Diapers – You may need anywhere form 7 to 10 dozen diapers a week for the first several weeks, particularly if you use the diapers for extra purposes such as burping. Disposable diapers may cost too much to be used all the time, but they are handy for trips and emergencies. A diaper service, at least for the first few months, is a great help. The service not only assures you that the diapers are throughly clean, but saves you the daily washing and drying.

When changing the baby, never lay down an open safety pin. Always close the pin immediately after you remove it from the baby’s diaper. The baby may pick up the safety pin, put it in his mouth, and swallow it. Closed safety pin may pass easily through the baby’s bowel and out of his body. An open safety pin is more likely to get struck.

Each time you change your baby’s diaper, wash the diaper area, using cotton balls dipped in lukewarm water. (Do not use alcohol unless your doctor advises it. Alcohol may irritate the skin.) This cleansing of the diaper area is particularly important after each bowel movement. Generally, do not use rubber or plastic pants until the baby is a few weeks old. The pants retain moisture and heat, which may cause diaper rash. If your baby seems to wet a great deal, use two diapers, especially at night.

Fold the diaper as shown above. Boy babies wet the front of their diapers. Girl Babies wet the back of their diapers. Place the thickest fold where it is needed.

Take hold of the baby’s ankles and lift the legs. Then slip the folded diaper under the baby’s hips. You may want to work one side of the diaper under and then the other.

Lap the back fold of the diaper over the front fold. Hold two fingers under the folds next to the baby’s skin to prevent sticking the baby with the diaper pin. Then do the same on the other side.

One way to burp a baby is to rest him againts your shoulder and pat his back

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