How to change a diaper in the car, including in winter

How to change a diaper in the car, including in winter

To change a diaper in a car safely, park first, pick a flat spot where your child cannot roll or slide, and keep one hand on your child the whole time. The trunk, the back seat and the front seat each suit different situations, and a small kit that stays in the car makes any of them faster.

Park somewhere safe first

Never change a diaper while the car is moving or stopped in traffic. Pull into a parking lot or rest stop, away from moving vehicles. Put the car in park, turn the engine off and set the parking brake before you start.

Open the door on the side away from traffic, and do not leave your child alone in the car, even to walk to a bin. If there is nowhere safe to stop, wait until you reach a place where you can, because a short delay is better than a roadside change.

Trunk, back seat or front seat

  • Back seat. This is a good default. It is sheltered, your supplies are within reach and you can keep a hand on your child. Lay your child across the seat, well back from the edge. If a car seat takes up most of the bench, the cargo area may give you more room.
  • Trunk or cargo area. A hatchback, wagon or SUV may give you more room and a flatter floor. Make sure the hatch is fully open and stays up on its own, lay your child well back from the edge and stand between them and the drop. A sedan's enclosed trunk is not a place to lay a child.
  • Front seat. The front passenger seat is often the tightest of the three, with the console and dashboard close by, so the back seat or cargo area is easier.

Protecting the seat and upholstery

A pad between your child and the seat catches mess before it reaches the fabric. A portable pad with a pocket keeps wipes within reach; one option is the Kopi Baby Portable Changing Pad with Wipes Pocket, Grey. The changing pads and covers collection lists others.

A disposable option avoids carrying a dirty pad home. One is the Obyfgily Disposable Baby Changing Pads, 13 x 18 in, 100 Pack. For extra cover on a seat, a disposable underpad, which is a flat absorbent sheet sold in larger sizes than a changing pad, can go underneath. Check the listed size against your seat.

If anything does reach the upholstery, wipe it up at once with a damp cloth, because fabric holds on to odour.

The change, step by step

  1. With the car parked and the engine off, lay the pad on the seat or cargo floor.
  2. Unfold the clean diaper and open the wipes within reach before you start.
  3. Lay your child on the pad and keep one hand on them.
  4. Take off the dirty diaper, clean the skin with wipes from front to back and put on the clean diaper.
  5. Roll the dirty diaper and seal it in a sack or bag.
  6. Clean your hands and wipe or fold up the pad.

If you carry a cream, follow the label. If the skin looks red, sore or broken, or the redness is not improving, check with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

A car kit that stays stocked

  • A portable changing pad or a pack of disposable pads.
  • Diapers in your child's current size, plus a few extra. Check the fit after growth spurts.
  • A pack of wipes. The baby wipes collection lists what we carry.
  • Sacks or a wet bag for the dirty diaper.
  • A spare outfit for your child and a spare shirt for you.
  • Hand sanitizer and a small towel.

Keep it all in one bag in the trunk and check the contents each season. A parked car gets hot and cold, so check the storage directions on creams and sanitizer.

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Cold-weather changes

A winter change works when it is short and sheltered.

  • Run the heat on the drive so the cabin is warm when you stop, then turn the engine off before you start. Never run a car in a closed garage.
  • Use the back seat, out of the wind, rather than an open cargo area that lets the cold in.
  • Undress the bottom half only. Leave the top layers and hat on, and lay a blanket over your child's chest while you work.
  • When you buckle your child back in, follow your car seat manual's directions on winter clothing.
  • Warm a wipe in your hand for a moment before you use it.
  • Wipes left in an unheated car overnight may freeze, so bring the pack in or keep it in your bag in deep cold.

If you are ever unsure whether your child has got too cold, ask your doctor or public health nurse.

Storing the dirty diaper until you find a bin

Roll the dirty diaper and tie it in a sack. A wet bag gives the tied sack a second, waterproof layer; one option is the Bumkins Waterproof Wet Bag. Keep it out of the cabin if you can, and put it in a bin at the first opportunity.

In summer, a hot car makes smell build quickly, so do not leave a used diaper in the car overnight.

Restocking after the trip

When you get home, take a minute to replace what you used: diapers, wipes, sacks and a spare outfit. Do it the same day, while you still remember what ran out. Wipe the pad with a damp cloth, and wash any wet bag according to its care label.

Common questions

What if I forgot the pad?

Use a clean towel or blanket that you can wash, and put a disposable underpad under it if you have one. Check the seat for dampness afterwards.

How many diapers should I keep in the car?

Count the changes on your longest regular trip, then add a few extras. Check again when your child moves up a size.

What if my toddler will not lie down?

For a wet diaper, try a standing change with the car parked: have your child stand in the rear footwell, or on the ground right beside the open door on the side away from traffic, holding the seat. Keep a hand on them the whole time.

If you would like help putting a car kit together, send us a note through the contact page. We reply within one business day.