Share your top tips for nappy changing with Asda for the chance to win £100 Asda voucher! *NOW CLOSED*

[KathrynMumsnet]

We’ve been asked by the Asda Little Angels team to find out your tips for nappy changes.

Here’s what Asda Little Angels says: “Here at Little Angels, we understand how busy life can be when looking after your little one. With lots of nappy changes each and every day; from quick changes to messier episodes, we’d love to know your top tips on how to keep baby clean and content! “

So, are there any tips for nappy changing that you wish you had known before you had your baby? Do you have any tricks for preventing leaks? Or maybe you’ve developed a system for speedy nappy changing? Whatever your top tips are, we’d love to hear them!

Everyone who comments on this thread will be entered into a prize draw, where one lucky Mumsnetter will win a £100 Asda voucher.

Please note your tips and comments may be used, along with your MN nickname in an email MN will send out. Your tips and comments may well also be used elsewhere anonymously by Asda.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

washable wipes leave bottoms really clean. like a fave flannel cleans a face better than a baby wipe. have a tupper ware box full of damp reusable wipes to clean baby's bottom and dry ones to dry it. follow with a smear of barrier cream.
avoid disposable nappies too as the are full.of bottom irritating chemicals xx

Ok here are a few of my best tips...

1. Use a nappy that is on the bigger side of what you need to help capture the 'mess'
2. Make sure baby's bottom is properly dry before putting on a new nappy. This has prevented nappy rash completely for my dd. Use cotton wool pleat to get bottom dry once clean.
3. Have a toy available to distract baby while changing her

I'm a first time mum and nappy changing my now 2 month young boy has been tricky, as he chooses to pee after the nappy is open and spray everything in the vicinity ! So now I carry an apron for me in his diaper bag !

I always have an old towel or muslin on the changing mat for drying creases carefully before putting new nappy on.
Have everything ready and easy to grab. Lots of made up songs about changing bums were the only way to keep my two still!

Vests down. Terry nappies or other cloth nappies work out so much cheaper. We also use reusable wipes. Don't flush wipes...any wipes. And just get on with it!

Have every thing ready to hand .
Be gentle and make sure baby is fully clean.

Have an array of appropriate toys, if not toys then anything safe they usually aren't allowed. Be quick, dry bottom fully and use cream everytime, only had 1 case of nappy rash afterward I did those 2 things. For little boys always have a cloth over his bits whilst you dry him, fresh air makes them tinkle. Always move the clothes up past their bum as if they wee you get it on change mat and don't have to change entire outfit.

• Use a small hairdryer on a low heat setting, to dry their bum after cleaning. Then apply barrier cream. I swear we never had a single case of nappy rash when we did this. Godsend!

• Always you cotton wool balls and plain warm water on newborn botties. Much easier on there fragile skin than harsh wipes (yes, they are really). If you're out and about and have no water handy, the new Water Wipes, though pricy, are brilliant. If you can't do without your normal wipes, try to find alcohol-free ones as these flare up delicate skin much less.

• Best barrier cream ever: Sudocrem.

• Best treatment cream in case of any soreness: Metanium - it is unbelievable.

My tot loves opening and closing pots, it keeps her really intently occupied so I always have a tiny tuppaware pot in my bag with a few small cars in to keep her attention during changing times!

Singing kept my eldest childs attention and stopped her wriggling off the mat. The little one just had to be done quickly and I found to hold their little ankles with my hand backwards to stop them getting feet in the nappy contents when they kicked out as holding them with normal direction hands meant they could slip through my fingers

pop the poppers of a onesie up over a shoulder when doing a standing change to keep all clothes out of the way.

See, I change on a raised surface because then my little lad can't/won't jump or roll off. Obviously they have to be at the stage where they understand that if you do this it'll hurt!! And I use pull ups to change him while he stood up. He's 13 months

have everything laid out ready, we tend to to put on our little chaps fav songs as a bit of a distraction when he get wriggly and wants to spin around. If we can keep him occupied the nappy goes on easily.

Have little toys and rattles to hand to distract them, make sure you have plenty of wipes handy, a cover on the changing mat means any spills are soaked up and don't go on the floor.

• the safest place to change a wriggly baby is on the floor.
• for toddlers, it's often easier to change them standing up.
• keep feet out of the way using the one handed ankle grip technique.
• when removing a poo laden vest, ones with large envelope necks or side poppers are best.
• a baby will inevitably try to put their hands in the poo/ dirty nappy, so give them something to keep their hands busy!
• both boys and girls can wee when you change them, so have a new nappy spread out and ready to go quickly. A cupped hand or wipe will deflect a boys wee and save their/ your clothes.
• if a baby wees on a changing mat, it quickly spreads everywhere, so put a towel on top to absorb it, especially after a bath.
• if you use a nappy cream, just wipe the excess off your fingers inside the new nappy.
• use the right size and fit to avoid leaks and make sure the nappy is out around the legs properly.
• the best nappy is not always the branded one or the most expensive!
• if the nappy explosion is really bad, sometimes the only solution is a quick bath ;-)

When my little girl was baby she was very wriggly but if I gave her a toy to play with this would distract her while I quickly changed her nappy. I used to keep a selection of small toys aside for this purpose, ones she didn't see often so that she would be interested!

For that time when they just won't lie still for love nor money and spend the entire change trying to get up and cover their hands in poo: lie them on the mat and sit next to their tummy at the side of the mat and put your leg closet to their head over their tummy with your knee slightly bent and about level with their belly button. Don't put any pressure on - but they cannot wriggle away or get their hands down. Mine thinks it's hilarious!

Keep your changing bag full and organised so that you are ready at home or when you are out shopping or visiting.

It's interesting reading this thread as it feels so long since I did this but soon to be starting again!! The older my boys got the more I would have to be prepared and have everything ready plus a good toy for distraction. Preventing any sort of nappy rash as well because that's when it really does become a fight!

Make sure you have everything to hand, there's nothing worse than realising your wipes aren't within reach!

Be quick and confident. Talk to baby while you are doing it.

Grab everything you need before you undress baby. Have lots of wipes and a bin bag at the ready. Give baby a toy for distraction. Be as quick as you can changing baby!!

1. Have everything to hand before you start - i kept small wicker baskets with nappies, wipes and cream in various places around the house.

1. Distraction works - change in front of the tv or have rattles/teething rings to hand

1. Pull faces and sing silly songs - no matter how daft you feel!

1. In the event of a 'poonami' baby vests with envelope necks pull downwards over the body to prevent the poo in hair disasters!

I was always impressed by those who managed to change their baby on their lap, but if everything's ready and baby's co-operative, it really can happen!

Keep it classy and change nappies in the child's bedroom or changing area, nobody, including your other children, want to see dirty nappies being changed on the living room floor !