Aussie Childcare Network Forum • best practice for cleaning nappy change mats
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best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:32 pm
by eagertolearn
Hi we are reviewing our nappy change cleaning procedure and I'm interested to hear how other centre's clean between changes and then again at lunch and end of the day.

We are thinking about warm soapy water in a spay bottle but to ensure its warm this would be made each change but this seems like a waste of water. Other chemicals need time to work and waiting 2-5 minutes between changes doesn't seem practical. We do use gloves and paper each change to help control the spread of germs.

Any advice or personal experiences are welcome.

Thanks in advance.

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:47 am
by fchaudari76
warm soapy water

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:23 pm
by eagertolearn
Fefe76 how do you do that? Fill a bucket up each nappy change or a spray bottle?

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 1:48 pm
by fchaudari76
they have squirt bottles or spray bottles and use that with paper towel

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 5:05 pm
by eagertolearn
Cool thanks. Think this is the way we will go.

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:12 pm
by NorthLight36
We use a mild disinfectant and soap mix in a spray bottle to wipe down mats after each change.

I personally, also place a few paper towels between the child's bottom and the change mat, but that's my personal routine rather then policy.

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:33 pm
by fchaudari76
We always place paper under the child's bottom during a change

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:42 pm
by NorthLight36
Yeah, that's what I was trained to do, Fefe, but I'm pretty sure I'm the only one at my centre who does. Trying to gently change things by example (people have noticed I have an easier time with nappy changes probably due to bare skin not going on cold plastic) but it's taking time and I'm only casually employed at the moment.

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:53 pm
by fchaudari76
really? every centre I have worked at has that procedure
sheets of butcher paper are excellent for this purpose though at current centre we just use scrap printer paper

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 2:48 pm
by NorthLight36
Really. It's the only thing in my centre that bothers me, which is a massive improvement over the last centre I worked at!

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:04 pm
by lumamelzemm
Hi we are band from using spray bottles with warm soapy water because when u spray the mat the soap droplets or fumes go in the air and its not healthy for the children to breath ,so we just have a bucket full of warm soapy water,we dip the paper towel in it and then clean the changing mat.

Re: best practice for cleaning nappy change mats

Posted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:07 pm
by lumamelzemm
Hi we are band from using spray bottles with warm soapy water because when u spray the mat the soap droplets or fumes go in the air and its not healthy for the children to breath ,so we just have a bucket full of warm soapy water,we dip the paper towel in it and then clean the changing mat.