1. Get it together. Here's what you'll need.
Clean diapers
Diaper pail, preferably with a foot pedal
Baby wipes - a warm, wet washcloth.
Receiving towel for drying a wet baby
Baby powder, lotion, jelly, diaper rash ointment
Changing table with room for holding clothes
2. The most important thing of all when doing a diaper change is to be aware that, as soon as you've got a naked, squirming infant on the table, something in the kitchen will boil over, the phone will ring and Fedex will arrive with someone else's package. If you can't ignore everything else and get on with the diaper, either put the baby in the crib or clutch her to your breast and take her to whatever household challenge is arising. Never, under any circumstances, leave a baby, even for a split second while you turn away for the powder, on the changing table alone. Baby can and will roll off the changing table, even if it has rails. Like a sailor on his ship, always keep one hand on the baby. If your child is a wiggler, try putting a mobile or brightly colored picture over the changing table to distract her while you work.
3. Clean it up. Use baby wipes or a wet, warm washcloth to wipe your baby's bottom from front to back if there's been a bowel movement. If you child has really had a doozie, you may have to resort to a half bath. Either way, after wiping baby clean, dry with a soft towel or blow dry with your lips (babies sometimes think that's a really fun game, being part tickle, part air). Pay attention to getting creases in bottom and legs clean before rediapering. If your baby is inclined to diaper rash, you may want to apply diaper rash ointment or petroleum jelly to clean, dry baby skin.
