To knowingly leave my baby in a dirty nappy

[MrsMaow]

She pooped as I was feeding her, I saw her stop drinking her bottle for a while, make a funny expression and tense up a few times like she was going, and lo and behold 10 seconds later I became aware of the smell.

I need to keep her upright for at least half an hour after a feed or she gets painful reflux - so we finished the bottle and I’m currently sat her holding her upright knowing full well she’s in a dirty nappy.

I don’t know what’s worse, if I lie her down to change her she’ll be in pain but if I leave her as she is there’s the increased odds of a nappy rash sometime in her near future so also pain and it can’t be pleasant for her as it is

What would you do? Change her now or keep waiting?

Keep her upright and just add lots of cream when you change her.

I’d keep her upright to avoid the painful reflex, then give her bottom a good clean & use some cream afterwards.

Just hold her up this time and then give her some nappy free time when you change her. Get some metanium nappy cream and use that in future situations.

You will know tomorrow if you have made the right call. Parenting is all about learning on the job and that means takings risks and learning from experience.

I'd probably take her nappy off and stick a towel on my knee - depending on age other factors etc.

Don’t change her yet, but as soon as you’re able to do so change her and apply lots of cream. Half an hour isn’t too long and it’s better than her being in pain

The world won’t end if you leave her in a dirty nappy while she digests. You’re holding her upright, so she’s not lying in it. If she seems comfortable, I’d wait. After all, sometimes you can’t change them immediately and they survive. As long as it’s not a regular thing I wouldn’t worry too much.

I'd change now but that's because mine suffered terribly from nappy rash and didnt have reflux, so that's my perspective.

Depending on her age and mobility you could experiment with inclining the changing mat (on floor obv) so you don't have to lie her flat.

She’s fallen asleep now so can’t be that uncomfortable! Ta for the suggestions - I’ll let her be for a bit longer then a good wipe, bath and loads of metanium which thankfully I already have

Good barrier cream in future so you can leave on guilt freeish. Babies are prone to pooping mid feed. If there's second pair of hands about could you hold her while other person whips nappy off and cleans

Metanium is apparently best in a thin layer.

Weleda calendula nappy cream is a thousand times better than metanium. If your little one is prone to nappy rash, get some.

I'd have left her in it while she digested, she's not lying in it like pp said.

Our midwife said if they need to, leaving it for a little while once in a blue moon won't hurt them.

I used a barrier nappy cream every time with mine. I used dropoline. And then yellow metanium when they were sore.

I left DC on the odd occasion too.

Sometimes just so DH got his turn to change a dirty one for a change as DC had got into a schedule of pooing around 5pm just before DH was coming home.

I don't think you need to bother with creams unless they have a rash or look a bit red. I'm sure she'll be fine this once.

There's lots of reasons why you can't change it immediately, try not to worry. Just ensure you let them sit a bit - far better than cream.

If she pooped in the night she'd probably be in a dirty nappy longer than half an hour. I doubt it will cause her any harm in the long run.

It's not as if you're leaving it because you can't be bothered.

YANBU to weigh up almost certain reflux vs slight possibility of nappy rash.

You'll probably suffer more having to inhale the smell!

EyUpOurKid

"Weleda calendula nappy cream"

Thanks for the tip, I haven't been happy with the 3 nappy rash creams I've tried so far.

I'm fairly sure babies end up in a dirty nappy during the night for far longer? When babies are asleep, not hungry and settled they still poop but you won't know until the next wake up/feed/change if you're asleep too.

So almost exactly 24 hours later the same thing has happened! Good thing she’s got cream on this time!

Perhaps preempt it by always sticking on lots of nappy cream so there is a barrier. Reflux is a nightmare - hang in there, it will get better!

I’ve no experience with reflux but you are obviously best placed to judge just how troublesome laying her down for a quick change would be and balance that against the nappy issue.

If she’s in that sweet spot of old enough to have some head control, and young enough not to be too wiggly, you could probably manage a one-handed nappy change or at least remove the old one and sit her on a towel. If she will tolerate it without provoking the reflux, you can sort of dangle her by threading your forearm under her armpits and across her chest. Obviously do this low over changing mat or other soft surface on the floor. You could then manage a one-handed nappy change, even if you don’t get to wipe every crevice or have the tabs perfectly aligned and snug. You can do a better job and clean up any lingering bits once the reflux hour has passed.

But in short, don’t worry, if there is a good reason not to change it immediately, a delayed change is unlikely to harm her.

Hope the reflux improves soon. That always sounds so tough to deal with.