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

I've always found changing on my knee makes things much easier. Have everything you need to hand. If using cream, I put a little on the back of my hand which will be holding feet and that way I don't need to faff with a tube while baby's bum is out.
Also knowing to pull a baby vest down is amazing - I only discovered this on DC3! Have since told anyone who has had a baby.

Blowing raspberries on the tummy always settles a wriggly baby

My son is 10 months and is at that age where he turns over the minute I try and get nappy on, I recommend pull ups for this as sometimes I couldn't even get the nappy on as was such a challenge

I had a container with compartments and a handle in which I put all the things I would need, spare muslins, flannels, wipes, nappies, cream, cotton wool etc, I took it from room to room and having it nearby meant I was prepared for nappy changes well, also be very vigilant when changing boys, a strategically placed muslin once the nappy had been removed meant I didn't get soaked!!

We always were fanatical about washing carefully and wiping round with baby lotion. Then putting sudocrem on. I have to say it was worthwhile because our son rarely had nappy rash.

I get everything ready before I start the nappy change, and I will do something to distract my daughter as she sometimes fidgets or doesn't want it changed, I will sing a nursery rhyme or get her a toy to with whilst I'm doing it

I always make sure I have a mini pack of wipes & 1 nappy in my handbag, just in case I forgot my changing bag

As soon as your baby can walk change their nappy while they are standing, preferably facing the sofa or a pouffe so they can lean / look at books / play with toys on it. And I'd definitely recommend switching to easy up pants-type nappies around this time too - soo much quicker and easier x

I honestly didn't know about taking the baby vests down over the body rather than over the head, until I read it on MN a while ago!

My tip for changing boys is to open the nappy quickly for a few seconds, the cold air often seems to trigger a wee so then you fold the happy back over to catch it rather than taking it off quickly.

Now my dd is a toddler, she needs to "help". I give her the clean nappy and wipes to hold and get her to pass them to me. This means she stays still long enough for me to do her change and she feels like she's a "big girl" for helping.

If you have a little boy, keep a muslin cloth to hand when you take off the old nappy, as they will start to wee when you take their nappy off.

To add to the tip about little boys weeing, hold the nappy over for a few seconds after you undo it.

Take at least 4 nappies and 2 changes of clothes with you everywhere.

First pants are your friend once they can run off.

If you have a baby boy, keep your mouth closed! It's a mistake you only make once

Make sure you have a nappy sack wide open next to you so it's easy to dispose of your nappy.

Always put a clean nappy underneath your baby when you change them so that when you've whipped off the dirty nappy and lifted their legs up to wipe, you can immediately lay them into a nice fresh nappy.

The main thing is to have everything you need ready to make it as easy and quick as possible!

Get someone else to do it! Especially if you have a nappy change hating child

If, however, there are no willing helpers mugs available then you first need to assess the situation. Once you have caught your child (18mo DS2 is like greased lightning when a nappy change is on the cards!) a quick, and very careful, peek in the side of the nappy will tell you just how awful it's going to be and how many wipes you are likely to need (definitely way easier to get them out the packet ready). Unfold nappy, open nappy sack and get lid off cream ready.

If you have a particularly lively child (like DS2) it's best to change them on the floor. Some kids don't seem to learn that flinging themselves about mid- nappy change on a table/knee will likely result in some sort of head injury (I'm looking at you here DS2).

Pull trousers down to ankles but don't take them off. This will help stop them getting up and running off leaving a delightful poo trail in their wake.

Place new nappy underneath, then undo dirty one, use the front of it to scrape as much poo off as possible then fling on the wipes to hopefully prevent getting a soaking (particularly if you have a boy).

If using cotton wool and water, use the square cotton pads rather than cotton wool balls unless you want your child to wind up looking like a dandelion. That stuff sticks like nowt else when damp.

If by this point your child is resisting all attempts at distraction using the methods mentioned above, a carefully placed leg across their chest will stop them escaping. Obviously, not firmly enough to crush them (much), just to stop the roll and crawl method of escape. Take care when deploying smart phones for distraction purposes - a well aimed phone can easily wind up landing with a splat in the dirty nappy. (Thanks for that DS2).

Quickly finish the job and release toddler from your vice-like grip, taking care to remove the dirty nappy asap to prevent stroppy toddler lobbing it at the wall.

Pour large gin and pray to god they're ready for potty training soon.

Have everything close by. It's amazing how fast they can move when you've literally just zipped across a room. And they then normally pee the second they are on the carpet.
Also, tickles and funny faces once the new nappy is on gives lots of fantastic eye contact and bonding.

Always wait 10-20 seconds (especially for boys) before taking the dirty nappy fully away as letting the air get to that area can make the little one wee (seems to more prevalent in boys.)

Also, just before you take the old nappy away, slot the new nappy underneath. Then when you take the old nappy away you can do the new one up quickly and without too much nappy off time and worry about little one peeing everywhere. ;)

Don't bother with a changing mat with a towelling cover - it will be in the wash more than on the mat! I just used old (clean) towels over the top which could then be out straight in the wash.
If you have more than one in nappies (I had twins but could apply to newborn and older child) have a changing station upstairs and downstairs - saves time and energy!

For my toddler I always have a shaker or fine motor toy for her to play with while I change. Stops her wiggles and trying to put her hands in

Have everything to hand and try not to put your child in clothes that are awkward to get on and off, quicker is better.

Use the front of the old nappy to take off the worst of the poo. Often it almost gets rid of the need for wipes.

Have everything ready, including a spare vest, as sometimes you don't realise it has leaked until you have undone the poppers.

When your child gets to the solid poo stage, if you are at home, change them in the bathroom, then you can just tip the poo into the loo, saving your bin from being even more smelly. Hardly anyone I know seems to do this, I am baffled why not.

Have everything to hand. I start off by talking and singing but also make sure I have a couple of small toys to distract her.

Don't allow a 15 month old baby to figure out how to take off their own nappy

Make a game of changes so that they don't fight it as much.

Kids HATE wetwipes and who can blame them? A cold wet thing on your bum.I'd hate it too.

Distraction, distraction, distraction! Whether it is with a colourful home-made mobile where you can change the different items hanging from it, or with a basket of toys or chunky small board books, or singing silly rhymes - if you can distract them whilst nappy changing so that they don't even try to wriggle away then that really helps.

Also when you decide their nappy needs changing then change it however wriggly they get. I can't stand seeing parents 'give up' and leave it longer because then baby learns they can decide and be in control of nappy changes and they will then try to wriggle away every time!

We lined the change mat with a towel or muslin to keep it a bit warmer so less chance of baby needing to pee when they feel cold on the change mat. Can also be easily washed and replaced quickly with another towel / muslin if it does get dirty and the mat underneath will need less of a clean - just a quick wipe down with antibac wipe or spray.