If your baby wakes up during a night-time diaper change, keep the change as short, dark and boring as possible. Set everything out in advance, use dimmed light, talk softly and little, and choose clothing you can open and close quickly at the bottom. Change at a convenient moment, for example before or halfway through a feed, so your baby falls back asleep while drinking afterwards.
In short
- Light, cold and fiddling with clothes are the biggest wake-up triggers.
- Set everything out before you go to bed: diaper, wipes, ointment and a clean set of clothes.
- A poopy diaper is always changed. A wet diaper doesn't need changing every time as long as the skin stays calm.
- Change before or halfway through a feed, not when your baby has just fallen asleep.
- Clothing that opens at the bottom saves you a lot of snaps and sleeves.
Why does your baby wake up from a night-time diaper change?
It is three o'clock at night. Your baby has fed, their eyes are closing, and then you smell it. Ten minutes later they are wide awake on the changing pad and you are another hour further along. Sound familiar? It's not your fault. Changing a diaper at night sets off a few things at once that wake a baby up:
- Light. A big ceiling lamp tells your baby: it's daytime.
- Cold. A cold hand, a cold wipe or a cold changing pad on a warm bottom is a shock.
- Fiddling. Looking for snaps in the dark, getting little legs out of trouser legs, a bodysuit over the head.
- Attention. Talking, singing or eye contact is lovely during the day, but at night it works as an invitation to play.
What do you set out for the night?
You lose most time searching. So set out the same things every evening, in the same place, within reach of the changing pad:
- A diaper, already unfolded.
- Wipes or a washcloth, so you don't have to wait for the water to warm up.
- Diaper cream, with the cap already off.
- A clean set of clothes in case something leaks through.
- A muslin cloth to lay on the changing pad, so it feels less cold.
- A small night light with warm, dimmed light.
- A diaper bin or bag for the dirty diaper.
How do you change at night without waking your baby?
- Warm up your hands. Hold them under your armpits for a moment or rub them together.
- Keep the big light off. The night light is enough.
- Say as little as possible. A soft "shh" or a hand on the tummy is enough. Don't look at your baby for too long.
- Only open what is needed. Keep the upper body and feet covered and warm.
- Work calmly, but without pauses. Old diaper off, clean, cream, new diaper, closed.
- Always keep one hand on your baby. At night too, and even when they lie still. Never walk away from the changing pad.
- Back to bed. Then lay your baby on their back in their own cot or crib.
Do you have to change every diaper at night?
Not always. You do always change a poopy diaper, because poop irritates the skin quickly. A wet diaper doesn't need changing every time, as long as it isn't full, doesn't leak and the bottom stays calm. Many parents use a slightly more absorbent diaper at night. If your baby quickly gets a sore bottom, change a little more often and use cream. If you are unsure what suits your baby, ask at the child health clinic (consultatiebureau, in the Netherlands).
When is the best time to change: before or after the feed?
That depends on your baby, but for many parents it works like this:
- Does your baby fall asleep while drinking? Then change before the feed or halfway through, for example between the two breasts or at a burp. Afterwards they keep drinking and fall asleep without a new disturbance.
- Does your baby often poop during or just after drinking? Then changing beforehand makes little sense. Wait until they are done and keep it extra short and dark afterwards.
Which clothing makes night changes easier?
| Clothing | Changing at night | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Bodysuit with snaps and pyjamas with legs | Two layers open and closed, legs out of the trouser legs | Looking for snaps in the dark takes time |
| Zip-up suit | Quickly open, but often all the way to the neck | Your baby suddenly lies completely bare |
| Sleeping bag over pyjamas | First open the sleeping bag, then the pyjamas | Warm and safe, but more steps |
| Onesie with footed sleeping bag | Only the bottom open, no legs out of trouser legs | Choose the right size and watch the temperature |
How does the SleepyBeebi help with the night-time diaper change?
The SleepyBeebi onesie with footed sleeping bag is made for exactly that moment at three in the morning. At the bottom there is a footed sleeping bag that you open to change. So you don't have to wrestle little legs out of trouser legs or look for a row of snaps: open, change, closed. The upper body stays on and warm. It doesn't go on over the head, which makes a big difference with a sleepy baby.
The fold-over flaps over the hands help against scratching and cold hands, and the feet stay covered too, so no more kicked-off socks. The SleepyBeebi is made of 95% cotton and 5% elastane, OEKO-TEX® certified, and can be machine washed at 30 degrees. There are two sizes: 0 to 2 months and 3 to 6 months. And it is so simple that even your partner can do it half asleep at three in the morning.
Want to know how a onesie with footed sleeping bag compares to a regular sleeping bag, and what to look for with safe sleep? Then read footed sleeping bag or sleeping bag: what is the difference.
What if your baby wakes up anyway?
Sometimes it simply doesn't work, however well prepared you are. Then stay as calm and boring as possible yourself. Keep the light low, put your baby back to bed and give them a moment. Take turns with your partner if you can, so one of you isn't doing all the diapers every night. A few bad nights say nothing about how well you are doing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wake my baby at night to change them?
Usually not. You always change a poopy diaper, but a wet diaper can often wait until the next feed if the skin stays calm. If in doubt, ask the child health clinic (consultatiebureau, in the Netherlands) what suits your baby.
What light do you use for changing at night?
A small night light with warm, dimmed light. Keep the big light off, so your baby doesn't get the signal that it is daytime.
Is it better to change before or after the feed?
If your baby falls asleep while drinking, change before or halfway through the feed. If they often poop while drinking, change afterwards and keep it extra short.
What is a onesie with a footed sleeping bag?
A baby suit that combines onesie, sleeping bag and bodysuit. With the SleepyBeebi the legs sit together in the footed sleeping bag, instead of each in its own trouser leg. With the handy snaps you open the sleeping bag and change without getting legs out of trouser legs or taking the suit off. The top has snaps too, so dressing and undressing is quick.
A calm night starts with a change that takes as little time as possible. If you want fewer snaps and trouser legs at three in the morning, take a look at the SleepyBeebi onesie with footed sleeping bag. Also put a muslin cloth on the changing pad, so it feels less cold.
