Diaper Changing Hacks That'll Save You Time, Wipes and Your Sanity

Nobody knows diaper changes like a parent who's done a few hundred of them. We polled our Babylist community in a recent newsletter and asked one simple question: what's your best diaper changing hack? 

The tips that came back ranged from genius (that old diaper can be your first wipe) to so simple, like using those leftover puppy pads as a portable changing pad—and we're passing all of them along to you.

Tip #1: Always Lay Baby on a Clean Diaper 

One of the most-mentioned tips was to lay out a clean diaper under baby’s bum before you start changing. This way, when you’re ready, you simply slide the soiled one out from beneath them and quickly cover them up with the fresh one. “I have learned with my son to always keep him covered with a wet wipe while changing him. It helps keep any incidents contained to the diaper table! And having the clean diaper underneath the old one as I change him makes it easier to get it on him quickly,” a Babylist parent shared in our poll. 

This is not only time-saving, it’ll cut down any fresh-air pees getting everywhere. Another parent pointed out doing this also means you don’t have to scramble and open the new diaper one-handed before your little one rolls away.

Tip #2: Place a Cool Wipe On Their Belly

Speaking of leaks…babies love to pee as soon as you remove their diaper. (And as a mom of two, this applies to both boys and girls.) A ton of Babylist parents recommend the cool baby wipe trick before you actually get into the diaper change. One wrote, “Put a wipe on the belly before taking off the diaper!” 

Simply press the cold wipe on their belly and then, “Wait almost a full minute before taking off the old diaper—gets that final pee out so no surprises!” another parent shared. For some reason, temperature change tends to cause them to pee, and doing this while they’re still covered will save you some of the cleanup. 

Tip #3: Front of The Dirty Diaper = First Wipe

This is a real seasoned parent tip, and many Babylist parents are in on this hack. One wrote, "Use the front part of the diaper to help wipe most of the poop off the baby's bottom! Then use wipes for the rest." Bonus: since that first pass helps get the majority of the poop off, you might find yourself using less baby wipes to clean the mess. And remember: always wipe from front to back!

Tip #4: Don’t Forget the Ruffles! 

“FLUFF THE DIAPER EVERY SINGLE TIME,” one Babylist parent said, and we’re leaving it in caps because it’s that important! Those little ruffles are not just a cute diaper decoration;  they’re designed to keep diaper contents inside and not on your baby’s cute outfit or car seat. Right after you fasten the tabs during a change, use your finger to make sure the little ruffles are flipped out around their thighs. They create a little pocket and extra layer of leak and blowout protection. 

Tip #5: Get Sprayable Diaper Cream or Use a Butt Spatula 

Gone are the days when your only option was a tube of diaper cream that you'd have to spend two minutes scraping out from underneath your nails. Not only are Babylist parents swearing by using the balm spatula for diaper cream application, but they're also loving sprayable diaper cream options. Anything that cuts down on time and mess is a win in parenting! Boogie

No-Rub Diaper Rash Spray is a parent fave, and they just came out with a tube version that features a no-touch, no-mess applicator. 

Tip #6: Ceiling Fans Are Perfect Entertainment 

If you haven't heard yet, babies are pretty simple creatures. They tend to prefer the cardboard box that gift came in or the tissue paper it was wrapped with over the actual toy inside, and that applies to their surroundings too. Ceiling fans are an MVP of keeping babies entertained during diaper changes. “Lay the baby down under a ceiling fan and turn it. They watch it spin while you get the fresh diaper on,” one parent shared. Pro tip: this is also helpful for fussy babies who need a mood reset!

Tip #7: Have a Special Diaper Change Toy

Quite a few Babylist parents recommend having a special toy in the diaper caddy that you pull out only during changes. “Have a rattle, small toy or a book to keep a wiggly baby from wiggling,” one shared. It'll hold their attention because it is novel and something they don't get to play with all the time. A fun rattle or baby teether is an easy addition that won't take up too much space. Bonus points for giving them the job of holding on to it for you, as one parent suggested, “They are often distracted long enough to get the job done!”

Tip #8: Dog Poop Bags For Diaper Disposal

A handful of parents recommend using dog poop bags for poopy diaper disposal, and I’m thrilled this hack is catching on among parents because it’s like a two-for-one if you’ve already got a furry pet or two at home. “Dollar Tree has 60 dog poop bags for $1.25. I use those to discard poopy diapers all the time, especially when we are guests,” one parent shared.

Tip #9: Puppy Pads = Disposable Changing Pad

Puppy pads aren’t just for puppies! Turns out they’re a nice spot for diaper changes when you’re on the go. “Great for public restrooms because you can throw [the] diaper and used pad away and walk away clean,” one Babylist parent recommended. (Some parents—including myself—also found them helpful for themselves during the postpartum recovery period for protecting their mattress or couch, too.)

Tip #10: Get Your Little One Involved

As your baby gets older, have them “help” during diaper changes. No, we’re not talking about wiping their own butts yet, but even simply letting them hold or open the new diaper up can keep them still and occupied. A few parents shared their experiences with this, one writing:

“Our son is 15 months old, and ever since he was a few months old, we have asked him to help hold his new diaper while we take care of the dirty one. My husband will now even ask him to help open his new diaper! It’s a great way to involve our son in the diaper process, to help him feel like he’s truly helping us (we thank him when we take the diaper from him), and it keeps his hands busy and away from the potential mess below!” 

Another parent suggested something similar and said narrating the change helps boost language development. 

These weren’t the only genius tips Babylist parents shared—they just happened to have the most fans. Here are few more ideas for smoother diaper changes whether you’re at home in the nursery or on the go:

“Dabbing v wiping. We have way less diaper rash when we dab [or] pick stuff off with the wipe, versus actually wiping. All that rubbing causes major chaff. We use mineral oil if we need a boost but because we are frequent appliers of zinc oxide we don’t often need to add oil.”

“Lay the stroller seat as far back/flat as you can get it for an easy diaper change that prevents baby from rolling around! Great to avoid dirty changing tables.”

“When cleaning up a blowout, I roll baby onto her side to get any mess that’s on her back. It’s easier to reach than trying to lift up her legs.”

“As my son has gotten older (just turned one) and more mobile/squirmy we have given up on using the changing table, which he was always nearly falling off of, and just have an area on the floor of his bedroom. For the wakeup diaper and PJ's change, I make a small bottle for him and let him feed himself laying on his back—that pretty well keeps him from moving and [makes] it much easier for me!”