Should You Wake A Baby To Change A Nappy?

A baby’s skin is very sensitive to irritating substances such as urine, feces or cosmetic products. You need to change the diaper often to prevent rashes or dermatitis. But do you have to wake the baby to do that?

When you wake your baby to change his / her diaper, it will depend on several factors. A mother who has difficulty putting the baby to sleep would rather not wake her baby up again. No one wants to deal with a baby who is upset because he / she has been awakened.

However, if the baby often gets diaper rash, the mother is likely to wake him / her up at night to prevent dermatitis.

Do you have to wake up baby to change diapers?

As mentioned on other posts, all babies are different. What works for one baby may not work for another. This means that you should not rely on the same tactics you used for your other children.

It is entirely up to the parents to decide what the child’s needs are. So let’s go into more detail about the factors that influence the decision to wake your baby to change his / her diaper.

What should be prioritized: Rest or hygiene?

Without a doubt, leaving a dirty diaper containing urine or feces will be harmful to the newborn’s delicate skin. However, it is not necessary to disturb the baby’s sleep at the same time, which is crucial for their development.

While the baby is awake, it is fine to change their diaper. The problem is when the baby is asleep. Prioritizing whether rest or hygiene is best for your baby is the key to making the best decision.

Infants usually defecate when food reaches the baby’s stomach. This is known as duodenocular reflex, which means it’s time to change your baby’s diaper. One form for babies who have been given food is to wake them every 3 hours: the baby is woken up to be fed and have their diapers changed. This means that you do not have to wake the baby to change his / her diaper.

If the baby is breastfed, he / she will probably urinate and defecate more often, just as they need to be fed more often. Therefore, the baby needs to be woken up more often, which is a good time to change their diaper without having to wake him / her up.

This article might interest you: 8 things you should never do with an infant

But my baby sleeps 6 hours or more! What should I do?

Parents struggle with this decision even more if the child sleeps 6 or 7 hours straight. Waking the child up for a diaper change is becoming a concern for parents, which is why many mothers turn to their pediatricians for help.

Disposable diapers are becoming more and more absorbent. Night diapers are made just to give your baby a full night’s sleep. You should not wake a baby who sleeps 6 or 7 hours in a row to change diapers. The diaper should absorb the liquid and remain almost dry until they wake up the next day.

Just make sure to change diapers just before bedtime and that their skin is clean and dry. In addition, you should apply a diaper rash cream to prevent the rash from occurring. Ask your pediatrician what is the best diaper rash cream for your baby.

If the baby wakes up at night to be fed, he / she will usually fall asleep while being breastfed. Therefore , waking your baby to change diapers can be counterproductive. The diaper should stay dry until the next morning. However, be sure to change the diaper when your baby wakes up.

You should read: Why you should feed your baby babymos

When should I wake my child to change diapers?

If your baby only uses cloth diapers because the disposable diapers cause your baby to have allergies, then it is best for you to change your baby’s diaper if he / she has had a bowel movement or the diaper is too wet. Unfortunately you will have to wake up your baby to make a diaper change otherwise he / she will wake up during the diaper change.

Using a cover between the mattress and the sheet helps to insulate the baby from moisture. You can also place a blanket or extra towel between the mattress and the sheet. The key is to remove the baby from moisture.

If the child has diarrhea, they should be changed immediately because the stools may become acidic and be more abrasive on the child’s delicate skin. Even if you use really absorbent disposable diapers, you will need to change the baby’s diaper. It is very likely that the baby will wake up during the shift and you will have to go through all the problems or cuddle the baby again.