How do you change a diaper without waking a baby up?

Specialties PICU

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Hi! I"m a nursing student, and I think I want to go into pediatrics; I'm doing a clinical on a pediatric GI unit and we have a lot of kids who are ordered for Q2/Q1 diaper changes. I don't want to be waking these little guys up every time I have to do it-does anyone have any tips? Is there any way to get a diaper on a baby who's sleeping in the prone position?

Thank you so much for your help!

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
How do you change a diaper without waking a baby up?

I read this on the "Most Popular Threads" thingy and thought it sounded like a joke question.

So here are a few answers that I came up with:

*You don't.

*You can't change a diaper. The diaper has to want to change.

*Don't babies only sleep for about two hours at a time anyway? And for a total of about 17 hours? They need to be awakened the lazy slugs!

*Get your MSL (Masters of Science in Levitation)

Okay. I'm leaving now.

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Specializes in Critical care.

Use your MNDCS ... Mad Ninja Diaper Changing Skillz!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

The only thing I would add to this discussion is that there have been times I've seen orders for Q1-2h diaper changes for an infant with an unbelievably broken-down bum. Neurological abnormalities sometimes cause uncontrollable oozing of stool, with every void, cough or cry. Add to that an elemental formula which creates extremely acidic stools and you have the perfect storm for bad breakdown. For kids like that, figuring out how to keep up with the changes without sacrificing their sleep is essential.

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Specializes in Pedi.
The only thing I would add to this discussion is that there have been times I've seen orders for Q1-2h diaper changes for an infant with an unbelievably broken-down bum. Neurological abnormalities sometimes cause uncontrollable oozing of stool, with every void, cough or cry. Add to that an elemental formula which creates extremely acidic stools and you have the perfect storm for bad breakdown. For kids like that, figuring out how to keep up with the changes without sacrificing their sleep is essential.

New baby myelos. They leak stool constantly and keeping it away from their surgical site is an art.

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