There’s nothing quite like the dread that sets in as soon as you get a whiff of a stinky diaper. You may hope that it’s merely the scent of a tooting toddler, but you and I both know that dream — much like their diaper — is full of crap. And so begins the funeral march to the changing table where the fecal fun awaits. It’s no secret that changing a diaper full of No. 2 will always be No. 1 on the list of Least Fun Parenting Tasks. So why, asks the internet, do baby wipe manufacturers have to make the process even sh*ttier?
In a post entitled “Wipes were clearly designed by people who have never had children,” one parent on Reddit went off about how the “ONE THING” they need wipes to do is to come out of their package one at a time.
“Every single time I pull one out, the whole box of them comes out in an endless stream like some f*cking clown pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket. I end up flicking my wrist to break the stream and worming my fingers around like I’m casting a magic spell to work them apart into individual wipes.”
It all begs the question: why can’t “package engineers” make the experience more akin to pulling tissues out of a box? Is this all part of an elaborate “waste more, buy more” scheme? Has WipeGate been taking place right under our noses? If so, it stinks.
Commenters jumped all over this relatable post.
“I recall seeing the phrase on wipe packages, ‘One and done!’ And I laughed my way down the aisle,” one said.
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When they weren’t lamenting over the struggle of wipe clusters — “I cried once when this happened to me lmao. I feel your pain,” — they were sharing advice that will no doubt change the OP’s diaper changing game.
The majority of the nearly 300 commenters agreed that wipes should be pulled out of the package and separated (sigh) before the diaper comes off. In that same vein, a new diaper should be at the ready, and the diaper rash cream should be open (better yet, a diaper rash spray makes the process one-handed and hands-off).
If a changing station isn’t available, some parents put their little ones on a towel or even a puppy training pad. I mean … if you’re already shopping for your fur baby, why not? This all keeps the process as quick and tidy as possible, which is especially important if you have a squirmer.
“My son has decided to become an acrobat during diaper changes. He ends up almost on his head facing the opposite direction lmao. I’m fighting for my life here!!!” one commenter said.
Finding ways to keep the little stinker distracted is key to getting them to (hopefully) stay still. Popular strategies among commenters included giving their baby an extra wipe or, strangely enough, measuring cups to play with. Another parent says the best thing she has ever done is place a mirror above the changing table.
“When my child started fighting diaper changes with every ounce of her strength, I would stand her up to look in the mirror. Changing a standing baby happily playing in her mirror is much easier than one lying down doing their spins and twists like they’re competing for the gold medal.”
Once you have a content baby and have prepped the area for minimal mess, commenters swear that Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes are the best at coming out individually. And if you already have a preferred wipe brand, the OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser is a popular purchase that has made all the difference: “This thing is a life saver.”
And in a pinch, commenters say putting a rubber band or hair tie on the ends of the package should help keep the block of wipes in place while you pull out just the one on top. While a lot of people appreciated this nugget of wisdom, others were still annoyed.
“I appreciate this hack, BUT why is this even necessary?! I implore the design gurus to do better for all of us tired parents!!!”
Until the gurus do their duty, we thank one commenter who looked beyond the BS and found the silver lining:
“I do have the comfort knowing that if I ever need to get out of a second story window, I can grab a pack, pull a wipe and safely get to the ground without a single wipe separating under my weight.”
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