A newborn can use around 8 to 12 nappies a day, so changing becomes part of life quickly. Doing it the same careful way each time protects your baby's skin and cuts the risk of infections.
How often to change
- Change as soon as the nappy is soiled with stool, and every 2 to 3 hours when wet, even if you have to wake the baby gently in the early days.
- A full, heavy or leaking nappy is overdue.
- Change before or after feeds, whichever your baby tolerates best, and always before a long sleep.
Changing step by step
- Wash your hands and lay everything within reach: clean nappy, cotton wool or soft cloth, water, and a dry towel. Never leave the baby alone on a bed or table.
- Open the nappy and, if there is stool, use the front of the nappy to wipe off the worst.
- Clean with plain warm water and cotton wool or a soft cloth. Wipe from the front to the back, and especially for girls, to keep stool away from the urinary opening. Clean all the skin folds.
- Pat dry, or let the skin air for a minute. Rubbing hurts and moisture causes rashes.
- Put on a fresh nappy, snug but not tight, with the umbilical stump left uncovered if it has not fallen off. See our cord care guide.
- Wash your hands again.
In the first weeks, water is enough. If you prefer wipes, choose fragrance-free, alcohol-free ones, and stop if the skin gets red.
Cloth nappies and disposables
- Disposable: pick the right size, and change often. They hold moisture away from the skin, which many parents find convenient.
- Cloth: wash in hot water with a mild detergent, rinse thoroughly so no soap is left, and dry fully, preferably in the sun. Damp or half-dry cloth can cause rashes.
- Whatever you choose, the habit that matters is changing early.
Preventing nappy rash
- Change often and clean gently.
- Let the skin dry fully before closing the nappy.
- Give some nappy-free time on a towel when the weather allows.
- A thin layer of zinc oxide barrier cream at changes can protect red or sore skin. Ask your doctor or pharmacist which one to use.
- Skip talcum powder. It is not needed, and fine powder can be breathed in by babies.
Heat and sweat in Indian summers raise the chance of rashes, so keep the baby cool and dry, and change nappies more often in hot weather.
When a rash needs a doctor
- It does not improve in about 3 days of careful care
- Blisters, open sores, pus or bleeding
- Bright red patches with small spots around the edges, or white patches that do not wipe off. This can be a yeast (thrush) infection and needs a different treatment.
- Fever, or the baby seems unwell or very fussy
- Fewer than about 6 wet nappies a day after the first week, or very dark urine, which can mean the baby is not getting enough milk. Call your doctor.
Please note: this is general guidance based on what bodies such as the WHO, CDC and AAP publish, and practices vary. Your paediatrician knows your baby, so follow their advice if it differs.