Every task involved in raising your child is joyful for a new parent like yourself. Yes, even a diaper change!
A baby will sleep more and eat less in the first week after birth, but as you move to the second week and the infant warms up to breast milk or bottle feeding, you will find that the baby’s bowel movements get as frequent as 5–10 times each day!
It might be a repetitive task, however, changing diapers is also a moment of love! So yes, cherish these moments and make them as easy and comfortable as possible.
Do I Really Need A Changing Pad Cover?
Is a changing pad cover necessary, or can you remove it from your baby registry? Any parent will advise you to add a few pad covers to your list even if you can use your pad without one. Without adequate protection, the pad will quickly get soiled, much like a mattress. You can easily clean any mess if you have a sheet covering the pad or just change the cover.
Pad covers are essential for several reasons, not only do they help keep your nursery clean, but they also help your baby feel more comfortable when having their diaper changed.
Even when they are only partially dressed, your child will be warm and comfortable laying on a soft fabric cover which results in less crying from them and less anxiety for you.
Finally, changing pad covers add style to your baby’s nursery.
Can I Use A Liner And A Changing Pad Cover?
You may need a cover and a liner if you have a changing pad and although not necessary, liners are an excellent idea to consider.
Standard changing pads are protected from messes and leaks using changing pad liners, which are placed on top of the changing pad cover just for extra protection.
When you remove your baby’s diaper, any pee that begins to flow is absorbed by the liner, minimizing the amount of cleanup involved. When the liner is soiled, simply remove it and throw it in the washing machine and replace it with a fresh one. Unlike when using a changing pad on its own, pee won’t leak off the waterproof surface onto your personal belongings or carpet.
The fact that a cover and liner keep your baby comfortable is another benefit. The majority of changing pads are enclosed in a waterproof plastic covering that might feel cold on your baby’s back. Therefore, if your baby is asleep when you change their diaper and you don’t want to wake them up, having the changing pad covered up is a good idea.
More Reasons To Have A Changing Pad Cover
We recommend using a changing pad cover if you plan on using the more conventional form of changing pad, that is made of foam and vinyl.
This is why:
Not Ideal To Have Two Changing Pads: Because you know they will become “messy” pretty much every day, having a changing pad cover on your changing pad is cheaper than having to buy and keep a backup changing pad.
What if you decided not to have changing pad covers and didn’t have a backup changing pad either, then if the pad got soiled, you would be forced to find another place to set the baby down to clean the mess and then go back to changing the baby’s diaper.
They Change The Look Of The Room: You can make something that might otherwise be a bit of an eyesore appear nice by covering your changing pad with a cover. Changing pad covers are a lovely and easy way to give your nursery some style and uniqueness because they come in so many gorgeous designs.
How Many Changing Pad Covers Do You Need?
‘Wash, wear, spare’ is a good rule to follow while buying baby products and this guideline is especially applicable in this situation.
You might need to keep up with your laundry if you decide to lean on the side of “less is more” and go with two changing pad covers. However, two should be enough if you expect to have plenty of help and the capacity to wash and dry a load in a short period of time.
We highly recommend buying three or four changing pad covers if you would rather have less to worry about. In addition, you have a couple of extras for days when you have only slept a total of 3 hours and find yourself in the middle of a poop explosion.
How Do You Keep A Changing Pad Clean?
We have already determined that for a comfortable diaper change, diaper pads are essential. Because of the nature of their use, it makes sense that they would accumulate bacteria.
Your baby may be dry and clean after having their diaper changed, but your changing pad most probably won’t be. It is likely that leaks during diaper changes will, inevitably happen and go directly onto your changing pad because babies can be quite wriggly. Even the most calm baby will probably leave you with a small mess because you may be changing diapers up to 12 times every day.
If you want to avoid the spread of germs and to give your baby a clean, safe place to lie on while getting diapers changed, it is important to keep your changing pad clean.
You can maintain your baby changing pad sanitized and clean by following these suggestions:
Find A General Area In The Home: Most parents don’t change the baby in just one location as it is not practical for babies who require frequent diaper changes, but you should make an effort to avoid eating spaces, such as a dining table or a kitchen counter.
Cover An Explosion Fast: Since babies really do poop everywhere, sometimes an explosive poop may move to the top of your changing pad. It is important to immediately cover the mess with toilet paper or a towel if this happens so your wiggly baby won’t potentially spread the poop by sticking their flailing hands in it!
Roll Up And Discard The Diaper: It does not matter if you used a disposable or reusable diaper, it is important to wrap it up immediately to prevent any waste from spilling onto the changing pad and discarding it in the waste bin. By refastening the diaper tabs, you can keep the diaper from opening up and stinking up the whole room.
Clean And Sanitize The Changing Pad: Take your baby to their crib so you can finish cleaning up the remaining mess on the changing pad. Always wipe your changing pad after each use to keep it germ-free, even if you can’t see anything that remains on it. First, clean up any residual poop and pee with a few baby wipes. Then, to make sure it is completely clean and sanitary for the next use, wash it in hot, soapy water, after that, wipe it down with a mild sanitizer or sanitary wipes.
Since babies go through many diaper changes, you will undoubtedly be back to repeat the process all over again.