Intro and a Co-Sleeping Question

Marsee · July 2011

I've been lurking here for awhile and feel like I really identify with a lot of the people and ideas on this board. I'm due in a week and am a FTM. I'm very into holistic/natural healing techniques (I know these aren't necessarily AP) and will be delivering med-free with a MW. Looking forward to getting to know everyone.

And now for my question: We have an AR CoSleeper and we're really looking forward to using it. Maybe this is a stupid FTM question, but how do middle-of-the-night diaper changes work? If I'm waking up every few hours to nurse, do I then need to get up out of bed to change a diaper? I really like the idea of nursing and then just falling back to sleep, but I don't want LO to deal with a dirty dipe until morning. TIA!

seanandcallie · July 2011

Hi! I would change my daughters diaper either before I nursed her or in between switching sides. I kept a towel and a changing pad rolled next to my bed and just rolled it out between my legs on the bed to change her.

anna7602 · July 2011

If DH was home, he used to change DD's diaper and then bring her to me in bed. When we were done nursing, DD went back in the AR co-sleeper next to me. If she happened to need another diaper change post-nursing, DH got up again.

That system worked well for us. DH wasn't always home in the middle of the night, so when he wasn't, yes, I got out of bed to change DD's diaper. I didn't want to risk getting anything on the sheets. There were a lot of projectile bowel movements in the early days and I didn't want to be changing her diaper in an area that wasn't easy to wipe down afterwards.

Marsee · July 2011

Thanks, ladies. I have large low dresser very near the bed that I could put a changing pad on until LO is moved into the nursery/crib. At least that way I wouldn't have to move very far for changing time.

rmwt001 · July 2011

I bought a $10 diaper caddy from Target and kept all my supplies in there, as well as an extra changing pad in the pocket of the AR (also kept nipple cream, chapstick, and some snacks in there too!). Really made a difference not having to get out of bed at all, especially after the first few weeks.

kacelle · July 2011

anna7602:
If DH was home, he used to change DD's diaper and then bring her to me in bed. When we were done nursing, DD went back in the AR co-sleeper next to me. If she happened to need another diaper change post-nursing, DH got up again.
That system worked well for us. DH wasn't always home in the middle of the night, so when he wasn't, yes, I got out of bed to change DD's diaper. I didn't want to risk getting anything on the sheets. There were a lot of projectile bowel movements in the early days and I didn't want to be changing her diaper in an area that wasn't easy to wipe down afterwards.

This is what we do! We don't have an AR co-sleeper, but DD sleeps in her bassinet in our room until after her middle-of-the-night waking. After her diaper change, I nurse her in bed and she sleeps with us until morning.

rhondaj615 · July 2011

We just kept everything within reach and changed baby on the bed. Always keep the light dim and don't interact too much. Just nurse him back to sleep. Ours always just slept right in bed w/us.

KatieB19 · July 2011

rhondaj615:
We just kept everything within reach and changed baby on the bed. Always keep the light dim and don't interact too much. Just nurse him back to sleep. Ours always just slept right in bed w/us.

We did the same. DS slept in a moses basket right next to the bed -- I could easily reach him from bed and I wasn't about to get up everytime he woke! I did have a changing pad with a large cloth diaper on top to soak up and accidents.

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