Baby Changing Essentials

[zoobaby]

First baby and not from the UK originally, so I have NO idea...

What have you found to be essential for changing baby? I don't mean obvious stuff like nappies and changing mats etc, but other useful things such as wipes and CREAMS and powders. Things that will clean nicely, not cause problems for baby's skin and will soothe irritations. Things I should have in stock because I'm probably going to need them on the spur of the moment.

Also, what's most practical - e.g. cloths or cotton buds or cotton pads?

Would you have different advice if baby is a boy, as I'm told they're a bit more fiddly to clean?

Please share your experiences.

Water and cotton wool at first, then pampers sensitive. Never really had nappy rash but first sign of any redness and I'd give DS a quick coat of olive oil.

Oh old tea towels. Dd is renowned for having wee as soon as her bum is out always have an old tea towel handy to soak it all n wipe up

I found Kamillosan very good for nappy rash. Sudocrem formed a barrier but doesn't really soothe. For messy changes, I used wipes; for pee, just cotton wool pads and water in a little ramekin, as others have suggested. So my changing bag had a fold-up changing mat, pads, some Kamillosan squeezed into an old pot of eye cream, nappy sacks, one of Waitrose's smaller packs of wipes and a change of outfit.