The New Parent's Guide to Nappies: Changing, Wipes and Rash Care

Over the first couple of years you will change somewhere in the region of five thousand nappies, which is a strange thing to read the week you bring a newborn home. Nobody feels ready for nappy duty, yet within a fortnight most parents could do it half-asleep, and regularly do. This guide covers the parts worth getting right: choosing nappies, building a calm changing routine, picking the right cleansing products, and keeping nappy rash at bay in our humid climate.

Choosing nappies: fit beats brand

Whatever brand you buy, the two things that matter most are size and fit. Sizes run by weight, so move up as soon as you see red pressure marks on the thighs or waist, or repeated leaks. A well-fitted nappy sits snug at the waist and legs without digging in, with the waistband just below the belly button. Absorbency matters mainly at night; many parents use a more absorbent nappy for the long stretch and a standard one by day. Beyond that, do not agonise: a mid-range nappy changed promptly protects skin far better than a premium one left on too long.

A calm changing routine

• Gather everything within arm's reach before you start: clean nappy, wipes or cotton and water, barrier cream, a change of clothes.
• Wash your hands, and lay your baby on a safe, flat surface, keeping one hand on them at all times. Never leave a baby unattended on a raised surface, not even for a second.
• Open the dirty nappy, wipe front to back, always front to back for girls, and clean well inside every skin fold.
• Let the skin dry fully for a few moments; trapped moisture is the main trigger for rash.
• If the skin looks pink, apply a thin layer of barrier cream, then fasten the clean nappy snug but not tight: you should fit two fingers flat under the waistband.
• Wrap and bin the used nappy in a lidded bin, and wash your hands again.

Wipes, cleansing water or liniment?

You have three good options, and most families end up using more than one. Fragrance-free wipes are the practical choice for outings and quick changes; Mustela's compostable wipes are a gentler take on the format. At home, especially for newborn skin, cleansing water on a cotton pad, or simply cotton and lukewarm water, is as gentle as it gets. Liniment, a French classic, cleanses and leaves a light protective film in one step, which many parents love for the evening change. You will find all three in our baby care collection.

Nappy rash in a humid climate

Heat, humidity and a sealed nappy are exactly the conditions irritation loves, which is why nappy rash is so common in Mauritius, particularly in summer. Prevention is mostly habit: change promptly after each soiled nappy, dry the skin properly, and give your baby some nappy-free time on a towel every day so the skin can breathe. At the first sign of redness, apply a zinc-based barrier cream at each change; Mustela's Crème Change 1 2 3 is the one we restock most often for good reason.

Most rashes clear within a few days of this routine. See your paediatrician if the skin is broken or blistered, the redness spreads beyond the nappy area, your baby has a fever or seems in real pain, or nothing improves after three or four days; some rashes are fungal and need proper treatment. This guide is practical care advice, and anything beyond that belongs with your doctor.

Stocking the changing station

A well-stocked changing corner turns a 2am change from an expedition into a two-minute pit stop: a stack of nappies in the current size, wipes or cleansing water, barrier cream, two spare bodysuits and a small toy for the wriggling phase. We do not sell the nappies themselves, but everything else on that list is in the DodoBaby range, ready to be delivered to your door.