Diapering, Toileting & Handwashing: the full procedure

Change diapers and support toileting using a sanitary step-by-step routine with gloves, surface disinfection after each change, and handwashing for both child and staff.

• Applies to: All staff who diaper or assist with toileting.
• Frequency: At every diaper change and toileting event.
• Scope: Covers the operational hygiene process. Exact procedure, products, and disinfection contact times defer to the CDC, Caring for Our Children, your state licensing, and each product’s label.

What you need

• Disposable gloves
• Disposable wipes
• Changing-table liners
• EPA-registered disinfectant
• Lined hands-free covered trash can
• Soap & running water

The procedure, step by step

1. Prepare the station — Gather supplies and a fresh liner before bringing the child to the changing area so you never leave the child to fetch items.
2. Glove and protect — Put on gloves and place the child on the liner, keeping a hand on the child at all times.
3. Clean front to back — Remove the soiled diaper and clean the diaper area with disposable wipes, always wiping front to back, then bag/discard waste in the lined covered can.
4. Remove gloves & re-diaper — Remove gloves using proper technique, put on a clean diaper, and re-dress the child.
5. Wash the child’s hands — Wash the child’s hands with soap and running water and return them to a supervised area.
6. Disinfect the surface — Wipe visible soil, then wet the entire surface with disinfectant and follow the label’s required contact time before reuse.
7. Wash your hands — Wash your own hands thoroughly with soap and water after every change — even when gloves were worn.
8. Toileting with dignity — Support toilet learning with privacy and respect, then ensure both child and staff handwashing; document changes/accidents per center policy.

Quality check before you finish

• Gloves worn and changed each child.
• Wiping done front to back; waste in a covered, lined, hands-free can.
• Surface disinfected and label contact time observed every change.
• Child’s hands washed after every change/toileting.
• Staff hands washed after every change, even with gloves.
• Diapering log completed per center policy.

This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Daycare Center business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.

Sources

• CDC — Safe & Healthy Diaper Changing Steps (cdc.gov)
• Caring for Our Children — Std 3.2.1.4 Diaper Changing (nrckids.org)