Diapering 101: Creams, Cloths, and Changing Stations

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We know you’re gearing up to welcome your little one soon and wondering which items are really needed. Don’t let the many options overwhelm you! Below, you’ll find our recommendations for must-have baby items, newborn care, diapering guidance, and when to call your doctor for medical advice.

 


Caring For Diaper Rash

  • Change baby often - at least more often than you were on the days leading up to the rash’s appearance.

  • Instead of diaper wipes, use a plain washcloth with water. Make sure baby’s bottom is dry before re-diapering. 

  • Apply a diaper rash cream before diapering. A half-and-half mixture of Aquaphor and Palmer’s cocoa butter lotion works wonders. Vitamin A&D and Triple Paste are also recommended.

  • Make tummy time diaper-free and place baby on a waterproof mat.

  • If the rash lasts longer than a week, call your pediatrician.

Caring For Males

  • Keep the penis area clean. If stool gets on the penis, wipe it off gently with a wet washcloth.

  • While changing the baby, hold a wipe over the penis to avoid getting sprayed!

  • Some pediatricians recommend keeping a clean dressing over the circumcised penis until it’s fully healed, while others advise leaving it off. For 6 to 7 days post-circumcision put a nickel-sized amount of Vaseline on some gauze and place it over the penis before diapering.

  • If uncircumcised, don’t draw the foreskin back!

  • Point the baby’s penis down inside the diaper to prevent leaks.

Caring For Females

  • Wipe front to back (top to bottom) and take care not to use a soiled area of cloth/wipe to clean the vaginal area.

  • Vaginal discharge is normal during the first 2-3 weeks and can look a bit bloody due to hormone regulation/balance.

  • During the first 2-3 weeks following birthday, urate crystals may cause urine to appear red, pink, or orange-colored. This is normal and caused by the baby passing highly concentrated urine.  


Bowel Movements (BMs)

  • Meconium is baby’s first BM and is black and sticky like tar. It may turn greenish-brown after a few days.

  • By day 4-5 of life, breastfed babies will have semi-solid yellow, seedy BMs. Formula-fed babies will have yellow-brown-greenish BMs with peanut butter consistency. Read more on baby’s first BMs.

  • You may see small streaks of blood in the baby’s stool caused by tiny tears in the baby’s anus or as a result of feeding on mom’s bleeding or cracked nipples.

  • A bloody BM could be a cause for medical concern. Call your pediatrician to rule out the previous point.

  • Mucus in the stool may be a sign of an allergy.

  • Use an app to keep a record of baby’s diapers (and feedings) for the first few weeks. Baby should have at least 6 wet diapers per day after the first week of life.

Cloth vs. Disposable Diapers

  • Cloth Pros:

    • Cloth diapers are reusable even with multiple children. 

    • According to Consumer Reports, cloth diapers can be slightly cheaper than disposable diapers.

    • Cloth diapers are marginally better for the environment than disposable diapers.

  • Cloth Cons:

    • Inconvenient when away from home (transporting the necessary pieces and soiled diapers to wash later).

    • Cloth diapers aren’t as absorbent as disposable ones, so they must be changed more frequently to prevent diaper rash.

  • Disposable Pros:

    • Convenient when out and about.

    • Because they are super-absorbant, it isn’t necessary to frequently change baby and carry many supplies.

  • Disposable Cons:

    • Landfill / environmental impact

    • The gels used to absorb moisture could cause a reaction with the baby’s skin.

    • You’ll want/need a diaper pail!


Changing Station Must-Have Items

  • Changing table (or use a dresser) and put a changing pad on top; get at least 2 pad/pillow covers.

  • Diapers, wipes, and washcloths

  • Baby lotion or coconut oil

  • Diaper rash creams: Aquaphor, Palmer’s cocoa butter, Vitamin A&D, and Triple Paste (extreme cases).

  • Store these items to grab easily with one hand.


Clothing Must-Haves (for the first few months)

  • 10 onesies - your baby will wear these when swaddled.

  • 10 sleepers / sacks to include fleece ones (as a top coat for going out in cold weather) and if your home is cool.

  • To see which ones you and baby like best, get multiple types of sleeper sacks that have velcro “wings” to wrap baby’s arms down or use swaddle blankets that are square and stretchy. Swaddle Me wraps; Halo and Sleepea are good choices.

  • Many, many socks! Store these in a small basket or box to keep track of them all. They often disappear.


Must-Have Nursery Items

  • Crib

  • Dresser

  • Glider or rocking chair with a footstool

  • Baby monitor

  • White noise sound machine

  • Swing (Weight and age limits vary by model - check the manufacturer’s guide. Generally, swings can be used at birth and until baby weighs about 25 - 35 pounds. For babies younger than 4 months, use the most reclined swing position to prevent suffocation.

Nursery Organization Tips

  • Roll all clothing to easily see what you have stored in the dresser drawers.

  • Use the dresser for baby's current size and the next size up.

  • Use the closet to store clothing that is 2 sizes up from what they are currently wearing.

  • Hang a bag in the closet to collect too-small clothes for donation.

  • Wash baby's clothing separately from the rest of the household laundry to save time putting it away.

  • Use Oxiclean to soak bad stains overnight.


We recommend creating only ONE online gift registry to include all the items you wish to receive. Add our Gift Card link to be gifted any dollar amount toward the purchase of doula services and childbirth classes.

For more ideas on which items to have at the ready and which products we recommend, read our Essential Items post and start shopping!