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As cloth diapers are cheaper and they can be washed and reused, some parents prefer them. There are different types of cloth diapers. The traditional ones are square shaped and need to be pinned up. Modern ones are layered and have Velcro snaps. There are absorbent liners that can be used inside cloth diapers, which are disposable. Cloth diapers are double lined for greater protection for night use. Diaper covers made of plastics are available to prevent leaks. There are two ways of fastening traditional cloth diapers: the triangular fold and rectangular fold.

Triangular Fold:
The square is folded into half to form a triangle.
Place the baby gently on the triangle in such a way that his back is on the longest side and the opposite corner pointing to his feet.
Bring the front part between his legs onto his stomach.
Bring one side to overlap the middle part.
Bring the other side to overlap the two parts. Pin them together using a safety pin.
Rectangular Fold:
Fold the square into a rectangle.
Place the baby on the rectangle.
Bring the bottom part between his legs onto his stomach.
Bring one side around and pin with the center part then bring the other side and pin again.
Tips to remember while using cloth diapers:
If the diaper requires pins, use large pins with plastic safety heads. While pinning the diaper place your hand between the baby and the diaper. This will ensure that you do not prick the baby. Alternatively you can use diaper tapes.
Diapers that are wet can be put into the diaper bin. If soiled, the stools should be emptied into the toilet. You can rinse them if you want before putting them into the diaper bin, to wash later.
Use a solution of baking soda and water for your last rinse, as this will control odor.
Wash diapers separately. Do not do it with the rest of your laundry.
Use mild detergent that is recommended for baby clothing.
Use hot water to rinse each wash.
Wash your hands well after each diaper change to prevent germs from spreading.

By the time, the baby is a few weeks old; you will have a bath routine in place. Even so it will help to remember the following:

Bathing environment should be calm and warm.
The baby should not be hungry or tired.
Everything you need should be ready and at hand.
Some babies do not like having a bath. So instead you can ‘top and tail’ or sponge the baby everyday for sometime:
Wrap your baby in a towel to stop them from waving their arms. Undress them only if you want to.
Wipe his eye with a little cotton wool that has been dipped in cooled boiled water. Begin with the inside of his eye and work outward. Wipe the other eye with another piece of cotton wool.
Use wet cotton wool to wipe over and behind his ear. Use fresh piece of cotton wool for each ear.
Wipe their face, neck and under their chin with damp flannel or cotton wool.
Pat dry with a soft towel making sure that they are not damp in the creases.
Wipe dry their hands.
Change their nappy after cleaning nappy area and change into clean clothes. Using special bedtime clothes can help them get used to a bedtime routine.
Hair: You need not wash your baby’s hair everyday. Just wiping it with a damp flannel cloth will remove any dirt that is there.

Nails: The easiest way to cut your baby’s nails is to nibble them off. You can use a pair of scissors to cut them off while they are asleep. The best time would be after a bath, when the nails are soft.

Ears and Nose: These organs clean themselves, so just wipe them gently with wet cotton wool.

Cradle cap: This is a yellowish crust on the baby’s scalp, which looks a little like dandruff. This occurs when the baby is between a month and six months old and almost all babies have it. This does not harm the baby in any way and normally disappears as the baby grows up. If it is noticeable you can do the following:
Use a baby shampoo.
Massage one tablespoon of olive oil or almond oil into his scalp. Leave it on for an hour then wash it clean by shampooing.
Apply oil carefully to ensure that it does not enter the baby’s eyes. The baby should not touch the oil as it may get into his eyes after that.
Bicarbonate of soda rinse: Dissolve a teaspoon of soda in 500 ml of warm water and apply on scalp with the help of cotton wool. Shampoo thoroughly. Use this regime once or twice a week.
The flakes will become loose if you gently comb his hair gently.
Never pick or scratch to loosen the flakes.
If serious or you see red patches on the baby’s neck and behind his ears then consult a doctor immediately.

