While different aspects of daily baby care can be a source of joy, most first-time parents tend to view diaper changing with some degree of displeasure and unease. Yet diaper changing isn’t as complicated an affair as some tend to think; all it takes is a bit of practice and you'll find that keeping your baby clean and happy is a simple task. One thing that you should never avoid is promptly changing your baby's diaper as soon as it needs it, as procrastination could cause skin irritation and diaper rash for your little one.

What You Need

Before you begin, make sure you have the following supplies on hand and in easy reach:

1. A clean Fine Baby® diaper
2. Warm water and cotton balls for babies with sensitive skin or a clean washcloth or Fine Baby® wipes
3. Diaper rash ointment or petroleum jelly (for preventing rashes)
4. A changing pad or towel for placing under your baby
5. A change of clothes if the diaper has leaked

Getting Down to Business

Before you undress your baby, make sure that all your supplies are within easy reach. It is never OK to leave your baby unattended at any point, as you never know when your newborn will decide to roll over.

1. Before you begin changing your baby's diapers, wash and dry your hands well to make sure you aren't sporting any germs that could cause skin irritation or infections for your baby.
2. Spread a waterproof or precautionary changing cloth under your baby before you begin to avoid unwanted messes getting on the surface you're using at the time.
3. Unfasten the diaper and check its contents to decide your next step before removing it from underneath the baby. If it's a bowel movement, use the clean part of the soiled diaper to wipe away most of the mess before throwing it in the bin, which should also be in close reach so that you don't have to leave your baby's side or take your attention off it. Clean the baby's front thoroughly with warm water or a Fine Baby® wipe, then lift the legs and wipe its bottom. Pat dry well before applying any ointment or putting on the new Fine Baby® diaper.
4. Diapers should not be too tight around the waist and legs either; you can tell a diaper is too snug if it leaves marks on your baby's skin. If the umbilical stump is still attached, fold the diaper downward at the waist to avoid having it rub against the raw area, thus leaving it exposed to the air and preventing it from getting wet.
5. Dispose of the soiled diapers by folding them over tightly and throwing them in the garbage, which should be regularly emptied out to avoid the development of odors in your bathroom or changing area.
6. Change your baby's clothing if dirty, and wash your hands properly with soap and water.

What you might not know is that your toddler is hard at work every day building its skills and developing its abilities, busily learning through play concepts that will help it increase its physical and mental powers. From learning about shapes and sizes to practicing its turn-taking and sharing skills to building its coordination, your child is immersed in self-study every single day.

You can help your toddler on this mission by asking it questions to improve its verbal skills, playing along and asking questions about its pretend games to stimulate its imagination, and giving it freedom to experiment and try new things without minding the mess that's sure to follow.

Here are a few reasons on why play time is so important to your little one:

• Playtime allows your child to stretch its imagination.
• Children learn by doing, making discoveries about how things work, and understanding the world around them through play.
• Playtime helps toddlers build their self-confidence as they determine what things they are good at.
• The sharing and taking turns involved in play teaches children about proper interaction and socialization with other kids.
• Playtime helps toddlers deal with negative emotions such as frustration, anger and sadness.
• Verbally interacting with other children, dolls or even imaginary friends allows your child to boost its language development rate.
• Playtime gives kids a sense of empowerment as they flex their playtime muscles and proudly show their parents or friends what they can do.
• The creativity and building involved in some types of play can also develop children's problem solving skills.
• Eye-hand coordination is improved when children use blocks, puzzles, clay, crayons and other similar toys that require the use of fine motor skills.
• Active play helps keep your child fit and physically healthy.

Nine Recommended Toys for Young Toddlers:

Giving your little one the right tools to develop its skills means you're going to have to find the right kind of toys that gives it proper mental and physical stimulation. Here is a list of what toys you should look for:

• Moving: Get your toddler toys that it can ride, push or pull, such as a doll stroller.
• Creating: Give your child large crayons to let it try its hand at art.
• Music: Buying your toddler an inexpensive set of musical instruments such as a small drum or a kazoo will help it develop its musical ear.
• Filling and Emptying: Most toddlers will be fascinated by containers in which they can place things and empty them out, so buy your little one a toy that follows that principle.
• Manipulating: Toys featuring ribbons, switches, buttons and other gadgets develop the baby's motor skills.
• Pretending: Stimulate you child's imagination by giving it a doll house, a train track, a set of cars, or a kitchen set.
• Splashing: During bath time add a few toys in the tub and let your child play and splash around with them, allowing it to see the toys fill up and sink for a lesson in science.
• Reading: Interactive story books with touchy-feely patches and flaps are ideal for children in this age group.

Since a newborn’s skin is rather sensitive, it’s not uncommon for newborn babies to develop rashes or allergic skin reactions. The good news is that with proper skin care these conditions can be treated, prevented and minimized. Caring for your little one’s skin isn’t a complicated process, but it does require some diligence on your part. Here are some basic guidelines to help you offer your infant the right kind of skin care during that first critical month or two

Bathing Frequency:

Avoid bathing your newborn too often, as doing so can remove the natural oils that protect the baby’s skin and expose it to potential allergens that can cause rashes or skin problems such as eczema. Giving your newborn a sponge bath 2-3 times a week during the first month should be sufficient to keep it clean. You can wipe your baby’s mouth and diaper area clean with water or a gentle cleanser during regular days. For newborns with darker skin tones, sponge bathing once a week is recommended as their skin type tends to be drier and more vulnerable to skin problems such as eczema. You should also make sure to dry your baby’s skin properly after baths to avoid the development of diaper rashes.

Baby Products:

During the first few months after your baby’s birth, it’s best to avoid using baby products that might contain skin irritating allergens, particularly if you have a family history of asthma, skin problems, or allergies. Other things that you should keep away from coming into contact with your newborn’s skin include chemicals, detergents, perfumes, and clothe dyes, as exposing your child’s skin to such chemicals can put it at greater risk of developing skin allergies later on.

Diaper Changing:

Make sure to change your baby’s diaper as soon as it is soiled to avoid the development of diaper rash. To treat and prevent diaper rash, check your baby’s diapers frequently and change them promptly when wet or soiled; wipe the diaper area thoroughly with water or a mild fragrance-free cleanser, or squirt water onto the diaper area and pat dry if the irritation is severe; let the diaper area air and fully dry before putting on a fresh Fine Baby® diaper; and avoid using baby powder until your baby’s rash is gone, since powders promote the development of yeast growths.

Baby Laundry:

Wash your newborn’s clothes before having your infant wear them, and make sure to use fragrant-free and dye-free detergents when doing so to avoid exposing your baby’s skin to irritant chemicals. Wash your baby’s clothes and blankets separately from your family’s laundry, and rinse them more thoroughly than you would normal washing.

When to Call the Doctor:

The good thing about most newborn infant rashes is that they tend to be harmless and usually clear up on their own without medical treatment. However, it’s important that you talk to your pediatrician if your baby develops fluid-filled blisters, which can indicate the presence of a bacterial infection or herpes. You should also have your baby checked if small red or purplish spots appear on your baby’s body, which might be caused by a viral or a possibly dangerous bacterial infection. If your baby develops a diaper rash that doesn’t clear up within three days, talk to your doctor.