Diaper Guide

How to Clean Baby's Bottom

POINT 1

Wiping away poo (boys/girls) 

Begin by cleaning off the poo and then carefully wipe baby's bottom, genitals and in between creases. Wrapping a clean wipe around your finger will help you clean these tiny areas more easily.

  • * Do not use bottom wipes on mucous membranes. The area around mucous membranes is very sensitive and easily damaged, so care is required. Use lukewarm water to clean mucous membranes and any other areas that are extremely soiled.

Boys

Clean the urinary area first. Don’t forget to wipe under the testicles and in between the creases, especially between the thighs. Wipe the anus area last.

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Girls

If the bacteria contained in poo enters the urinary tract, it can cause inflammation. Make a habit of wiping from front to back. Any poo inside the labia should be rinsed off with lukewarm water.

POINT 2

Washing baby's skin

(1) When baby's bottom is red, or there is pee and only a small amount of poo

Soak a cotton pad, wipe or cloth with lukewarm water (approx. 38-40℃) and use it to lightly rinse the area off and then dry it with a bath towel.

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(2) When poo is spread over a wide area

Fill a bottle spray with around 150ml of lukewarm water (38-40℃) and use it to spray on and rinse the whole area before cleaning more thoroughly with wipes, etc. 

(3) When baby's whole bottom is red, or when poo has spread up baby's back 

Hold baby down firmly with one hand and wash the bottom in a basin of lukewarm water (38-40℃). Dry the bottom thoroughly with a bath towel. 

  • * For babies who cry when lying down, it's fine to use the shower instead. However, do be careful that baby doesn't fall.

POINT 3

What do I do if baby's skin gets red?

Do not rub red skin, as this can make it even redder. If irritation from body waste is the cause, it is important to get baby's skin back in good condition. Use a cotton pad, wipe, etc., soaked with lukewarm water (approx. 38-40℃) just to remove poo and pee, and do not put on a new diaper before baby's skin is completely dry. When baby has a red bottom, check the diaper frequently even if the pee indicator hasn't changed color and change the diaper even if it is slightly wet. If the bottom remains red or gets even redder, it's time to visit the doctor.

How do I know if baby's bottom is red?

What exactly is a red bottom? What looks red to one person might look fine to another. How much redness is perfectly fine, and when does redness become diaper rash? We asked Dr. Utsumi to explain using this redness scale.

Bottom redness scale

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  • * The degree of redness in the photos may appear differently according to the computer or mobile screen. Please refer to these images only as a rough guide.
  • * These photos are enlargements of a baby's buttock. When changing baby's diaper, please also look closely around the urinary and rectal areas.
  • * Babies can experience a wide range of skin problems, including wrinkling and eczema. Redness should be treated as a sign that something is amiss.
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