Module 1
Why nappy changing matters at JLK
~5 min
Learning purpose: A child in nappies has upwards of 5 nappy changes a day. Across their JLK life, that's thousands of small, private moments where an adult handles their body. How we do it shapes how they feel about themselves, about being cared for, and about being touched — long before they can name any of it.
JLK practice standard: every nappy change is a moment of dignity, communication, and care. Never a task to power through. Never "just" a change. It is 3 things happening at once:
💚 The 3 things a JLK nappy change is
- A dignity moment. We handle the child's body with the same respect we'd want for our own. We narrate what we're doing. We don't rush. We don't chat over their heads to a colleague. The child is the point of the moment.
- A safeguarding moment. Nappy changes are one of the few times we see a child's body. Bruising, unusual marks, unexplained rash, welfare-indicative signs — this is when we notice. The skin check is not optional; it's the quiet second job of every change.
- A relationship moment. Talking warmly, using their name, naming what you're doing, letting them be part of it. Over weeks, this builds trust. Over years, it teaches a child that being cared for feels safe.
💭 Reflection prompt: Think about the last nappy change you did. Was it a task to get through, or a moment of care? What would have made it feel more like a moment?
Module 2
The JLK 6-step nappy change
~8 min
Learning purpose: a consistent 6-step routine that every JLK practitioner runs, every time. Same order. Same steps. The consistency is what makes it safe and dignified — a child (even a very young one) starts to know what comes next.
JLK practice standard: follow the 6 steps in order. Don't skip steps under time pressure. Under pressure, slow down — never speed up.
Step 1
🧼 Prepare — everything to hand before you start
Wash your hands. Put on your apron and gloves. Lay out on the change mat: clean nappy, wipes, nappy cream if in use for this child, spare clothes if needed, disposal bag. Never leave the child on the change mat to fetch something you forgot. If you did forget something, keep a hand on the child while you call for a colleague to bring it — or bring the child down.
Step 2
🗣 Communicate — tell them what's about to happen
Get to their level before you lift them. Use their name. Tell them what you're going to do.
For a baby who can't respond verbally, the words still land — tone, name, warm-face contact all mean something. For a toddler, invite them to walk to the mat if they can, hold your hand.
Step 3
🔍 Check — the unhurried skin check
Once the nappy is off, before you clean, LOOK. Not scanning — a proper 5-second look. You are checking for:
- Nappy rash — any redness, its severity, whether it's spread since last change
- Any bruises, marks, scratches, cuts anywhere the nappy area covers
- Anything unusual — swelling, discharge, discolouration
- Cleanliness signs from home if you're the first change of the morning (was the nappy already very soiled?)
If you see anything that concerns you: note it in your head, finish the change safely with dignity, then escalate to your room leader immediately after. Do not react on the mat — don't gasp, don't say "what happened?" to the child, don't take a photo. Complete the change calmly, then report properly.
Step 4
🧴 Change — clean, cream if used, fresh nappy
Wipe front to back (girls especially — for all children). Use enough wipes to be thorough; don't be stingy — but don't over-wipe delicate skin either. Apply cream if this child has cream in their care plan (check the room record — not every child has cream). Slide the fresh nappy under before you lift; lift by supporting under the bottom, not by pulling legs up in the air.
Throughout: keep talking. "Nearly done. Fresh and clean now. One more wipe and we're finished." Never silent. Never rushed.
Step 5
🗑 Dispose & clean — you AND the space
Nappy into the sealed disposal bin. Wipes into the same. Gloves off (inside-out, into the bin). Wipe the change mat with the JLK cleaning wipe. Wash your hands properly — the JLK 20-second hand wash, warm water, soap, back of hands, between fingers, thumbs.
Take the child to wash their hands too — even babies. Get them into the habit early.
Step 6
📝 Record — every change, every child
Log the nappy change on the room's daily record. What was in the nappy (wet · soiled · both), the time, your initials, any concerns noted from the skin check. Every change. Every child.
Why: parents are told at handover about their child's day. Ofsted asks about consistency of care. And if a welfare pattern is developing — increasingly soiled, unusual times, skin condition worsening — the record is what shows it.
