Nappy Changing Tips: What You Need at Home and On the Go

Newborn skin is thin and still developing its natural protective layer, so it doesn't cope well with sitting in a wet or dirty nappy. Check often, especially after feeds, and don't wait for the nappy to feel heavy. In Malta, add heat and humidity to the mix!

Wash gently, and wipe less than you'd expect. When you can, water is the gentlest option. But the changing table isn't always near a sink, and a café terrace, the car or grandma's spare room rarely help.

Here's our short guide to what you need at home, what goes in the bag, and when to use which.

At home: wash, dry, protect

When you're near a sink, the routine is three steps.

1. Wash. Use warm water and a dedicated cleanser for the nappy area. We like Linea Mamma Baby's Baby Intimate Cleanser, which is made for the daily hygiene of this delicate skin. Apply it to the wet area, rinse with warm water and dry carefully. It comes in the Baby Nappy Change Kit.
2. Dry. Pat the skin completely dry before the next nappy goes on, and give it a minute of air time if you can. Damp skin and humid weather don't mix well.
3. Protect. Apply a small amount of nappy change cream to clean, dry skin at every change. This is important to bolster the skin barrier and prevent the skin from drying out. Linea Mamma Baby's Cosmos Natural Baby Change Cream is the one for everyday use, and it's also part of the Nappy Changing Bundle.

Out and about: the no-rinse option

For the moments without a sink, use Linea Mamma Baby's Baby Cleansing Milk. It needs no rinsing and is designed for nappy changes without soap and water. Put a little on cotton wool and wipe the area, repeating until it's clean, then finish with your change cream.

We keep a pack of wipes in the bag for emergencies. For everyday changes we'd rather use the cleansing milk, and that's why it's the first thing we'd pack.

When there's redness: reach for SOS

If you spot redness, switch from your everyday cream to Linea Mamma Baby's SOS Baby Cream. After a thorough clean, spread a thin layer on the reddened areas and in the skin folds, and repeat several times a day. It's also included in the Nappy Changing Bundle and the Baby Nappy Change Kit, so it's already in your bag when you need it.

If the redness hasn't improved after a few days, looks broken or spotty, or your baby seems unwell, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Why we like a dedicated intimate cleanser

The nappy area is in contact with moisture all day, and we think it deserves a product made for it, rather than the same all-over wash you'd use on a head of hair. The hydrolipidic film of a newborn baby’s skin has not completely formed. It is permeable and has a pH that is not yet capable of protecting it from external elements. This is why cleansing the skin as gently as possible is essential. As far as we've seen, very few baby brands such a vast and dedicated intimate care range, and that's one reason Linea Mamma Baby earned its place on our shelves.

Quick when-to-use-which guide

A few technique notes:

• Girls: wipe front to back.
• Boys: clean around the penis gently and don't pull back the foreskin.
• Skip the talc: fine powder is easy for a baby to inhale.

The easiest way to start

If you'd like everything together, the Baby Nappy Change Kit comes in a reusable cotton clutch with the intimate cleanser, change cream and SOS cream. Add the cleansing milk for the bag and you're covered. It also makes a very practical gift for a new arrival.

Save this for your changing bag checklist. And tell us: what's the one nappy-changing trick you wish you'd known sooner? We'll add the best ones here. 💛