place the baby in the middle of your inverted triangle. Draw the edges of your diaper to your baby's middle and secure it with a safety pin or a fastener.

Change dirty diapers as soon as possible

Babies will need to be changed as soon as the diaper is soiled or wet. Soiled diapers can be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria so be sure that they are changed as soon as possible. Whether or not you use a cloth diaper or a disposable one, rashes might occur. To prevent this, make sure your baby's bottom and the genital areas are clean before putting on a new diaper. Use mild soap when washing your baby's sensitive skin, disposable towelettes, cotton balls or diaper wipes. If the rash persists there are ointments that contain zinc oxide that help form a barrier between the wet cloth and your baby's sensitive skin. It would also be prudent to keep your baby without a diaper on for part of the day. This helps air the skin out and allow it to dry naturally.

Be patient in diapering

Just like the first time you tied your shoelaces, it takes time to master a new skill. Your first bow was probably lopsided or not too tight. The same is true for diapering. Your first diaper might have been falling off the baby's bottom or too loose on the legs, but after time and lots of practice, you do not only get to develop your own technique but your diapering skills will be perfected.