270 chapter 12: Caring for your baby
A nappy or diaper can be held on a baby without pins by putting panties over the
top. The panties will probably get wet with urine too, so they must also be changed
each time the baby is changed. Wash and dry them the same way that you clean the
diapers. Also, strips of Velcro can be used to hold the baby’s diaper closed.
If you are blind or cannot see well
It can be hard to know if all the stool has been cleaned off the baby’s bottom.
Here are some suggestions:
If you have enough
water available, hold
the baby securely
with one hand and
wash the stool off
the baby’s bottom in
a bucket or bowl of
clean water.
Hold the baby
securely over the edge
of a table and pour
clean water over its
bottom.
If you do not have much water, wipe off the baby’s bottom with a thin, damp
cloth. Do not use a thick cloth or you will not be able to feel where the stool is.
Afterward, wash the cloth well with soap and water, and hang it in the sun to dry.
When you bathe the baby, put
a piece of cloth inside the basin
or bowl for the baby to sit or lie
on. This will prevent the baby
from sliding under the water.
If your baby is constipated, put a little cooking oil up the rectum. Or you
can also put some grease or oil on your finger and gently break up and
remove the hard stool. Do not give oils, like castor oil, or vegetable oil, or
laxatives to a baby or small child.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007