Aarghhh, nappy changes are becoming stressful..HELP!

[chon]

HELP me please!!

My darling little DD is 9mths and for the past month or two nappy changing time is becoming a nightmare. She wriggles and writhes and wants to turn onto her tummy, she arches her back and stretches out her legs so putting on the nappy is a real struggle.

I'm trying to think of new techniques to make this easier. I have given her a new toy to hold or an object she isn't familiar with (like a baby coathanger etc) to keep her attention, but have now run out of anything new and this is only a short term approach.

I don't think a hanging mobile will help either, she will be interested the first couple of times but then I will be back to square one.

I really want to nail this on the head as I am worried it will just get worse, is it just an 'age thing' where it will calm down in a month or whatever

It is also starting to happen when I dress her, she makes it hard to put her pants on.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Chantal

[Rouge]

Marc started singing Old Macdonald to Seth when he started this, and that combined with a toy calmed him down. He'd get the occasional "No." or "uh uh" if he was going to hurt himself. But other than that he was fine. You are right though it is something you want to try and nip in the bud. We also used to do peek a boo to get his attention.

*hugs*
Cailin

[MantaRay]

Oh, this is one I know a lot about. I went through it with Jack, and am now going through it with Tom. I find that different things work at different times, so it's a matter of just trying things until you have some luck. Sometimes toys work. Sometimes blowing rasperries on his belly works - he laughs and then will lie still for just long enough. Other times I get Jack to stand there and keep Tom occupied. Some other suggestions I've heard have been a sticker on the hand (although some babies will eat them!!), and a change table with straps to keep them still.

Good luck with it. I hope it gets easier for you soon. I have learnt to be the quickest nappy changer out LOL!!

[Lucy]

Lexie is going through this too just now.....they are a hazzard to themselves, LOL!

I sing "Gallumph Went the Little Green frog one day" & have a basket of little distraction toys at the ready. If all else fails, I pin her down with my arm.....

[Charlyfrog]

I remember those fun times with DD#1....... nothing entertaining (ie toys, mobiles, songs etc) worked and so we tried a different approach and decided that it was a training moment to correct her behaviour. So when she would start to play up, we wouldn't fight or struggle with her and we would look away and not give her any attention what so ever. The second she calmed and laid still (mostly trying to work out what we were up to no doubt ) We would focus our attention back and praise her up huuugely for being such a good girl for laying still. The moment she began playing up, same thing, let go and looked away and only returned our attention with praises when she laid still.

Took a good part of a week, being consistent and a STACK load of patience and whilst I know that this is not everyone's cup of tea, it worked for us.

hth

[Rouge]

Good point Charly we did the Praise too! And LMAO Lucy I've resorted to the arm thing before too

[*EmJa*]

im going through this atm with Emelia, so stressing and so hard to get her nappy and pants on cos she rolls onto her tummy and tries to crawl off..and for some reason she doesnt like when u do the buttons up on her bodysuits either. (i think she just wants to be nude all the time!) we have the mobile on the change table and yeah only works 2 out of 10 times, all depends wat mood she is in!

the only thing that has helped a little bit is singing and acting like a d!ck.!!! bit hard though when im out! also car keys she likes.

im really hoping that DD will everytually "grow" out of it?!

[chon]

Thankyou so much everyone for all your ideas!

I just tried the tactic of changing in a different room, its in the family room where she is happily playing and relaxed, good at first but then as soon as I went to do up the tags she started to twist and whinge but not as bad as on the change table.

I have tried the singing and acting goofy and doesnt work. When my DP is home he helps by distracting her.

Charlyfrog - yours would of been a great idea about 6 weeks ago but my little one is crawling everywhere and would be quite happy if I ignored her during a nappy change, she would crawl off bare bum and free and not look back!!

There are a few things I havent done which you guys have mentioned such as sticker on the hand, car keys. Maybe while she lays there quietly looking at the keys I should praise her HUGELY then, now theres an idea.

[Nadine216]

Mine is not yet turning on her tummy, but she thinks its very funny when she play stick. Streaching out straight and squeezing those little legs tight!! It usually works when I tickle her feet. She is not crawling, but I can imagine how frustrating that would be. I am going to remember the ideas given here - thanks for the help

[pansy]

My 2 do the same.I feel like I have ran a marathon every time I change their nappies and/or clothes.

I have read that they eventually tire of it so their is light at the end of the tunnell...

[chon]

Thanks Mads, I might try hanging a different toy each time, least its not the same thing then.

If it gets so bad that I cant do anything at all then I may have to look at a strap, can these be bought separately?

Hi Linz, the bath is an annoyance too I dry her sitting up, which works well and then try to get her nappy on in the bathroom then its moving on to her room where I put her tops on then her pants go on either then or 10 minutes later when I've had a breather.

I must so though, its nice to know my bub isnt the only one who does this

[pansy]

Chon And Linz we also hate bathtime as this is the worst.My Dh and I are so frazzled afterwards.We always make sure both of us are home to do this task it is a bloody nightmare....

[chon]

pansy - and you have two to bath!! I really hope it gets better for you soon.

[pansy]

Thanks Chon you too.

[Lea13]

Oh Chon Emerson was a great one for doing this. None of the above really worked for us and all I can say is that I learnt to change nappies standing up, sitting in my lap etc etc.

Hope that you find something that works for you!

[chon]

Can't say its better or worse. I got a rattle last week that has shiny bells all over it, it has worked for the last few days so far and its only a change mat toy, not to be played with off the change mat, see how that works.

Lea13 - I have tried changing nappies on my lap etc but it seems harder than holding her down with one arm.

Mother in law volunteered to do her nappy today she was surprised how strong she is, my DP helped try keep her still.

[Kitty33]

I am going through the exact same thing!! But every time I put Jacob down to change his bum or dress him he screams blue murder!!!!
I was going to start a new thread to ask you guys about it......
I dont understand it.... he has never had a bad experience as such, never fallen off or never been hurt or anything like that for him to scream the way he does!! Its getting me a bit down.... I just HATE having to dress him or do a bum change....
I guess its just a matter of trying to pacify him with a toy or the raspberries on the belly... but I just dont know what to do with it.........
its just one of those things that I pray he will grow out of!!! PLEASE !!!

[chon]

Kitty33 - Sorry to hear you are going through it too. Maya screams as well, its as if we are doing the worst thing ever to her!

We had a bad day yesterday with nappy changes, except for the one I did at Mums group, thank goodness. I'm at the point now that I have to resign myself to the fact its going to be like this for a while

I know what she wants though and that is to go around with no nappy but of course you can only do this for a little while or the rest of your day is spent cleaning up after them and I just don't feel like doing that.