I'm sorry this kind of gross, but I'm wondering how many of you moms will change your child's stinky diaper if he/she is sleeping? I am perplexed because I have had several ocassions where I check on my 1-Yr old son before I go to bed, and I can smell that his diaper is soiled. I don't want to wake him (which will certainly happen if I change it!) but I also feel VERY guilty leaving him with a stinky diaper too. So what does everyone else do?????
BTW, I didn't have this problem with my first son because for whatever reason, he would not go unless he was awake and he would not sleep if his diaper was soiled.
Absolutely change it.
I would never allow my daughter to sleep in her own feces.
Sorry, but that is just awful YUCK!
I have 2 daughters (now 5 & 2). I always changed their diapers if they were soiled. If not, you can chance diaper rash and sore bottoms. Sometimes (if tired enough) they would even sleep through the changing. I always felt I would rather deal with putting them back to sleep then a few days of sore bottoms. Hope this helps.
Hi Denise,
A mixed bag of answers. Given your siuation I vote no unless it's a rash issue or your baby seems to be bothered. I agree with the smearing of triple paste for a protective barier.
I NEVER changed my now 3 1/2 year old and she had no rash issues. I almost always chnage my son b/c he is prone to rashes and is a heavy heavy sleeper.
Good luck!
I agree with Monique.
I would never wake a sleeping baby- my ped told me, "the more they sleep, the more they sleep" and it was soo true. Naps were never an issue, they slept 12 hours a night, it was great.
For night time, yes, I would wake him up and change him. I often semi-wake up my 5yo and take him to the potty before I got to bed. He goes right back to sleep. For naptime, I probably would not wake him, since it would be a short sleep.
YES! Just so they don't get diaper rash...I wouldn't want to sit in poop!
That’s a tough one. My kids wake frequently for the most part so I usually would have a chance to change it at some point when they do- but my 2 year old sleeps through the night now (usually) so I probably would. But then again if it’s been a tough day, and she’s not bothered, maybe let her sleep. However- having a spiked diaper raises the likelihood that they’ll end up waking in the middle of the night so probably best to just hange it quickly. But if my kid was just napping? No I wouldn’t I’d let her sleep and do it when she wakes up.
Yes...I always do...no exceptions!
I agree with the poster who said that if it was bothering your little one, you would hear about it. However, I put a thick coating of "Triple Paste" all over his bottom at bedtime to eliminate issues with diaper rash. I never wake a sleeping baby. Uninterrupted sleep is so important for the health of our little ones!!
But...if you really need to change his diaper (that darn Mommy guilt!), I would suggest keeping the event "all business" -- no talking, no extra cuddling, no bright lights...just change the diaper in the lowest light possible and immediately put him back to bed. That way, he won't learn that he can get some extra play time from you in the middle of the night when he should be sleeping!
I would change him. I would not be able to sleep knowing that he had a soiled diaper. But if my 2 year old son is sleeping, I can change his diaper and he will still sleep. So, I guess it is a littel easier for me.
Not usually--unless she has a diaper rash, b/c that will certainly make it worse. My little girl needs her sleep.
Yes, absolutely at bedtime. If the child does not have a rash already, leaving in a soiled diaper all night long could easily cause one.
For the health and comfort of your child, please change his diaper. For the ten minutes it will take you to change and rock back to sleep you'll save baby from suffering diaper rash, being uncomfortable,and you won't feel guilty either. Plus you'll get a few bonus minutes cuddling. What could be better! My son went during the night once, about a month ago. I didn't know it happened until the next morning.... he got his first diaper rash and a severe one that bled, and is still getting over it, thanks to a visit to the doctor. So would you rather spend ten min at night, or a month of terrible pain and difficult diaper changes.
Please change his diaper! You do not want him to get a diaper rash. I feel like it's unsanitary too. My kids never complained about having poop in their diaper. But, they sure complained about a bad diaper rash.
Just change him right in his crib, with the lights off, no talking, very little jostling. Chances are he'll sleep right through it.
I've got two boys aged 3 and 1, too. How funny.
Anyway, I always change if I smell poop. Both sons have pretty sensitive skin when it comes to diaper rash and I want to avoid that as much as possible.
And, I just feel way too guilty letting them sleep in poop. If I check on them at 10pm, that will be 8 hours of laying in poop (with a 6AM wake up). I just can't do that.
Good luck.
Are you sure his diaper is actually soiled? A couple of times I thought my son had soiled his diaper in his sleep. I got him up to change him, and there was nothing there! We got him up for nothing and I was so mad. I determined that it was actually the diaper pail that smelled and not him. Maybe that's what your smelling. :) I do agree that you don't have to change him, unless there is a diaper rash concern. Let him sleep!
NO!!!!! LOL, especially if you have a light sleeper...just make sure you're putting Vaseline or some time of ointment to help protect their little rears in between diaper changes. Beside if it was bothering them believe me you would know...it's just mommie guilt. They will be fine!
YOU JINXED ME!!!!!!!
I have had this problem only a few times and have always been able to change her without waking her- UNTIL TONIGHT! lol So here it is 6 am and I am watching the Wiggles and still waiting to go to bed! lol I should never have tried this at 4 when I was heading off to sleep! Oh well!
I will admit though that if it is within an hour or two of her waking up I will not change her unless it is diarrhea- I can usually smell the difference- if that makes sense!
Also, if you decide to not change your son during the night and he normally poops I would make sure you use a skin protectant on him before he goes to bed. I use A&D Ointment since she sleeps 12-14 hours a night and she is usually soaked when she wakes up so I know this is protecting her since I will not change her for a wet diaper.
Good luck to you and many blessings!
EWWWWW, Gross. Of course you change him. How would you like to sit in your own feces all night long? If he gets sick, you change his sheets right? You don't want a terrible rash to deal with anyway. That's awful and so painful for them.
I always change my little ones if they are poopy or even really wet if I know that the diaper won't last through the night. I know I wouldn't want to sleep in a dirty diaper so I don't think my kids do either. My kids are really good sleepers though.
So interesting reading these pasionate replies! I don't check on my one year old before I go to bed. His morning diaper has poop in it about half the time. Who knows when he actually pooped?? To answer your question, no, I wouldn't. I always apply a thick layer of butt cream and we don't have rashes generally. If he was 6 weeks or 3 months I might but not a one year old. If he wakes up or even stirs I would go change him but otherwise I would just let him go in and out of his sleep cycles naturally.