The newborn baby’s first nappy content is meconium, which is a greenish black substance that was in the baby’s system before he was born. It can upset you if you are not prepared for it. But its presence shows that the baby’s excretory system is functioning normally. The stools of breast-feeding babies are not smelly and are normally mustard or yellow colored and extremely loose. If the stool is green-colored sometimes this means that bile salts have not been re-absorbed totally. This may mean that your baby has colic, but sometimes happens without any reason.
Most often breast-feeding mothers can see a direct relationship between what they eat and their baby’s stools. Babies who are bottle-fed have stools that is more formed and light brown in color. While being weaned, babies may have multi-colored stools. More often than not, they are of the same color as what they have eaten. Sometimes you may observe that some types of food have been passed through without being digested. Do not include these foods as part of the baby’s diet for a few days.

The frequency with which your baby passes stools may vary. Sometimes breast-fed babies may not pass stools for many days or even a week. This is normal. Others may fill their nappy just before every feed. Some babies cry while passing stools. This is normal and if the stools are soft then your baby is not constipated. You will see that your baby’s stools change a little from day to day. If there is a big change, like the stool has become very loose, very smelly, very hard or especially if there is mucous or blood in the stools then you should consult your doctor immediately.

Baby Stools , Bathing & Cleaning , Cloth Diapers

New mothers will learn that the two activities that take up most of their time is feeding the baby and cleaning him. You will have to change diapers through the day and night at regular intervals for the first few months. Sometimes you will realize that through the day all you have done is feed and clean the baby and have not found time to do any of the other household chores. The only way to handle this pressure is to be organized and have a system arranging nappies, clothes, changing sheets, wash clothes and everything required by the baby in such a way that you can find it easily. Here are a few suggestions made by some parents:

If your house has more than one floor, establish a ‘nappy changing station’ on each floor of the house so that you have all the things you need on every floor and you don’t have to keep running up and down.
Keep a bag packed and ready with all the necessary baby items so that you can just pick it up and leave when you are going out.
Baby clothes can be put into a bucket of dilute soap solution, as soon as they are soiled and let to soak before washing.
Buy soft muslin that can be used to wipe the baby clean.
The other activity that takes up a lot of your time with a newborn is changing his diapers. You will need sometime to get used to changing diapers. Here is a list of things that you need to keep within reach while changing diapers:
A diaper.
If you are using a cloth diaper you will need fasteners to fasten the diaper and keep it in place.
A bowl of warm water and cotton balls or clean washcloth or diaper wipes if the baby is older. Babies have soft sensitive skin; it would be best to use warm water to wash them.
Nappy rash cream or petroleum jelly for protection against rashes.
A changing mat, cloth or another diaper to place the baby on if you are not using a changing table.
Ensure that all these items are close to you, so that you don’t have to leave the baby to get these things.

Wiping Clean: Use a wet washcloth, cotton balls or baby wipes and gently clean your baby. Always clean from front to back. Never wipe from back to front and this will spread bacteria forward from the anus and cause urinary tact infection especially so in girls. You will be able to clean better if you lift your baby’s legs. Remember to clean the creases of the buttocks and thighs. While cleaning boys you should cover the penis with a clean washcloth or diaper, as exposure to air causes them to urinate on anything that is within range, which may include you. After wiping them pat dry with clean washcloth and if required apply nappy rash cream.

Disposable Diapers: If you are using disposable diapers here are a few tips you can follow:
Slip the open diaper under the baby while lifting his legs. The adhesive strip at the back must be aligned with the baby’s navel.
Bring the front of the diaper between his legs up to his belly.
Bring adhesive strips in front and fasten.
Dispose bowel movements in the toilet before putting diaper into garbage. This not only ensures that the diaper doesn’t stink but prevents growth of bacteria.
If the diaper is tight, you will find marks around the baby’s legs and waist. Get a larger size the next time.
If your baby is sensitive to a particular brand of diaper he may develop rash, change the diaper brand.
While fastening a diaper for a baby boy, make sure that the penis is placed downwards; this will ensure that there are no leaks from the waistline.
Prevent diaper/nappy rash: Nappy rash is very common among babies, but if it lasts for over three days consult your doctor immediately. Tips to prevent and heal nappy rash:
Change nappy as quickly as possible every time the baby wet his nappy or soils it.
Use nappy rash cream to prevent rashes. Use a cream that contains zinc oxide, which acts as a barrier against moisture.
Do not use a diaper for your baby for a few hours each day.
While washing cloth nappies use detergents that are dye and fragrance free.
These tips should be able to give use a good start to learning to clean your baby and diaper him.