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

Have everything prepared, opening out the new nappy before taking the old one off. We have nappies and wipes handy in bedrooms and sitting room. We also keep a couple of nappies and a pack of wipes in the car door for any short trips where we don't lug the change bag. Also, disposable changing mats have been really useful for us - much warmer than the plastic ones, easy to transport and easy to dispose of when dirty.

Have everything ready. Wipes, nappy bag, new nappy folded out. Makes it a quicker process. Also if you have a baby like mine who hated it, change them under a play gym as it distracts them long enough to stop them trying to get away.
Move the dirty nappy away as soon as it's off believe me you don't want to be cleaning poo off of a babies hands at 3am.

Never change the nappy on the bed, even if you are exhausted!

Put a wipe over willys as soon as you pull the the dirty nappy away. It will avoid you getting a pee shower

Also use the time to sing nursery rhymes with your baby, count with your toddler etc it will make the experience more pleasant for everybody.

Buy a changing mat with harness. It stops them running off with a shitty bum once the nappy is off.
For wet-only changes, perfect the 'standing and walking' nappy change. Best way to avoid the walking bit is to let them look at a book on a chair.
When a newborn, don't rush into a nappy change after a poo. There may be more and more, and more to come.
And, of course, envelope necks on vests mean that they can go down instead of up after a poonami.

Vest down for poonami
towel on top of change mat for younger babies, helps keep them calm and not have to feel cold plastic.

Only change at night if there is poo - torch works a treat for this.

As others have said vest off from shoulders and down body when faced with escaped poo - took me ages to twig to do this!

I make sure I always have the clean nappy open and ready, particularly if it's a pooey one that needs changing. Then I slip it underneath the baby's bottom before unfastening and removing the dirty nappy, which I use to wipe off any excess.

Fast and calm and ignore the screams. I spent so much time early on trying to placate DD and it only ever bought microseconds of quiet. Much better to just get it over with and then comfort her.

Chat to your baby as you change him or her.
Have nappies, wipes and mats in more than one room.
Finally -
Don't rush in too early, when there's a poo on the cards..! You can't unsee an as-it-happens action poo.

Have everything ready, check you have enough wipes.

We used a travel change mat on the floor after a while, it could be put in the change box with all the other stuff and is easy to wipe and clean.

Give baby something to hold to stop little hands getting in the way, preferably something they are not normally allowed.

Be quick!

When my little ones were tiny I used a fibre optic lamp next to the changing unit. It was would keep them mesmerised for hours but crucially enough time to change a nappy!!

My best advice is to go quickly as others have said.
and definitely leave them for a minute to make sure they're finished

always put the dry nappy under first in case...

Make sure that your changing bag contents are up to date - plenty of nappies, wipes that haven't dried out and spare clothes. There's nothing like trying to clear up a poonami on an 8 month old in the middle of town when all you've got is a newborn vest and a size 1 nappy [bitter experience emoticon]

I found a change mat on the floor a lot easier (and I was less worried about them wriggling off and falling). Have everything you need in a box or basket to hand and give them a toy to play with to keep their hands busy and our of the way. I wish I'd know sooner that you could roll babygros down to avoid having to pull them over the head!

Get everything ready beforehand.
Have a toy ready to distract them.

Practice makes perfect!
I went from being a disastrous nappy changer to a whizz in a very short time.

When I had my first child I had this idealised view of nappy changing and big ideas of being virtuous by using cloth nappies. That lasted about 1 week! My Mum made it look so easy, but I really struggled with the safety pin. During the day this wasn't such a problem but at night when I hoped for a quick change and back to bed, nappy changing took so long that both me and my son were wide awake and couldn't possibly go back to sleep!
So, I quickly abandoned them and turned with relief to disposable nappies. So much easier and quicker...

Vest down over legs.. wow, I actually never thought of that - that knowledge would have helped me a LOT in the early days!!
Distraction is key - we have one of those wooden bar play gyms which are quite compact & great for keeping little one occupied!
My MIL made a couple of changing mat covers which have been really useful - our LO was a winter baby - so a chilly changing mat was not a pleasant option! The cover is comfy & warm & can just be thrown in the wash when needed.
Happy changing all.. potty training next! :o

Step 1 - Sit with legs apart and wrestle baby or toddler to as close to lying down position as possible.

Step 2 - Take one leg and pin child down with it (two legs can be used criss crossed if they are especially wriggly or big).

Step 3 - Attempt to wrestle nappy on to child whilst distracting with songs, food, keys or any random item that is close by.

Step 4 - Admit defeat and spontaneously take up potty training.

Can you tell I'm not fond of changing time? :o

Always take more than one nappy with you where ever you go even if you're just "popping out" because you never know when you may need it and it avoids unecessary rushing to try and find somewhere that sells them when you need one in a hurry!

Buy the best quality nappies that you can afford, it really does pay in the long run.
Make sure baby's vest hasnt got tucked into the waistline of the nappy slightly...guarenteed wet clothes :(

Pop the next nappy under the nappy you are about to take off. This catches any mid-change mess.

Sing with them - preferably an action song that keeps their hands near their head / face!