Have a good changing mat
Most changing mats can be cold to the touch and hard creating an immediately uncomfortable environment for your baby. Whether they were in your arms before, or about to nod off to sleep - being confined and constricted to a less than pleasing surface can cause your baby to fuss and wriggle. The solution to this is quite simple, because at Shnuggle we kept all this in mind when we created our Squishy Changing Mat! One of the most important factors for us was to make sure that our changing mat wasn’t cold and was soft. This combination of a soft material that stays warm means your baby isn’t startled when you lay them down ensuring their comfort. There’s a reason you see so many happy babies on their Squishy Changing Mat on our socials!
The Shnuggle Squishy Changing Mat keeps your baby comfortable during changing. Photo credit @pawsandbabysteps on Instagram
Distraction
Now your little one is comfortable, your next best course of action is to distract them! Keeping their hands active so they aren’t tempted to escape will ensure a smooth changing time. Whether it’s Sophie the Giraffe, a free nappy for them to tear up or whatever you happen to have near you - keeping those tiny hands busy will allow you to change their nappy quickly without fuss. Our Stick n Play Sensory Toy is ideal for keeping little hands busy with its tactile stars that baby can hold, feel and also use as a teether.
Have everything at the ready
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail! The same saying applies when changing your baby’s nappy. Making sure your nappy station is fully equipped with wipes, nappies and a nappy bin for disposal is key. This also ensures your baby’s safety so that you don’t have to leave them unattended while you gather these items together. Whilst most modern changing mats feature raised edges to prevent your baby from rolling over, it’s vital that you don’t leave them on their own during changing time. After each change make a conscious effort to restock your nappies so your baby doesn’t become impatient. A changing caddy is also a great way to ensure that you can change your baby’s nappy on the go - for example having a caddy downstairs while your changing table is upstairs. Our changing mat is also easily transportable, so when the Poonami hits - you’ll be prepared!
Temperature
Whilst our Squishy Changing Mat can help make your baby feel warm - it’s important to have the room you are changing them in at the right temperature. You may already be monitoring your baby’s room temperature for their sleep, so keeping an eye on the temperature dipping via a room thermometer can also help create a calm and comfortable environment for changing your little one in. 16 - 20 degrees is recommended. Remember, changing is a new experience for your young baby and the combination of a cold changing mat and cold room isn’t ideal!
Ambience
When changing your baby at night time, keeping their stimulation to a minimum by dimming the lights or using a nightlight can create a peaceful changing time. As your baby may still be sleepy and you want them to return to their crib, consider using low-level lighting. Our Moonlight Night Light not only provides subtle lighting but can also indicate if the room temperature is too hot or too cold, as the light is easily portable you can also use it for your night time feeds.
Whilst you may think you have an overly fussy or wriggly baby, try out some of these tips to see if it can make a difference to your changing time!
For more tips on changing your baby, read our articles below:
