Nappy changing in the night

[VickyU]

Probably a stupid question but....
I'm booked in for a ELCS on Friday and am assuming it might be difficult for me to get up in the night to change nappies at least for the first week? So DH is going to be night time nappy changer for a couple of weeks and then I will take over....(well that's the plan!) So my question is...where do you change nappies at night at the beginning when baby is in your room? I was thinking of putting necessary things under the bedside crib (nappies/mat etc.) and then changing him on the floor? Or is it better to take baby into the nursery to change nappies in the middle of the night and keeping everything in there?

I just kept supplies by the bed then changed baby on the bed. As I either coslept or had Moses basket right next bed, it meant i (or DH) didn't have to get out of bed at all - perfect!

Oh and also no need to change unless they've pooed. Of my 2 DC one has been a prolific nocturnal pooer but the other hardly ever pooed at night so was even easier.

I have a soft/ travel change mat and do the nappy change on my bed or DH does. I find it best to minimise disturbance in the night for yourself and baby. Doing it this way also keeps lights dim, stays warm in bedroom and is less tiring. We keep a full nappy changing set in the bedroom too Inc nappies, wipes, bags, change of vest and babygro too as you don't want to be hunting through drawers for clean things in the muddle of the night either. Hth.

Changing mat stored under bed. Whip it out onto bed to change baby. Nappy straight into nappy sack and into bin in bathroom when nappy changer goes to wash hands. Supplies stored... Anywhere handy! My house looks like a stuff bomb has gone off when a newborn arrives. Don't worry that part improves in a few months weeks

Some kind of low light is helpful, you don't want to do it in the dark or have a bright light waking the LO up even more. If you do change the baby on the bed, as well as making sure he/she doesn't roll off, do put a towel or similar down first - changing your entire bed is not something you want to be doing!
Hopefully by the time you get out of hospital you'll start to feel able to move ok, but do take it slowly. If you're going to be feeding the baby yourself, IMO nappies should always be the dad's job!

My DD never once pooed in the night. But if I had to I'd just use a change mat on the bed. I used a lamp with a red bulb in for feeds to keep lights low.

I used antibacterial gel unless my hands were obviously dirty - lazy I know. And the filled nappy sacks were just thrown into a pile on the floor to be dealt with in the morning. Oh dear, that makes me sound terribly slovenly

And keep a spare vest, babygro and spare PJ top for yourself at the end of the bed in case changes are needed!

Weirdly I do miss those days!

You think that's bad Bear? I chuck the nappy sacks out the window at night!!

Disclaimer : I live very rurally, my bedroom is at the back of my house and the bags fall into my completely enclosed, walled garden which is not overlooked by any other properties. We collect them and put them in the outside bin first thing in the morning as the dog goes out.
My city dwelling DB was horrified when he came to visit the other day though!

Wow - thank you all so much! Amazing advice. Have just put spare changing mat under the bed and in the process of moving some nappies etc. from nursery.

I LOVE Mumsnet at times like this, I really do!

Good thread. I very naively thought babies didn't really poo at night - not sure why!!

I also changed dd on the bed and plan to do the same with bump, I used my top and tail bowl to stash nappies, cotton wool, nappy cream, cool boiled water in a sealed container (later swapped for wipes) and a spare pare (or six) of breast pads x x

Never had to change either of mine at night unless they were poorly.

Interesting thread! Before reading I had fully planned on changing LO in the nursery change table at night (she will be sleeping in our room in a moses basket). Now I am realising this isnt really feasible half asleep...

This might be a bit of a dim question (and sorry to jump your thread VickyU) but how often did you change the nappy at night? It sounds a bit like some only changed a poo one...? or have a got the wrong end of the stick?!

Msblue - I think generally you can get away with not changing as long as no poo or unless the baby is clearly uncomfortable (ie crying!). But will wait for an exert to confirm (unlike me).

When I had my first dd no-one told me not to change a wet nappy and subsequently I ended up fully rousing her every time she fed (2hourly!) dd2 I'd learned my lesson. Picked her out the basket in the dark, fed and back to bed.

I used my dd1's glotorch as a nightlight so I could see. If I changed a bum I often did it by torchlight!

We changed after every feed with dd1, but only after poos with dd2 ( so very rarely).

You live and learn!

And also make up a little basket for the lounge with nappies wipes, sacks, lotion and dummy and spare onesie and babygrow. Restock it every night before bed.

Yes you don't need to change nappies for just a wee in the night. Not unless you enjoy sitting up all night with a wide awake baby!

Modern nappies and even washables are usually ok to go all night with wees.

DD1 only pooed once at night during the four months she slept in our room - you may be lucky like us!

Poo or if they have wet through clothes - there are nappies that absorb an awful lot I fing (eg 'dry nites' ones)