Cleaning a little bottom also has gender differences
A little bottom can easily get soiled with urine and feces, and cleaning it is not as simple as you might think. Being too rough can damage the skin's stratum corneum; not cleaning promptly can easily lead to a "red bottom." There are really some important things to note.
Cleaning plan for a little boy's bottom
step1 Unfasten
Have the child lie flat on the bed and unfasten the tabs of the diaper. Boys often start to urinate at this moment, so after unfastening the diaper, keep the front half of the diaper hooked over the penis for a few seconds until he is finished. Use the absorbency of the diaper to catch the urine, preventing the mattress from getting wet and soiled.
step2 Wipe
Mom stands to the right of the child. First, use your left hand to hold both of his ankles and lift them up. Place one finger between the two ankles to prevent the child from discomfort caused by the legs being squeezed too tightly.
Mom then uses her right hand to open the diaper and use the relatively clean inner side of the diaper to wipe away any remaining feces around the anus. Fold the front and back flaps of the diaper and place them temporarily under the little bottom. Then, lower the child's legs and wash the bottom with a special wet wipe or a clean, damp towel.
step3 Clean
First, wash the little tummy, moving down to the navel. Then clean the skin folds at the root of the thighs and the external genitalia, wiping from the inside out.
Use a clean wet wipe to clean all areas of the child's testicles, including under the penis, where there might be urine or feces.
When cleaning the penis, wipe in the direction away from the child's body; do not pull the foreskin back. For boys under half a year old, there is no need to intentionally clean the foreskin, as it usually becomes fully attached to the penis around the age of 4. Pulling the delicate foreskin too early can injure the child's genitals. When cleaning under the testicles, use your finger to gently lift the testicles upward.
After cleaning the front, lift the child's legs again and clean the anus and the back of the buttocks.
step4 Care
Mom dries her hands and uses a tissue to pat the child's little bottom dry. If the child has a red bottom, let him kick his legs in the air for a bit to let the little bottom air-dry completely, and then apply some diaper rash cream around the anus and on the buttocks.
Warm reminder
Because boys usually urinate forward, when putting on a diaper, be sure to press down on the child's penis to prevent him from wetting the diaper's front panel.
Cleaning plan for a little girl's bottom
step1 Unfasten
Unfasten the diaper, wipe away any remaining feces around the anus, and use a wet wipe or a clean, damp towel to wash the entire area of the little tummy, moving down to the navel.
step2 Wipe
Use a clean wet wipe to wash all the skin folds at the root of the child's thighs, wiping from top to bottom and from the inside out.
step3 Clean
Lift the child's legs and place one of your fingers between her ankles. Next, clean her vulva, being careful to wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from the anus from entering the vagina and urethra.
Use a clean wet wipe to clean the anus, then the buttocks and thighs, washing inward towards the anus.
step4 Care
Mom dries her hands and uses a tissue to pat the child's little bottom dry. If the child has a red bottom, let her play with her bare bottom for a bit to let the little bottom air-dry completely, and then apply diaper rash cream to the area around the vulva, the labia, the anus, and the buttocks.
Warm reminder
Talcum powder is generally not recommended for girls. The female pelvis is open to the outside world. Dust and particles from the external environment can enter the abdominal cavity through the vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine cavity, and open fallopian tubes, and attach to the surface of the ovaries. This can stimulate the proliferation of ovarian epithelial cells, which in turn can induce ovarian cancer.