He HATES being cleaned up

[Sterla]

I know it's probably normal for a bub/toddler to not like being cleaned up after a meal, but my DS absolutely HATES it, and I find the whole process rather stressful as a result .

I take a gentle approach to parenting, so I don't let DS cry if I can help it - but with cleaning him up after a meal, it almost always ends in tears. And not just a little whimper either - full on screeching/screaming that makes me feel like I'm doing something awful to him! I do BLS too, so it's not like there's a small mess to clean up - there's a lot most meals. It's worst when he's already tired - so the clean up after breakfast is not fun.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can go about cleaning DS up after a meal without the screaming and crying?

[Olive]

seriously our kids most be related!! we have the exact same problems!! i just make its as quick as possible!
do you have nappy change issues too??

[Junglemum]

DD was like that. i had to make it into a game. either peekaboo with a few quick wipes in between. or the face washers a monster and is going to tickle your face....... good news is she grew out of it.

[AliBaby]

Sterla- DO you have any of those apron type bibs that are plastic and sleeved? (kind of like a paintshirt)

They are good for keeping the mess of their bodies.

The only other thing i can suggest is a game. I get a face washer and begin by doing a peek a boo game and then I do it to DD but as i take the washer down I wipe her face down. It takes a few goes but she loves it and it gets the job done. HTH

[Sterla]

Well, definitely sounds like DS isn't the only bub who hates being cleaned up!

Olive: Yup, he's not a huge fan of nappy changes - he always tries to crawl off. I've found distracting him with the TV works best!

Junglemum & Ali: I've tried games - sometimes they work, sometimes not.
Ali - I don' have any of those bibs - in fact, I don't even both with bibs these days cause he always manages to get his clothes dirty anyway . I'll definitely have too look into those bibs .

[Junglemum]

My other tactic was to eat nude and then straight in the bath!

[Sterla]

Yup, we often have DS in just a nappy at tea time, and he goes straight into the bath. Might have to start doing that for breakfast too, lol.

[Nettie]

My DS doesn't like it either, but games usually do distract him.

I think we have a couple of those bib things that we don't use anymore - but they're a bit small. What size clothing is your DS in? If they'll fit him, I can send them to you to see if it helps a bit!

[Curly]

I always sing "this is the way we wash your face, wash your face, wash your face, this is the way we wash your face early in the morning" and same for hands. (to the tune of Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush).

They like the song and they know that by the time the song is over so is the wiping. The last few words sometimes get stretched out a bit so I can get the last bit of sauce or whatever but when the song stops so does the wiping and so they will put up with it.

And I use a warm facewasher rather than a cold one. I bought a couple of packets of those very thin facewashers from BigW and keep them with the bibs.

[onthefly]

Maybe try giving him his own washer to clean himself...? That worked sometimes with DS. He would only rub his lips, nothing else, but kept him happy.

He's gotten much better with cleaning up and nappy changes as he's gotten older.

[Heaven]

DD is the same but is getting better. I think I was being a bit rough on her face in an effort to do it quickly so if I do it extra soft she doesn't mind. She hates getting her hands wiped but doesn't mind if I lay the washer down on her tray and say 'hands on' and she puts them on herself and then I fold the washer over them and scruffle them around, lol, she thinks it's fun.

[tiffanny]

Maybe try giving him his own washer to clean himself...?

I second this. I had the same prob with DD and in a tanty of my own I said to her( not like she would understand she was too little) fine you do it! lol Anyway I went and got a washer of my own and showed and told her how to wash her face. Now she won't let me do it coz she loves cleaning herself up.

[*Beema*]

Sing, loudly and proudly

We sing Twinkle Twinle, This is how you wash your face (or insert bubs name in where "you" is), or versions of wheels ont he bus, insert for DD Nakita on the bus goes giggle giggle giggle Bringing there name ito the song often gets laughter and giggles, and praise them for each wipe where he does get upset.

It doesn't work everytime but a lot of time it does, and now we also give DD her own cloth so she can wipe her face too.

Good Luck! xxoo

[Jellyfish]

We do most meals naked and then a rinse under the shower or in the bath... just too messy otherwise haha

[Malyna]

Sterla - I do ninja hands, wave the cloth/wipe etc around (like I'm a kung fu master/karate kid) and tickle his face with it and it takes a few passes, but I do eventually get him cleaned. So cleaning up becomes a game, rather than a chore.

I have resorted to washing his hands and face under the tap - that way it's done in two seconds, and he's fasinated by the running water.

[CrystalBoo]

Lots of kids don't like the feel of their mouth being covered, even for a few seconds - it's probably the way we'd all feel actually.
Sometimes, it helps them to stay calmer if you do little wipes around the mouth, rather than a big one right across, IYKWIM?