Feeding and nappy changes overnight

[Lazybones80]

DS is 9 weeks old and EBF. He feeds really well and is putting on weight (95th centile for weight, length and head circumference).
He wakes and cries for milk every 3 hours overnight without fail (I could set my watch by him!). When he feeds he falls asleep on me, which would be great if I could put him straight back in his cot. However, changing his nappy wakes him up and prolongs the time he's awake. Last night at his 2am feed he woke up happy, full of energy and wanting to play after the nappy change. Eventually he fell asleep again at 4am, but woke up again for another feed at 5am. I'm knackered!
I can give him another feed, which he'll take and often makes him fall asleep again, but he has been getting wind and colic at 6-8am, so I'm worried this is because he's being over-fed with this double feeding. Last night he took the second feed, but still didn't fall asleep again. He has been getting nappy rash, so I'm reluctant NOT to change his nappy overnight. Changing before makes him very upset because he's desperate for a feed. He screams until he's breathless and claws at his face (he's very dramatic!).
I'm really interested to know what other mums do with changing nappies overnight.

[NumTumDeDum]

Depends on your child. My daughter was bottle fed and also woke like clockwork for a feed. I set my alarm and would change her whilst she was still asleep or stirring and then feed her. She'd feed half asleep then go back to bed. My son on the other hand laughs in the face of routine, or indeed sleep and so that doesn't work for him. If my husbands awake he'll change him whilst he's feeding. Have you tried doing it halfway through?

[NumTumDeDum]

Son is breastfed btw. It is more difficult breaking a feed halfway through when they are latched, but depends on your baby. Have you tried using a stronger barrier cream at night? I can recommend Metanium, it's much thicker than sudocream or bepanthan and if the nappy isn't completely sodden then forgo one change, just til things settle a bit.

[Elllimam]

I change the nappy before the feed, my little guy does get upset but even now he seems to be getting used to that being the routine (almost 3 weeks old) xx

[fruitpastille]

I never change nappies at night unless there is a poo or a leak.dd2 is 5months and none the worse for it!

[stargirl1701]

Are you putting the light on? Talking?

[drspouse]

Change before (we did this with DS who wouldn't wake up to feed to start off with).
Use wrap vests (no poppers under the bum), bundlers, and/or a sleeping bag or swaddler that you can undo at the bottom only. They are a bit less disruptive.

[Eminybob]

My midwife said I only need to change the nappy overnight if he's done a poo.

Otherwise, I had exact same issue as you. I feed one one breast then change nappy, then do the other breast.

[Flingmoo]

If you're using good quality absorbant nappies and a barrier cream then you should only need to change pooey nappies, never wet ones.

[Lazybones80]

Thanks for all the replies. I put a side-light on for feeding and changing. I'll try changing beforehand again. I haven't tried metanium cream, so it sounds like that's worth a go. My baby seems to have some poo in every nappy, so we probably won't get away without a change.
I like the idea of changing while asleep. However, I'm not in the UK and it's winter where I am, so i think he has too many layers on to do any stealth changes without him waking.

[Lazybones80]

With regards to changing halfway, my baby screams if I stop feeding him. You would honestly think I'm torturing him! Stopping to burp him is as much as I can take I think.

[Writerwannabe83]

When my DS was this young and needed his nappy changing we always did it before the feed. Yes he screamed about it but rather than and him fall asleep after his feed, than have to wake him up afterwards in order to change his nappy.

He is 18 weeks now and I still change his nappy if he's had a wee as he wees loads overnight and on the few occasions I decided not to change it, he has always woken up a few hours later with an overflowed nappy, a saturated baby-Gro and wet bed sheets - and dealing with that issue disturbs DS much more than if I had just changed his nappy earlier

[drspouse]

DS was a winter baby and wrap vest plus bundler plus swaddler was a good combo and we could just about change it without disturbing him too much.

[flipflopsonfifthavenue]

Changed before each night feed so he was nice and clean and dry for his feed, then I could just put back in cot after sleep.

Did this for first 6 weeks then mil came to visit and rather than disturb her (I had been feeding DS is lounge til then after Dp changed him in spare room) I just fed ds in bed without changing nappy. Far more civilised!!

[ElsiePartridge]

Smother lots of sudocrem on at the last change before bed, it will act as a barrier. Then don't change until the morning. I've always do It with my DD who is 10 weeks!!!