After having two daughters, Joyce Megginson Kircher of Merritt Island, FL, considered herself a diapering pro. That is, until her son Chris came along and squirted her in the face! Some changing-table tips for
a boy
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First drape a clean diaper, washcloth, or paper towel over his penis to avoid the spray Kircher got.
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Lift up and thoroughly clean the areabeneath your son's scrotum every timeyou wipe him, says Linda Dockery, charge nurse at the newborn nursery at LomaLinda University Children's Hospital, in California.
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As you put on the fresh diaper, direct his penis downward and toward the center to prevent leaks from the top or sides. (And don't be surprised if your guy has a little erection--it's totally normal.)
a girl
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Clean from the top of her labia down to the anus, checking the folds in between.
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If you see a sticky substance in the vagina's folds, just wipe it away. It's most likely vernix, which protects a baby's skin in the womb and can reappear as it's secreted from the vagina.
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At bathtime, rinse the area really well and skip the soap (you can clean with Cetaphil if you want more than just water). Soap has been blamed for an increase in urinary-tract infections in girls.
