Make the most of every diaper changing opportunity. It's a great time to interact, communicate, and learn about your baby or toddler.

Diaper Changing
Remember to keep one hand resting on the child at all times throughout the procedure to ensure safety. Never leave a child unattended on a changing table.

1. Get all supplies ready
2. Wash hand and dry your hands
3. Put on rubber gloves
4. Place child on clean diaper changer surface
5. Remove clothing and diaper
6. With a warm disposable towel or diaper wipe, wipe girls from front to back, and boys from back to front. A good idea here is to keep a fresh diaper draped over a baby boy's penis (as a defensive measure!) while changing him.
7. Place old diaper, wipes and gloves into a foot activated trash can or receptacle
8. Put on a new, dry diaper and put the child's clothing back on. If the child's clothing is soiled place clean clothing on the child.
9. Wash the child's hands and return them to the play area. If the child is under the age of two years old a wet wipe can be used to wash their hands.
10. Clean and disinfect the diapering area using soap water and bleach water solution.
11. Wash and dry your hands
12. For infants & toddlers, record every diaper change on diaper chart; record all BM's on daily experience sheets

Diaper changing schedule
Regular diaper changes are scheduled, to ensure that all children remain clean and dry. However, most children do not poop on schedule! If a child needs a diaper change, change the diaper, regardless of schedule.

• Infants: every 1 ½ -2 hours
• Toddlers: every 2-3 hours
• Preschoolers: every 2-3 hours

You can usually tell that a baby is ready to have his/her diaper changed when he/she becomes fussy, smelly, or has a wet diaper. Nevertheless, always check if the baby needs a diaper change after feedings, after waking up, before bedtime, and before you go out with the baby.

Diaper Storage
Every child in diapers will have a diaper bin labeled with their name located in the diaper changing area. The diaper bin is where the child's diapers, wipes and creams or powders of any kind are kept. The diaper bins need to be stocked or replenished daily. All extra or spare diapers and wipes are under the sink in diaper changing area. Notes are to be sent home with parents if a child is running low on diapers or wipes with amble time to allow the parent to buy more. Do not wait until a child is totally out of diapers or wipes to notify the parent. All spare clothes are either in the diaper bin in the changing area or in children's cubbies.

Soap water and Bleach water solutions
Every classroom or diaper changing area in a classroom must have a spray bottle of soap water and a spray bottle of bleach water available at all times. The proper mixture for soap water is 3 TB(tablespoons) of soap to 1 QT(quart) of water. The proper mixture for bleach water is 1 TB of bleach to 1 QT of water. These spray bottles must be made fresh everyday.

Mayo Clinic recommendations on treating diaper rash

Potty Training

Parents and Pathfinders Must Work Together
Potty training a child who attends Little City Kids requires a team effort. Often, a child who is around other kids in underwear self-motivates a young child to use the potty.

Parents and staff must discuss and agree on the planned potty training process. A consistent approach and common encouragement techniques can minimize a child's confusion and promote a successful transition to becoming a big kid!

What should we discuss with parents to help ensure a successful toilet training experience?

• Potty chair or no potty chair. Some children potty train using a kid-sized toilet. Others prefer to sit on the regular toilet with a potty seat on top. Using the same equipment and rules at home and at Little City Kids will help a child's master this process.
• Diapers vs. pull-ups vs. underwear. Some parents swear by pull-ups, especially the ones that can be opened on the sides. Others prefer to bypass pull-ups altogether, and rely on the "wet" feedback as a motivator for the child to use the toilet. The argument is not which way is better; it is agreeing on which route to take.
• What should a child in potty training wear at naptime? Even a mostly-trained child may have accidents at naptime. Opinions vary as to whether a child should have a diaper or pull-up on at naptime, or whether accidents should be allowed to happen to encourage a child to "feel" the outcome. Of course, the important thing here is agreeing on the method.
• Dressing in practical clothing is a must. A child in a onesie and overalls-no matter how adorable they make look-is incorrectly clothed for potty training. The ideal clothing is practical and can be quickly and easily pulled down by a child in time to avoid an accident. Hassle-free clothing will enhance a child's self-confidence and independence during this process. During this training time, parents should provide at least two sets of extra clothing and preferably a full package of underwear. Initially, a potty-training child may wet underwear on many occasions, and need to be changed frequently.
• Rewards. How is a child rewarded for going using the toilet? Is a reward applied if a child tries? Is a diaper put back on if a child refuses? How are accidents handled? At Little City Kids, we always praise children for attempting to use the potty, whether or not they are successful. We will provide tangible rewards (such as stickers and prizes), if the parent provides such incentives. At no time is a child ever scolded or reprimanded for making a pottying mistake.
• Provide hourly potty breaks. At Little City Kids, we encourage potty-training children to attempt to use the toilet every hour or so. Children are praised for each, whether or not it is successful.
• Use plastic bags to return soiled clothing to the parents for laundering. When accidents occur, children should be changed promptly, and all soiled clothing should be bagged and stored in the child cubbie to go home with the parent for laundering. Obviously, a stash of extra clothing should be provided by the parent.
• Celebrate together! A child who becomes toilet training is a major achievement both for the child as well as the caregiver team! A great partnership and unified goals, consistency and open communication will help to achieve the desired results.

Parents must ultimately decide when to begin the potty training process. It is important that the child be ready to embark on this major developmental milestone, in order to be successful. The following link provides a nice hand out to share with parents if they are trying to decide if their child is ready for toilet training.

Is Your Child Ready for Toilet Training
by Iowa State University

Potty Accidents

• Reassure the child that accidents do happen.
• Take the child to the bathroom area to assist them.
• Remove the child's soiled clothing, and put it in a plastic bag to take home. Place soiled bag in or under the childs cubbie for the parent.
• Have the child sit on the toilet or potty chair to make sure that they dont still have to go to the bathroom. Often children will start to go in their pants and then stop once they feel the wet. To prevent another accident in a few mintues have them try to finish going to the bathroom on the toilet or potty chair.
• Assist the child in cleaning up and putting on clean dry clothes.