How to change a wriggly baby's nappy

Something that most parents struggle with at one time or another, is trying to change a wriggly baby’s nappy.  Many baby’s go through the unable to keep still at change time stage, but what’s the best way to deal with this? Is there a certain type of nappy that makes change times that little bit easier? What can you do to make it all less stressful.

The problem with changing a wriggly baby’s nappy

I think most of us have, at one time or another, dealt with the frustrations of trying to change a baby that just will not keep still.  I certainly remember struggling with my older children to stop them putting their feet in a poo filled nappy, or twisting and turning so much that I couldn’t get the nappy fastened around them, and even sometimes chasing a semi naked crawling baby around the room, trying to get a new nappy on before there was an accident all over the living room carpet…..

Trying to change a baby that moves all the time and fights your efforts is not fun, and at worse can be really stressful, both for you and your little one.  So what can you do to make the process more enjoyable, less of a challenge?

 Getting ready for nappy changes

Getting the whole process over and done with as quickly as possible can help with making it less stressful for everyone.  A great way to ensure that things are done quickly is to make sure that you have everything ready before you begin.  Not only should you try and have everything close at hand before you begin, but actually having a clean nappy out ready to use, a couple of wipes out and ready to go can make the world of difference.  The quicker that you can lay your hands on everything you need, the quicker you can get the nappy change over and done with.

A changing station

Setting up a dedicated area for changes can also help.  You can set it up to have everything that you need close at hand, and also make sure that you baby knows that when they are taken there, it’s time for a nappy change.  If you have a very wriggly baby, you do need to ensure that there is no chance of them falling off a high change table.  Changing on the floor is always an option, but changing a wriggly baby’s nappy on the floor often results in them crawling off mid-change.

Distraction

Sometimes one of the most effective things to try when changing a wriggly baby’s nappy is to try distracting them.  For a younger baby, a musical mobile, or something suspended above them can be an effective way to hold their attention while you change their nappy.  Something for them to look at and pay attention to, rather than fighting with you.  Another idea, which sometimes works well for older baby’s and toddlers is to have a special toy or book that they are only allowed to play with or look at while you change them.  Giving them a treat that they can pay attention to can really help when trying to change a wriggly baby’s nappy.

Another tip that might be worth trying is to stick a sticker on your little ones hand.  Not only does this give them something to look at, but often the concentration needed to try and peel it from the back of their hand to have a closer look will be enough to distract them from moving about while you try to change them.

Ideal nappies

Different people have different ideas about which the best type of nappies are to change a wriggly baby’s nappy.  Velcro nappies are certainly quicker to fasten around your baby, which can be a huge advantage when your little one just will not keep still.  Be careful though that you are not fastening the nappy more on one side than the other, which is easy to do when changing a wriggly baby’s nappy.  Snap closure nappies are a little more fiddly, but it is easier to fasten evenly on both sides.  If you are struggling to get our little ones nappy, then start by fastening the two snaps closest to the edge of the nappy by the thighs.  You can then even stand your baby up to finish everything off, which might be an easier option with a wriggly baby’s nappy.

Changing a wriggly baby’s nappy is something that most parents have to deal with at one time or another.