Picture this. It’s 10pm and you finally got sweet babe to sleep. After she’s been up and down, like, 20 times already. You are exhausted and ready to crash in your own bed.

You fall asleep 2 seconds after your head finds your blessed pillow. Awe, this is the life. Snoozing child. Snoozing momma. Pure bliss.

Until you hear that wail of terror. Because: DIAPER BLOW OUT.

Dread creeps into your heart. Not because you’re staring down the barrel of a disgusting, poop-up-the-back mess. But because you know sweet babe is gonna WAKE WIDE UP and wanna play for the rest of the night.

This must be thwarted at all costs. BABY MUST GO BACK TO SLEEP. MOMMA MUST GO BACK TO SLEEP. Or life will go off the rails tomorrow.

Any of this sounding familiar? Like this isn’t just an exercise in storytelling, but your actual life, like, last night?

Well, I’m here to help you out. To make the next midnight, diaper blow-out a little less harrowing.

For your convenience, I’ve included affiliate links. Read my Disclaimer to learn more.

Here are my tips to help you – and baby – survive this nighttime nightmare.

1. You need the ultimate crib sheets

You NEED these snap-on, Summer Infant Ultimate Crib sheets.

You can buy them on Amazon if you want (there’s even an organic version available if that’s your jam). Or you can look for them at a consignment sale (that’s how I got mine). Mooching off your neighbor is another option (all hail the moms in my life who pass baby goodies my way!) Your choice, just get some. Preferably 3 or 4 of them.

Stack them, plastic side down, one on top of the other in the crib.

Seriously, these are the only sheets you need. But you can see from my picture below (yes, I have a bumper in my kid’s crib) that you can still do the cute crib-sheet-on-mattress look to pull together the theme for your nursery if you want.

The deal is that when baby wakes in the middle of the night flipping out because their diaper leaked, you aren’t stuck wrestling a screaming child, mattress, mattress pad, and fitted sheet (plus changing the baby’s pajamas and diaper). You literally UNSNAP the top crib sheet and then CONCENTRATE ON BABY. So you can get your own sleep on as soon as possible.

2. You need a game plan

Pick up baby. Change clothes and diaper. Give clean baby a hug. Hold baby in one hand on hip. Reach into crib and unsnap the top sheet with free hand. Do whatever it takes to get baby back to sleep. Toss soiled sheet into hamper. Score! Mommy win!

I recommend practicing your one-handed, unsnapping technique so you won’t panic and drop baby in the moment. You can even have a little fun with this. Time yourself during your practice sessions. Race against your best time. Ask older children to cheer you on. Fun for the whole family!

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Photo credit, featured image: Picsea from Unsplash.com