Module 3
Safeguarding + when to escalate
~5 min
Learning purpose: nappy changes are one of the small number of moments in a child's day when an adult sees their whole body. That makes it a moment of quiet vigilance — not paranoia, but proper professional noticing.
🚨 Escalate to your room leader / DSL if you see:
Bruising or marks in areas the nappy would cover — especially fingertip bruises, patterned marks, or marks in unusual places (inner thighs, buttocks, lower back).
Nappy rash that's severe, unusually shaped, or worsening across multiple changes despite following the child's care plan.
Sores, scratches, cuts not explained by anything obvious (climbing, falls) — or an explanation from the child that doesn't fit what you see.
A child who becomes distressed, avoidant, or reactive in a way that's new during a nappy change — especially if the change is being done by any specific adult only.
Anything the child says during the change that raises a concern about home, another adult, or feeling unsafe. Record their exact words.
Escalate the same shift. Do not wait until tomorrow. Do not "keep an eye on it" for a week. Room leader → DSL — that's the flow.
💚 The 3 safeguarding rules that always apply
- Line of sight or accompanied. A nappy change happens in the room's designated changing area, in view of other adults — never in a closed side-room alone with the child. The design of JLK's rooms supports this; use it.
- Never photograph a child's body — not for records, not to show a parent, not to text a colleague, not for anything. If you need to describe a mark, use words in the record.
- Record exact words. If a child says something concerning during a change (young children often disclose during care moments because they feel safe), write down what they said using their exact words, not your interpretation. Report immediately.
Module 4
The trickier moments — scripts for real situations
~5 min
Learning purpose: the 6-step routine handles 90% of changes. The other 10% are the moments practitioners find hardest — the upset child, the toilet-training transition, the cultural preference from a family, the refusal. Here's what to say.
😢 Child is upset during the change
Some children hate being on their back. Others don't like the cold. Some are just having a big feeling and it landed in your 15-minute window.
The JLK response: name the feeling first, then continue calmly. "You're really cross with me right now. I know. We're nearly done. One more wipe and you can go back to your play." Don't rush to finish (rushing = more panic). Don't stop mid-change (unsafe). Steady, warm, quick as safety allows.
🚽 Toilet-training transition
A child in pull-ups who's learning to use the toilet needs a slightly different rhythm — you're building autonomy, not just changing them.
The JLK response: ask before you lead. "Kai, would you like to try the toilet before we do a fresh pull-up?" Give them the choice. Celebrate the try, not the outcome — "You went in there and tried. That's what learning to use the toilet looks like." Never shame accidents. Ever.
🌍 Cultural preferences from a family
Some families have specific requests around nappy changing — who does it, what cream is used, cultural practices around cleaning. Read the child's care plan on day one.
The JLK response: follow the care plan as written. If a request is new or unusual, don't improvise — check with your room leader. "Let me confirm the exact process with my room leader, so we get it right for [name]." Never do something you're not sure about.
🙅 Child refuses to come to the change mat
A pre-verbal child may just resist; an older toddler may say "no".
The JLK response: honour the "no" while holding the boundary. "You want to keep playing. I hear you. Your nappy needs changing so you'll be comfortable — would you like to walk with me, or shall I carry you?" Two choices, both leading to the change. Never grab. Never drag. Never sneak up. If a child is refusing repeatedly across multiple days, tell your room leader — there may be something else going on.
👥 A colleague not following the 6 steps
You see a colleague skipping the skin check, or being rushed with a child, or forgetting to use their name.
The JLK response: talk to them privately, warmly, after the change. Not in front of the child. Not in front of another colleague. "Hey — quick one. I noticed [x]. We do it [this way] because [reason]. All good?" If it happens again, or if it's serious, tell your room leader.
Knowledge check
End-of-course quiz · 6 questions
Pass 80%
Pick the best answer for each question. You need 5 out of 6 to pass. Unlimited attempts.
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The JLK 6 steps of a nappy change, in order, are:
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You've realised halfway through a change that you forgot the cream. You should:
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During the skin check you notice an unusual bruise on the child's inner thigh. You should:
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A toddler refuses to come to the change mat. The JLK response is:
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Which of these is NOT part of the JLK nappy change standard?
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During a nappy change, a child says something concerning about home. You should: