Changes are inevitable

And by that I mean diaper changes! My first and most important piece of advice on this topic: Just Do It. If you want to help mom recover, if you want to participate meaningfully towards the rearing of your child then this is the most immediate and obvious way to do it.

It's also a task well suited to Dad. One of the themes I am going to develop in this blog is that as a general rule, women are better caregivers because they get training men do not. This is a deep topic that I will dig into later, but for now just think about diaper issues as compared to other baby issues. Unlike comforting a fussy baby, or putting them to sleep, a dirty diaper is a simplistic and linear problem, with a well established solution. It's a problem that can be predicted and prepared for. It's a largely mechanical process that you can learn to do efficiently with practice.

Luckily there is a wealth of information about this online. I've reviewed many of them and recommend the following:

• Basic but thorough instructions on what to do.
  
• Good and simple video demonstrating these techniques.
  
• What the real thing looks like.

That last video is fantastic just because this is exactly what changing a newborn will be like. This dad is hampered because he's using one hand to hold the video camera, when it would be better used holding his son's ankles to better manage the change. The baby also has an umbilical cord and a circumcision to deal with, and it helps to see what that looks like.

A few more things to think about:
Logistics - get everything you need before you start, so you don't have to walkaway mid-change.
Timing - when possibly try to change your baby *before* they get fussy.
Bedside manner - Imagine getting examined by a doctor who never said a word? Kinda creepy huh? So make small talk with your baby when changing their diaper.
Vigilance - Diaper rash is your enemy. The first line of defense is frequent changes, so check for a wet or dirty diaper every hour or so. The second line of defense is an early response, so be on the lookout for the first signs of a red bottom and use that diaper creme.