Feeding and Diaper Changing

Welcome little one! It’s always exciting when there’s a baby in your circle of family and friends. And if you’re like many of us, you’d love to lend a hand with some babysitting. You’ve probably taken care of babies before—and there are some things you never forget. But we’ve got some tips that will have you caring for that little tot at feeding or changing time, with confidence, no matter your level of vision.

Let’s start with bottles. It’s always a good idea to be ready for feeding before the baby is ready to eat, and creating an organized space for your prep work can help. Lining up the bottles and formula on a tray, like a pan or a baking sheet with edges, makes it easier to find what you need when you need it. And doing your prep work over the tray makes clean-up quicker, if there’s a spill. If you have low vision, using a darker tray that contrasts with the baby bottles and milk can help the bottles stand out more.

And if you’re storing formula or breast milk in the refrigerator or freezer, a food storage container makes a handy box for keeping things together. Be sure to use a large-print or tactile labeling system that helps you find what you’re looking for, and tells you which ones to use first.

If you’re preparing bottles with formula, a magnifier may make it easier to read the instructions on the package. Check out the Resources for links to our Magnifiers series as well as some virtual assistance apps that use your smartphone to read the instructions to you.

Here are a few more tools you might find handy. A talking kitchen scale can help you measure water or formula. A funnel is always useful for pouring. And our workshop on measuring liquid ingredients has more tips.

If you’re warming a bottle by placing it in a pan or a bowl of water, a talking kitchen thermometer can help. And you can also use the tried-and-true method of placing a few drops on the sensitive skin of your inner wrist.

Now let’s talk about spoon feeding. If you’re taking care of a tike who’s ready to eat in a highchair, the first thing to remember is that things normally get a little messy at mealtime, no matter who’s doing the feeding!

One good way to prepare is to place a tablecloth under the highchair, especially one that you can wipe clean or throw in the laundry. If you’re feeding the baby with a spoon, you can use one hand to find their shoulder, and then their cheek or chin, and use the other hand to guide the spoon to their mouth.

Another approach is to hold the baby in your lap, with their back toward you. That makes it easier to sense the baby’s position. As you bring the spoon toward the baby’s mouth, you’ll know whether they’re still looking forward or they’ve turned their face to one side.

If you’re worried you’ll have trouble seeing stains on the baby’s clothes, a bib can be handy to help keep them clean. But sometimes it works best to have the little one in a diaper-only dress code at feeding time. Then you can clean them up with a washcloth, and dress them again when you’re done.

Now let’s take a look at changing diapers. Usually, the best diaper change is a quick diaper change, so it’s smart to make sure all the supplies are organized and ready to go before you need them.

Begin by setting up an area to be your “changing station.” Use a changing table with sides and a secure belt, or with a contoured changing pad that prevents the baby from rolling. Check out the Resources for one changing pad option that comes with a safety belt.

If you don’t have these items, setting up on the floor is a safe approach, especially for a very active baby. Simply lay out a towel or a small blanket that contrasts with your floor color.

Make sure you’ve got a few diapers out before you get started. Then you won’t have to use one hand to fiddle with the packaging or the diaper bag, partway through a change. You can even open a disposable diaper’s side tabs ahead of time. That way it’s easier to tell quickly which side is the back of the diaper, and the tabs are simpler to find and fold into place. And be sure you can get to the wipes with one hand, too. You may want to have them open ahead of time. Other things to keep nearby and easy to reach include diaper cream, and a trash can or diaper pail.

If some supplies are hard to tell apart, like different tubes of lotion or medication, large print or tactile labels can help here, too.

When it comes time to do the diaper changing, you can often trust your memory. Your hands and fingers probably remember the steps. And if the diapers provided are a type that’s new to you, it’s a great idea to practice with the fasteners, before it’s time for a change.

Whether you’re working on a changing table or the floor, it’s a good idea to keep one hand on the baby at all times, even if they’re buckled in. Keeping your hand on the baby’s chest helps keep them from rolling to the side, so they stay safe, and you know they’re still in the right spot, and the right position.

When it’s time to clean the baby’s bottom, it’s helpful to think about a grid pattern for wiping. Move from the baby’s belly and back downward, and work from one area to the next. For example, the left frontside, then the right frontside, then the left backside, and the right backside, and finally the genital area and any folds in the baby’s legs. If you follow the same pattern each time, you can be more confident you didn’t miss a spot. And if the baby wipe may be soiled, use a new one for each area.

And when you’re finished cleaning, gently feel for raised bumps on the baby’s skin, which might indicate diaper rash. If you’re applying cream or ointment, place the clean diaper under the baby before you apply the treatment, to help keep the changing area clean.

As always, if you need more information or you've got your own tips to share, contact a Hadley learning expert. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience and practice, and you'll get there.