nappy-free time for a more mobile baby?

[tenar]

How do you manage some nappy-free time with a more mobile baby. DD isn't crawling yet (yeah, I realise it gets worse), but she is rolling everywhere.

We don't have a garden, or a private outdoor space (live in a flat)

We have carpets on the floors.

She's pooing several times a day at the moment. Which makes it harder (impossible) to guess when she might be relatively "safe" with her nappy off, as well as making it more important that she gets the time with dry, clean skin. Her nappies get so steamy!

Not that we have nappy rash, or have ever had it, but I like to let her get some air down there any time her skin looks a bit pink in her creases, if you know what I mean.

Any suggestions for how to do this without getting poo smeared everywhere.

(Can you guess that I'm typing this in frustration after just having to give the baby an "emergency bath" and clean poo of a whole lot of things?)

[Fleur]

Lol, no ideas sorry.
I am a big fan of nappy free time, and AR is pretty mobile already...
We just have a selection of old rugs that we are happy to rotate & wash. She doesn't poo heaps though so that is a help.
Yesterday morning I did decide there would be NO nappy free time before I have to go to work.... yep, emergency clean up just as I started expressing, not long before we had to leave

In your case maybe do it just after a poo? If you have to change a dirty nappy that might be a good time to leave it off for a it (if it suits).

Sit down on the floor & play with her while she has her nappy off...preferably with a towel or something handy...that way if she does start to poo you can get something under her quickly & limit the damage

[ladybird11]

Sorry to hijack - I've heard of this nappy free time, but what exactly is the reason behind it?

[Arcadia]

Leesa, nappy free time helps bub get the hang of using their body without a massive swaddle to carry around, as well as being good for their skin and sense of freedom! DD would never have rolled if I hadn't given her nappy free time. IMO it is more important with the bulkier cloth nappies than disposables (you should see the size of her bum in some of our nappies!) but I have read it is good when they start crawling/walking, so they realise their bum isn't three times the size lol.

Tenar, we have had several poo accidents lately (one ending in DD eating her poo...gross...because she crawled to a corner and I didn't see her do it!). My gf has a massive picnic blanket with waterproofing on the wrong side, and she lets bub roll all over that. As for a crawling bub...DD usually only does one poo a day so I generally feel safe in the afternoon. BUT yes it can get messy and she has weed almost everywhere

[Arcadia]

Double post

[Fleur]

We did heaps of nappy free time with all our babies. None of them ever suffered nappy rash (not that nappy rash is only all about that, but it helps) and all of them were mobile early on. We use sposies but I agree with Anna WRT cloth nappies being very bulky...

Mostly though I think they just like it - I always imagine what it must be like to have it off after wearing it! Often if AR is getting cranky putting her down without her nappy for a bit will keep her happy for a bit longer.

A waterproof picnic blanket is a great idea!

[{sarah}]

When we had the first poo for the day we'd clean them up, put a massive blanket on the floor (like a queen size!) and let them go for it. I figured half an hour was enough & straight after a poo it was unlikely ther would be another one in that short space of time.

[Kristin27]

I used a cheapo tablecloth from the $2 shop, it's huge and has the waterproof side which was great for accidents!

[Shanti]

We do nappy free time on a plastic splat mat that you can buy to put down under the highchairs for messy eating time!! I find that works well and on top of it I put a terry flat nappy over it so DD's skin isn't directly on the plastic. But now she's more mobile and rolling around and crawling on her tummy but not proper crawling yet.... i'm starting to take her outside to sit out on the grass on a blanket or something or a beach towel. That works well.... usually only had wee's during NFT but once we had a big dirty poo! that she decided to play with haha

[Visitor7]

When we had the first poo for the day we'd clean them up, put a massive blanket on the floor (like a queen size!) and let them go for it. I figured half an hour was enough & straight after a poo it was unlikely ther would be another one in that short space of time.

This is what I've always done. After their first big wee in the mornings, they won't do another for a while, so you're pretty safe then.

[Shanti]

I was going to add that too, that when you know you can expect a poo then wait til after then... that's what we usually do so if we do have any accidents they are only really #1's

[Gigi]

i live with white rental carpets, so i get it.

i think at the stage your child is at
- rolling
- not sure if you know her poo=ing timetable or not, whether she even has one!
i would call it SUPERVISED nappy free time.
ONLY after she's just pooed (and been cleaned up) so you are pretty confident there won't be a repeat too soon.
Use a timer
Be on the mat with her

WHen my child started walking, for my own sanity, i gave her nappy free time on the changetable, let her play on that (lying down mostly, with tummy belt on), while i was standing right next to her, tidying the shelves right there. THen i would put a natural fibre FITTED nappy on her, and let her wear that without a cover. Let her be without a cover for 15 mins, then put a cover on.

when she was older, and the poos were very formed, i could have her at home walking around in fitted, no cover.

in warmer weather i gave her more nudie time in rooms with tiles (bathroom).

for toilet training, we used cloth trainers, - as using just knickers, meant poo escapes. Cloth trainers fit better around the leg holes, come in smaller sizing. Protect the car seat too. i coudln't risk losing the bond over the condition of the white carpet.

she has no outdoor space to play in either.