Thank you for your Support by using these banners, at no extra cost to you.

Diaper changes are just a matter of practice and that is something that you will be getting a lot of. During the infant months, diapers need to be changed very often. I didn't want to have to deal with diaper rash so I made sure he was dry and clean all the time. After the initial shock you get use to the look and smell but the realization, from changing electronic components in a P.C.B. to changing diapers, takes longer to digest.
When my child got a little older,five to ten months, he refused to lie still during changes. That is when I introduced "Mr Brush and Mrs. Comb". the "b" is not silent. It's a distraction, something for him to focus on during changes. We also hung a wallpaper border at eye level. He stares as the picture while I clean his behind. In addition, diaper wipes in the winter are cold. Use a warmer, it helps especially when they first wake-up.

The Age: 0-5 days
The Stage: Newborn
The Poop: Meconium/transitional
The scoop: It's sticky, it's tar-like and it's usually black or dark green. This is the poop that no new parents should have to clean by themselves. Just take one look and hand her off to a nurse to pry the stuff off her little bottom and soak her in the tub. Thankfully, by her third or fourth day of life, your baby will be passing transitional poop, which is usually greenish yellow or brown and grainy. Poop problems: A surefire way to know when something's wrong with your baby is to know the usual contents of her diaper. If you see any blood in her poop, that could mean she has rectal fissures, or even a milk allergy. Jennifer Walker, RN, BSN, co-author of The Moms on Call Guide to Basic Baby Care (Revell, 2007), suggests calling your pediatrician if your baby's diaper contains less than one teaspoon of bright red blood for three or more stools, or more than one teaspoon of bright red blood at any time.

The Age: 0-4 months
The Stage: Infant
The Poop: Pre-solid foods The scoop: Call me crazy, but I love the smell of infant poop — especially when you compare it to 3-year-old poop, which is absolutely vile. If your baby is formula-fed, her poop will be either light brown, bright yellow or dark green, and slightly formed. Breastmilk stools are usually sweeter-smelling than formula stools, and a lot less formed. They can be seedy, curdy, creamy, or lumpy, and either yellow or green. Poop problems: "After the first week of life — if you're lucky — bowel movements slow down from every feeding to maybe once or twice a day," says Walker. "If your baby's BMs slow down too much, though, she might become constipated, signified by hard, pebble-like stools. However, the pediatric nurse points out, "There is a difference between constipation and infrequent stooling. Infrequent stoolers are gassy and have a large, soft bowel movement every three to seven days." If your baby's poop is soft and she's not overly fussy, her digestive system is doing its job.

The Age: 4-12 months
The Stage: Baby
The Poop: Introduction of solid foods The scoop: Now that your baby has started solids, you'll start to see the contents of her diaper bear an uncanny resemblance to the contents of her lunch. When you feed her carrots, her poop will be orange; when you feed her peas, her poop will be green. Her system is still so pure at this point that what goes in is literally what comes out. By the end of the first year, when she's eating a variety of foods, her poop will become less technicolor and more brown — a melting pot of all the yummy foods you're feeding her. Poop problems: If you notice that your baby is pooping more frequently, or that it's watery or greener than usual, she might have diarrhea. Mucousy stools can be a sign of a cold or stomach bug. Pay special attention to her poop whenever you introduce a new food, since blood in the stool can be a sign of a food sensitivity. Walker recommends seeking medical attention if your baby has black, tarry stools; stools that look like coffee grounds; or clay-colored stools for more than two weeks.

The Age: 12-36 months
The Stage: Toddler
The Poop: Adult-like The scoop: Here's where the poop gets truly gross, because it now resembles your own. This presents tremendous motivation to potty train your child as soon as humanly possible. It just seems wrong to be changing diapers of fully formed, brown, adult-like poop. That stuff goes in the potty. Poop problems: Some toddlers become resistant at the first mention of potty training and will refuse to poop. They may not be ready to poop in the potty, but if they're having trouble passing their poop in their diaper or training pants, that's when you need to get some help. "Avoid any food your child cannot chew easily, and avoid cooked carrots and bananas," advises Walker. Try adding more water, fruits, veggies and fiber to their diet to ease the process.

Your baby got it out, and now it's your turn. How can you get rid of the poop? Diaper disposal systems These are air-tight systems that lock away odor, so you never have to smell the stink or clean the pail, because the diapers never touch the pail. The drawback: you have to buy diaper refills from the manufacturer — no ordinary garbage bag will do.
Plain-old diaper pails are exactly what they sound like, a dedicated garbage cans for diapers. They usually have such amenities as hands-free or one-hand operation and odor-reducing design. Just be prepared for a big stink when you open up the pail on garbage day. Disposable diaper sacks These little scented bags are a godsend when you're on the go, or if you don't feel like investing in a diaper disposal system or dedicated diaper pail. Just put the diaper in the bag and toss it. When your baby starts passing adult-like poop, you might consider just emptying the contents of her diaper into the potty. After all, her poop is solid, and she's not doing it so often anymore that she needs a dedicated diaper pail. It's a potentially messy but odor-free solution.
The diaper rash breakout Most babies can't escape this inevitable fact of diaper-wearing life — diaper rash. They're sitting in their own waste, which is, after all, toxic. Here's how to prevent and treat the rash. An ounce of prevention Change diapers frequently.Sprinkle your baby's bottom with cornstarch (not talcum powder). Consider letting your baby play au naturel on a waterproof pad. An ounce of treatment Spread a thick layer of diaper rash cream (zinc oxide) on the affected area. Seek medical attention if the rash persists or worsens.

By donating, you are supporting the continued development and cost to maintain this site. A small donation can be accepted with all proceeds used to keep the flow of free childcare advice going for Stay-at-Home DadZ. I hope you enjoy this site and find some useful childcare advice.