All you really need is water and cotton wool or baby wipes and a supply of new nappies. If you're using wipes, keep an eye out for rashes. They can irritate your baby's sensitive skin. You may want to use barrier cream, especially at night. You'll need a nappy rash cream for emergencies.
Nappy sacks are useful, particularly when you're away from home. A toweling nappy on top of a changing mat keeps your baby's skin away from the cold plastic and is absorbent. If your baby pees mid-procedure, the towel helps prevent the pee from drenching your baby's back.
For safe hygienic nappy changing remember to wash your hands before and after, to change the nappy on a clean changing mat, to dispose of the nappy and its content carefully; and to clean any surfaces that may have become contaminated.

If your baby develops nappy rash clean the skin gently – instead of soap and water, use cotton wool swabs with baby oil or lotion. Be careful not to rub sore areas.

First, gather everything you will need so it’s all within easy reach, bearing in mind that you will only have one hand free until you get to the point where you are lifting your baby out of the bath.

You will need:

Two towels (in case of accidents)
Cotton wool
A baby sponge
Baby bath liquid or soap
Baby shampoo
Jug of luke-warm water, if shampooing
A clean nappy
Nappy cream
Clean clothes

Sometimes, it is difficult to slip clothes on and off your baby. The easeiest ways to manage this are:
• When choosing clothes, make sure to get fabrics that stretch.
• Use bibs to cut down on washing.
• When dressing baby, have everything laid out beforehand and keep your little one entertained by talking and singing.
• A healthy newborn often tends to need more covering than an adult. So, use layers of clothes/ blankets so that you can adjust according to the baby’s temperature.

The sooner you establish a bedtime routine, the better. When your baby is as young as 6 or 8 weeks old, start following a set pattern every night; she'll quickly come to appreciate the consistency and predictability. Stick to your routine as best you can even when you're not home — it can make it easier for your baby to settle down in unfamiliar surroundings.

What you include in your ritual is up to you. There's the standard bath, putting on pajamas, reading a story, and having a cuddle, or you can play a quiet game. Just make sure you choose something that helps calm your baby instead of riling her up. And no matter where you start your ritual, it should always end in your baby's bedroom. It's important to teach your baby that her room is a nice place to be, not just where she's "banished" to at bedtime. If your baby gets upset as she sees you walk out the door after you tuck her in, tell her you'll be back to check on her in a few minutes. In all likelihood, she'll be fast asleep by the time you return.