When you’re pregnant or a brand new parent – like many of you are – the absolute best gift you can receive is honest, realistic advice from other parents who have really been there.
I wish I had been given a heads-up on some of what was to come when I was a new mom. Four kids (including twins) and seven years later I look back and think I managed pretty well, but snicker to myself about the countless mishaps along the way. Of course, it wouldn’t be motherhood without a few war stories to laugh about with your friends.
When I was pregnant with my first baby, I was obsessed with studying on how to be a mom. Actually, if we’re being really honest, I was a little cocky about how much I thought I knew. I had read every book, and bookmarked every useful article I had read online. I was more than ready … or so I thought.
When the time came and my son was born, my husband gallantly stepped up to the plate and offered to change the first diaper. “Of course honey,” I said, knowing that my body had been through a war and the last thing I wanted was to navigate diaper changing right after giving birth.
But as my husband expertly changed that teeny tiny bum, full of confidence, I started to feel a little intimidated. I kept letting him change our son’s diaper throughout the first day. I joined in, as a spectator, celebrating the first sight of meconium and noting when our son’s poop turned bright yellow, surely because he was getting my colostrum.
Yup, turns out my husband was the G.I. Joe of diaper changing, and I was losing my edge each day. Finally, four long days into parenthood, settled at home, he encouraged me to change my first diaper.
As I fumbled around, our son cried, and wriggled. My hands shook, as my mushy belly pushed against the change table.
“You can do this,” my husband said, as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. As I placed the last velcro tag against his diaper, picked him up and placed him against my chest, he immediately stopped crying and snuggled into me. That’s when I knew, I could do this. I just needed to jump in and participate.
Throughout the days, months and babies that followed, I figured out my own few tricks and tips, like placing the clean diaper under your babies bum even before you remove the soiled diaper. Because… you never know. Or, that as a parent, wipes are probably your number one ally. Keep them close at all times.
So how exactly do you change a diaper? Here’s a helpful video with pro tips for diaper changing created by BabyCenter in partnership with Huggies. Watch closely though…there’s a tip in there about keeping your babies hands clean that even I didn’t know after having four babies!
Another thing to learn about parenting is, once you get used to something, everything changes. Once you’ve mastered the art of diaper changing at home and you are ready to start venturing out, real life is going to start throwing you some curveballs. That’s okay. You’ve got this.
Expert level two is learning how to change a diaper in your car. Trust me, the day will come sooner than you think. I have probably changed diapers in every seat, on the floor and in the trunk of our car. It can be done. Check out this video for some tips on how to manage diaper changes when you’re out and about. Here’s how…
And I hate to break it to you but eventually you are going to find yourself in a situation where there is no changing table, and you aren’t near your car – but you HAVE to change that diaper. Don’t freak. It happens. We’ve all done it and you will get through it too.
Here’s how to handle three different scenarios you will probably face at some point, or another…
Watching someone else change a diaper is probably the best way to learn. In fact, to take it one step further, I would take a doll, or a stuffed animal and practice while watching these videos.
In the end, your brand new instincts will take over. Yes, you’ll get peed on in the process, and you will realize you are putting the diaper on backwards at some point, we all do, but you’ve got this, just jump in!
This post is sponsored by Huggies. All opinions are truthful and my own.
Wipe away messes to keep your baby’s skin feeling as soft, gentle and natural as a hug. Only Huggies® Wipes has Triple Clean Layers that are thick enough to clean those tough messes! Learn more about Huggies® Wipes at www.huggies.com/en-us/wipes.
