Keeping Baby Still During Diaper Change, Anyone?

I have tried many of these suggestions off and on with my son, now 22 mos. He goes through phases of being good and terrible with diaper changes! One other thing that sometimes works, is giving him one of his toys or stuffed animals and a wipe so he can clean them, while I clean him. Sometimes I have him wash his head, tummy, hands etc. This keeps him busy and helps him learn his body parts! Good luck!

Try Huggie's pull ups in size 2T. I remembered having to put up with constant struggles with the regular diaper change for my then 14 mth old daughter and Huggie's pull ups solved the problem in no time. My daughter was potty trained until 3 but started using pull ups since she was 1. Good luck!

We went through this too... it does get better. It seems to happen along with learning to walk and be independent. Suddenly they just don't want to stay still anymore!

I would lay my son down and stand by his head and put my arm/shoulder across his shoulder and torso (think seatbelt-like). This kept him in one place without having to use too much pressure and left both "hands free" to change!

I have 1-year-old triplets and they all started doing this within the last month! I too stopped using the changing table, because it seems worse there and I worry about a fall. We use a mock changing station on an end of our sofa (we have a changing pad there) and all diapering necessities within reach. I tried having them stand up on the couch hands to the wall (assume the position!) or standing on the floor holding on to an ottoman. When my mother-in-law was visiting, she would give them the diaper cream (closed), and it worked like a charm! It's been much better since.

Hi R.,
At this age, they are on the go and want to be in control of their own body. They don't understand what the diaper change is or why they need to go through this inconvenience. I would suggest that if she is only wet, try standing diaper changes. Let her hang on to the coffee table or something similar while you diaper her. The novelty and perceived "freedom" of this may keep her from wandering away.

My daughter did this too at this age. It is a control issue. I know it's frustrating.

What I did was to tell her that "I am not done" (repeatedly) and make sure she does not move..took some practice. Once I was done, I told her "all done" and praised her when she stayed still.

Nanc

Just for now, try changing her in different positions (sitting up or standing, etc.). This is a pain, but some babies are just more comfortable in a different position. I always prefer to change them on the floor with their feet close to my hips and my legs on either side of them--this lets them look directly at my face, and gives me better control. She is very young for toilet training, so I would just concentrate on finding a position she is less fussy in. :)

My son is 6 months old and he's been doing the same thing for a couple of months now! It's exhausting to have to keep flipping back onto his back. But I'm just happy he's a happy, active, healthy boy! I usually change and dress him in his crib now. Just safer and easier that way. And I've even put his diaper on backwards (on purpose). I think the clothing manufacturers should make clothes with the zippers and snaps on the backside. It sure would help me out!

We are going through the same thing so I am interested to see your responses. We try to give him something interesting to keep him amused for a the few minutes to change the diaper. Getting him dressed is usually while he is in motion all over the bed so I have gotten great at getting clothes on him from every possible position. I hear it's an expected phase.

Baby-safe mirrors, things with flashing lights and maybe music, and something with buttons to push are usually engaging for long enough. Just be sure that that is her diaper-changing toy - she only gets it when it's time to change her. That will keep it's novelty longer.
As far as potty-training.... wellllll, I don't think it's a bad idea to get her acquainted with a potty, but don't push it and don't expect that she'll take to it so soon. Trust me, I am finally down to diapers at bedtime only for my youngest and I'm SO happy about that (we've been buying diapers for over 5 years, between my son and daughter), but they have their own timetable for such things. There will be starts and stops, but they will eventually do it.
Good luck and let us know what worked for you!

K.

I go through the same thing every time. Only suggestion is have everything ready so that the process is very quick. Have the diaper open, and even the tabs. Have the wipes open and cream if needed.

OK I'm old and have read the responses that say accommodate the baby. And I am wondering WHY?? At a year old a baby understands what you are saying and is just plain doing what SHE wants. She needs to learn to listen right now or she wont listen later. Tell her no, tell her to stop and then hold her until she does stop. Tell her the longer she struggles the longer it will take. Do NOT let her have her own way. No need to scream or show anger, simply tell her what is what and wait till she listens. It might take a long time now that she is used to getting her own way, but after a few times of making her be still she will do it right away so she can jump up and play.
But make sure her head is not on a hard surface like when she was younger. Baby's heads change along with the rest of them and it is more uncomfortable for them to lay on a hard surface, so try using a small pillow or blanket under her head.
BTW babies start to discern voice patterns around 6 months old and can tell when you mean business.

R.,

My son tried this at about the same age. I was changing a very messy poopy diaper on my bed. I am not proud to say that I yelled at him and startled him pretty bad. I am usually very patient and soft-spoken, but I was picturing poop all over my bed, him and me. He never turns around during diaper changes, but will sometimes kick when his pants come off.

I am not really suggesting that you yell at your daughter, I'm just sharing our experience. Perhaps speaking sternly will help.

Good luck,
R.

I give my son the clean diaper to play with until I get him cleaned up. It helps me to squeak a rubber duck..lol the noise gets his attention to turn around.

I just change my son while he is sitting on my lap, facing out. I pull off clothes, have wipes + cream nearby and get diaper on while holding him on me. He hates lying still too so this works as well as standing whicv can be difficult in public restrooms....anyway we just switched to pullups for daytime bc its so much easier to put on. Diapers at night bc its more absorbent. Good luck!

My son is ten months old and I have become an expert in mobile diaper changing. About three months ago I stopped using a changing table due to fears of him flipping himself onto the floor and have been changing his diaper on the floor. My son thrashes all over the place unless he has just had a bath or is still groggy from a nap. He is so curious about his environment and is just excited to explore. I decided that this is not a battle I am going to fight because this is a temporary, short stage of his life and he is not putting himself at risk by crawling around or standing while I am changing his diaper. You know what will work for you and your family - just trust your instincts about this particular situation with your daughter.

I put mine on the floor in front of me with my legs on both sides of her. At that age, they can't roll over the top of something like a leg, so it works.

Oh R.- get ready for the super toddler wiggles! My boy (20 mos) has been doing that since about about the same age.
My solution:
I change him on the floor. I lie him down with his head on my left side, and I place my left leg across his hips/torso. Then I can control his upper body with my leg while I have his legs in my hands. I also give him the remote control or some other fun object.

My son was like this from 8 or 9 months (he walked at 10 months). I got a changing pad on the floor so he couldn't fall and got used to changing him while holding him down with one hand on his chest. It got a bit better as he got closer to age 2. We switched to pull ups around 2.5 but some friends did that switch earlier.

My daughter is one week from her first birthday and starting to get really squirmy during changes but so far not as bad as her brother at the same age.

Hi R.,

I have the same problem with my daughter. She is now 21 months, and this started about 5 months ago. I let her help out and that seems to distract her enough most of the time. She gets her own diaper, powder, and wipees when needed. She wants to do everything herself so this worked great for a while.

Sometimes, though, she is sooooo excited to be diaper free that she runs around when I try to change her - I use our king size bed to change her on and she LOVES to jump and bounce on the bed. So, I have gone with the motto, "If you cannot beat 'em, join 'em." I chase her around and say silly things like, "I'm gonna get that booty", etc. Once I 'catch' her, she has gotten rid of some of that energy and is still long enough so I can put on a clean diaper.

It can still be a challenge, but I have learned that fighting it only makes it worse. Let her think that she is winning, even when it is something that you chose to do.

Good luck,
L.

Let her get on all 4s and put her diaper on backwards for a bit!! She wants control of hte situation - an age thing :), and will probably stay still more when she knows you are going to stop fighting her on it!!