Changing the baby - do I have everything I need?

[wondering7777]

I have bought the following:

• Nappies (size 1 and 2)
• Two changing mats (one for home and one portable mat for when we're out)
• Water wipes
• Cotton wool balls
• A tube of Weleda Calendula nappy cream.

Is there anything else you need or is that all?

Oh and remember with nappy creams you need the tiniest bit and it shouldn't leave a patch (white for sudocream for example) so literally the tiniest bit then rub it in properly!

Don't go overboard with creams. Some babies don't need it much. We've not used any so far and DS is 4 months. We use wipes out and about and a mixture of wipes and cotton wool and water at home. I liked the idea of reusable wipes but never got round to organising anything. I only use nappy bags out and about at home they just get wrapped up and straight in the bin.

I'd recommend cotton wool pads, rather than balls. I found the balls quite flimsy and bits of cotton wool get stuck on baby. You can get cotton wool pads (normally oval or rectangular shape) which I find do the job better. The balls are useful when wet, for cleaning baby's eyes though!

Great suggestions. Johnson's do a massive wipe called top to toe or something I found those invaluable for big poonamis! I didn't think I needed a fancy nappy bin, not in the early days as the bin gets full very quickly, but later they were really good as you won't be changing nappies so often so they can sit there in them. You can save money by having a normal one for wees and a fancy one for poos. By fancy I mean sangenic tec or some of those. A cot top changer is really good, doesn't take up the space of a unit but saves your back. Later I used a spare bed.

And yet another cheeky wiper here - so much more effective on poo, especially early poo that is like tar. It may sound rank but you just wash them at 60 with your towels, really easy.

I second spare clothes, ds was a sick (but happy!) Baby for the first 6 months and we usually got through 4 outfits a day (not to mention about a million bibs and muslins).

Sicky, not sick. He wasn't I'll he just vommed a lot ,

Reusable nappies and wipes are better, mine have never had nappy rash because I don’t use disposables.

Reusable nappies and wipes are better, mine have never had nappy rash because I don’t use disposables.

I was planning to switch to reusables around the six week mark, after the initial newborn whirlwind is over. But to be honest I feel so stressed out by everything at the moment (big work worries due to the coronavirus situation, not to mention giving birth itself and whether I'll be able to buy everything I need for my baby) that right now I just want to go for whatever makes my life easiest. I know that sounds extremely selfish from an environmental point of view, but mentally I'm struggling to cope with everything at the moment.

We less calendular does nothing for proper nappy rash in my opinion, good to have some metanium in just incase

I use calendula cream as a barrier cream. Mostly when I'm expecting him to poo (mine is older) but for treating nappy rash only the metanium was works for me

Tip for the sticky tar like mechonium poos use baby oil, it gets it off great and if you apply a little in advance that stops them sticking as well (a midwife taught me that)

@DaffodilSunshine thanks. Do you apply barrier cream every time you do a change or just every now and then?

I've ordered some Metanium too - I was pleasantly surprised to find it in stock on the Boots website (with no queue to get in either!)

Mine is quite prone to rashes so I try to do it most changes. It only takes a few extra seconds anyway. But definitely before bed, if I'm expecting him to poo, or if he's getting the start of a rash

OP, from what I hear about getting hold of disposable nappies at the moment it may be less stressful using reusables than trawling round shops. Also, they’re really much easier than you might think - chuck them in a bag once used and stick an extra wash on a couple times a week. No nappy rash here.

@DaffodilSunshine thank you!

@Lou573 thanks - that does make sense. I will definitely look into them if I can but am completely snowed under with everything at the moment.

I know you have mentioned wanting to use disposable stuff for ease, but I would be tempted to make sure you have an alternative in mind for reusable wipes if they are still a little tricky to source in the coming weeks.
Basically anything cloth wise, that can be washed is fine.
Either something like cheeky wipes as mentioned, or just get a small pile of small flannels . You could also just cut up and hem old towel if you have one, or even an old tshirt (the first options are most convenient, last cheapest)

You could then save the disposable for out and about for convenience and just use a cloth one with water indoors to save you or dh panic rushing about to various shops if theres an issue.

You could then save the disposable for out and about for convenience and just use a cloth one with water indoors to save you or dh panic rushing about to various shops if theres an issue.

That's a really good point - thanks Caspian. I will invest in some Cheeky wipes as well I think.

I only use water wipes when out and about. I find cotton wool so much easier to use.
Definitely recommend getting something to keep your nappy change bits and bobs in. I find that I change 90% of nappies downstairs so have that downstairs and then upstairs we have a changing table with another set of supplies.
Nappy wise - make sure you have loads! You'll be surprised how many you go through especially at first. My baby is 8 weeks and was in side ones until almost 7 weeks but she's quite long

No, you don't need a barrier cream (white metanium) every time. I use it for overnight nappies because they're on longer. And yellow metanium if there's any redness. Mine was irritated by some of the other creams- used to scream from shortly after it was put on until it was washed off.

I put the brackets in the wrong place- they should have been after the word it on the second sentence.

Replying so I can follow the thread as it's really helpful

@WombatStewForTea Do you use cotton wool balls or pads?

I'm not wombat, but pads for drying- the balls leave your baby's backside covered in white fluff.

I prefer balls for sticky newborn poop (more traction) and pads for all else (more surface area= cleaner hands).

I use a mixture. Always balls to clean and then if I've got them pads to dab dry. If not I use the cotton wool balls. I don't find much gets stuck