Healthy Tips

Becoming a new dad is a life changing event that comes with all kinds of gifts and one major drawback – the world’s most unreliable alarm system. Babies keep to their own schedules and they have no qualms about forcing Dad to do come along for the ride. True, a new baby does bring with it a lifetime of love and loads of joy. On the other hand, junior also brings another kind of load – the kind that requires Dad to develop his talent for waking up at any hour to tackle the late night bleary-eyes nappy change.

It’s a talent worth developing. That nappy isn’t going to change itself and Mum needs her rest – after all, she did most of the hard work, first carrying around and then delivering the bundle of joy. So what does Dad do to make the nappy chore tolerable for himself? Here are a couple of tips.

As with all the new tasks that come with having a little one, practice helps. Fortunately, there are always plenty of opportunities to practice during waking hours. And Mum won’t mind if Dad takes those opportunities to practice. In no time at all, Dad will be able to do the nappy change practically blindfolded, which is pretty much how it is anyway at 3 in the morning anyway.

The second secret to the successful nighttime nappy change is preparation. Waking up for a nappy change in the middle of the night is difficult enough without having to fumble around for the tools of the trade. The dad who makes sure the various baby wipes and ointments and, of course, the nappies themselves are on hand and ready for duty is the dad who will get the job done without having to use precious energy that could be better spent snoring and snuggling with Mum.

So be sure to practice and prepare, Dad. The easier you make the night time nappy changes, the more rest you’ll get. And remember, babies get bigger. You’re going to need all the rest you can get.