Would you wake up a sleepy baby to change a diaper?

[Ladybugbc]

My baby is 3 1/2 wks old and is extremely cranky during diaper changes. He cries each time during diaper changes. My question is would you wake up a very peacefully sleeping baby to change his diaper? I make sure I change him every 3hrs or so but it wakes him up and makes him very angry.. I am torn.. Pls help.

[Melka76]

I have waken my to feed them - but unless they were leaking out of their diaper - I would wait... hes cranky either way. My son did not like to be changed - I always wrapped his belly and such with a blanket to keep him warm and also fold it over to protect me from any pee that might start!  Hell get use to it soon enought!

[AnnieBrooke]

I assume with a baby this little, you are feeding him every three hours?  I'd change the baby with his feeds if his diaper is wet and you can see it will overflow before the next feed, or if he is poopy, or if he is suffering from diaper rash, so the bacteria won't have so much of a chance to build up.  You don't need to change him every single time he eats if his diapers aren't full, unless, again, you can tell it will be more than full by the next feeding and he will flood the bed.  Even then, the baby won't care so much, but you will if you wind up having to wash the sheets a lot.  

[adgal]

I actually don't wake him up for anything!!  To feed or to change.  When he wakes up then I take care of it.  As he is sleeping longer and longer, he does get his diaper changed less often at night, but I make sure he has a good barrier, such as vaseline between him and the diaper and there has never been a problem with any diaper rash or anything.  I say let him sleep.  During the day it's different.  I do limit his naps and will often wake him by changing his diaper.  Good luck!!!!

[KarenDiane]

I never woke my babies to change them, unless they were poopy. I didn't wake them to feed them either.

[AnnieBrooke]

Unfortunately, I never had to even think about whether to wake my son for feeding, since he was rarin to go every three hours as an infant whether I would have liked him to sleep on or not.  :)

[Ladybugbc]

Thanks every one for the input. I know it's kind of funny. I was told not to wake him up for feeds unless he sleeps longer than 5hrs now as he has reached his weight goals. I just wasnt sure what to do and all your suggestions are much appreciated.

[jenkaye21]

My policy has always been, NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER wake a sleeping baby! ; ) lol

[melimeli]

only if it's poo.. or if she has a rash

[Super_sally888]

ONly wake her if it's overflowing. But that's not likely.

If the baby is sleeping - thank the heavens and all the Gods above - and let her / him sleep! :)

[spade22]

Nope, only if it was causing a problem such as a rash.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I would only wake if the diaper was saturated really well or if there is a bowel movement.  If it's just a litlte pee I say let em sleep.

[rdh1981]

I am with the others! Unless he is has a bm or bad diaper rash I always let Cruz sleep! Let that baby sleep and you try to get some rest during that time too!!!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

One thing I like to do in order to PREVENT skin irritation during periods where I dont' change the diaper as often such as sleeping.  I use the squeeze bottle of vaseline (NOT the jar, it's too sticky) and put a good coat all over the bottom and genitals, then put a good sprinkling of pure corn starch or corn starch based powder.  I've also found that pure lanolin works better than the vaseline.  

The lanolin or vaseline helps to protect the skin by acting as a barrier, while the cornstarch/powder helps to neutralize the acidity in the urine.