Taking Off the Old Diaper
Wash your hands. It's important to have clean hands before starting, as you don't want to bring your germs to the patient. You should also wear disposable latex gloves (or vinyl if you or your patient is allergic to latex) to protect your hands against bodily fluids.
Have your supplies ready. You'll need a new diaper in the correct size, a towel or disposable blue pad (also known as a chuck) to collect any waste and keep the sheets clean, and wipes. You'll also need a trash can to put the old diaper in, as well as a protective moisture barrier cream. The cream is used to protect the person from wetness after you change the diaper.
Undo the tape sides. Get the person to lie on the bed, a table, or the floor. Open the tabs of the diaper. Tuck the front side of the diaper between the person’s legs, as far under as it will go. You are folding it under to make it easier to pull out in a minute. Wipe up the front of the person, moving from front to back.
Roll the person over onto their side. Gently roll the person away from you. It's best to roll the person away from you by placing your hands at the hip and shoulder. Roll the person until they are all the way on their side. Then, place the towel or chuck under the person’s backside to protect the sheets.
Wipe up what you can. Go ahead and wipe up what you can before moving the diaper, especially if the person had defecated. Try to get as much as you can out before removing the diaper completely. Put the wipes into the old diaper beneath the person as you wipe.
Remove the diaper. Pull the diaper out through the person’s legs towards their backside, and then fold it up to hide the mess. Dispose of the diaper. You can put it in a plastic grocery sack before sticking it in the trash to reduce the smell. After you remove the diaper, pull off your gloves and put on a fresh pair.
Finish cleaning up. Use a gentle wipe to clean the person’s private parts thoroughly. Make sure the person is thoroughly clean before moving on. You'll know the person is clean when a wipe comes up clean after you wipe the person. Always wipe the person from their front to their backside. Be sure to wipe the person off gently, especially if they are elderly because their skin may be more fragile. Make sure that the person is completely clean as well.
Wipe the person with a dry towel and let them air dry. Once the person is clean and dry, let the area air-dry for a moment. You don't want to put a new diaper on while the person is still wet—moisture can cause skin irritation or even a rash.
Putting on a New Diaper
Place the diaper on the person from front to back. Place the person on their back. Open a new diaper and place the front against the person’s front. Tuck the middle and bottom of the diaper between the person’s legs, pushing it as far back as it will go. Hold the diaper up to the person’s front to make sure it’s the right size.
Add cream or powder. Fold the front of the diaper back and apply barrier cream to the person. This will help prevent diaper rash and keep the skin from breaking down from moisture. Apply a thin layer, especially over the buttocks. Fold the front of the diaper back over the person.
Roll the person onto their side. Gently pull the person back towards you. Pull the diaper up through their legs to cover their buttocks.
Attach the side tabs, which may be velcro or adhesives. The diaper should be snug but not so tight it would be uncomfortable. You should be able to slide at least a finger under the top. You may need to roll the person a bit the other way to get to the part of the diaper that is under them. The tape tabs are always on the front of the body.
Throw away the gloves. Grab the outside of one glove at the wrist and peel it away so the outside is facing inward. Hold the glove you just removed in your gloved hand as you pull the other glove off. Throw the gloves away. Wash your hands immediately after removing the gloves.
Add a disposable bed liner. If you prefer, you can place a bed liner under the fitted sheet of the person’s bed. Roll them one way to slide it under and pull the fitted sheet over the mattress, and then roll them the other way to get it all the way under them. The liner can help keep the bed clean in case of an accident. Try to avoid putting a plastic liner directly against the person’s skin. This can cause irritation and skin breakdown.
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