How to stop a baby squrming etc while changing & dressing

[danniellabella]

My DD is 9 months and recently learnt how to go from back, to tummy, to sitting, to standing all in one very quick motion. The trouble is that she does this when I'm changing and dressing her. Now I've started getting creative with dressing her but I'm struggling with changing her and have on a few occasions had to call for DH to come and help me.

I get the nappy off, wipe her bum but then as soon as her bum is clean she flips over onto her tummy and either tries to sit/stand up or crawl and reach for things and almost falls off the change table.

She gets so upset while I'm trying to put the nappy on or her clothes on because I'm stopping her from moving around how she wants.

She's too young to understand the concept that it's time to put clothes on or a new nappy on now so we have to lay still. I try to make it fun and talk to her or sing to her but there are far to many other distractions going on around her. I've also tried taking her into the lounge so she can just lay on the floor watching TV which works until the kitten comes in and then DD is off like a rocket to play with the kitten.

Please help, I'm sick of fighting with her just to get a nappy on!

[{sarah}]

Sticky tape apparently is wonderful for nappy changes!! We never had to use it but lots of mums swear by giving bub a piece of sticky tape to play with

[Liz]

The strap on the change table has been our saviour! I hate changing her on the floor or bed for that very reason

Sticky tape would be a bit dangerous wouldn't it? hehe. Altho I have found that giving them something they wouldn't normally be able to play with works. A normal toy doesn't do a thing, but give them your mobile phone or something and I think they lie there stunned that they got given it to play with! LOL.

[PinkPalace]

you know i had a dreadful time with this when DD was about 8-15 months.
I tried everything, books, stick tape, mobiles, music, toothbrush - all worked for a while then faded and i though omg i am never going to be able to change her without her being still!

they she just stopped.. and would lay still and still does.... mmmm hopefully this will happen with you too one day!

[danniellabella]

Thanks girls. I might try the sticky tape thing first of all.

I would love to be able to strap her in but we don't have a strap change table...DH suggested getting some rope and tying her down LOL

[fionas]

I feel your pain! Apart from the suggestions the other girls have come up with, if DD only has a wet nappy I sometimes change her on my knee with her sitting up. I think it's the being made to lie down that's the main problem.

[catherinemoses]

When I read about the sticky tape I immediately thought you could somehow tape them to the change mat!!! Oh dear!
We don't have a proper change table. We have a bookshelf over a large set of drawers. so just the mat sits on the drawers and the shelves are above that. I helps with the rolling cos there is nowhere to go. He does try and sit up but it is easy to push (gently!!) him back down again.
The powder container usually entertains him long enough.
I do wish I had a strap on the mat. Maybe I will sew one onto it...
GL

[danniellabella]

When I read about the sticky tape I immediately thought you could somehow tape them to the change mat!!! Oh dear!

That's a great idea

[Liz]

Catherinemoses - so did I LOL. I had visions of duct tape strapping the baby down LMAO.

[kelebek]

Just wanted to say that we are having similar problems & we try the whole song, different toy that he can only have at the change table & various other distractions. They all work for a little while & then I have to keep trying different things (sometimes going back through the whole list so to speak) I have found when I put things on the bottom half like shorts that I stand him up & lean him against me while I slip them over his feet & drag them up IYKWIM? that way he isn't laying down.

I still have to call DP to help especially with the pooey nappies....

bring on the 15 months when they accept it

[AngelPunks]

wet nappy - easy (especially with cloths), lay the clean nappy down, put bubs on top of nappy, whip off wet nappy, quick wipe, new nappy on

dressing - hang them half over your shoulder and dress them that way while walking with them

don't laugh - these worked for me for my nieces and nephews and I changed my first nappy when I was 8 and the last one was born when I was 14, so I perfected the quick change (especially for the 2nd & 3rd child - girl & boy who were HUGE squirmers)

[suse]

We've been at that stage for a few months now. Occasionally he's not too bad, but other times, he's a nightmare to change. If DP's home one of us does the stinky end whilst the other distracts the bitey end.

Our pre-emptive strike when he starts to roll is to hold his chest with one hand so that he can't roll. If he manages to arch his back and neck enough to almost turn over, we slide the other hand under his head and turn it back around to the front. Sometimes this is successful, other times it's not. If he manages to get up on the table, we'll let him have a little sit or stand on the table so that he feels nice and pleased with himself, then pick him up, plonk him back on the table, and attempt to go from there.

Sometimes this is immediately successful, sometimes it's met with a minor whinge which is turned into a smile with a song or a silly face, and other times we get the full kicking, screaming and biting, then turning over the second he touches the table routine, and it takes several attempts at getting him back down again until there is a nappy on his bum and we have a very cranky mummy, and a very cranky baby. Worst case scenario I change him on the ground, with my calves gently pinning his shoulders down so that he can't move. It looks rather tortuous but is actually much less stress for E as he doesn't get himself worked up into a major tanty. The lap thing doesn't work for us as he will not sit still for a minute either.

I do like the idea of taping him to the table though...

ETA: Schaz, I do the dressing over the shoulder thing too, it's especially fun with pants!

[Brunette01]

When I read this I thought you were suggesting taping her down!

[Kmn]

I put bub on his tummy for nappy off and bum wipe - he's less wriggly then. And flip him over for new nappy on. Sit him up to put a top on him. Carry him to put pants on.

We have a toy on a spring over his change table that works for a few seconds - as does singing. But he now wants anything that is on the table (including the used nappy) and will try and go and get it.

I think I am going to have to start changing him on the floor.

[catherinemoses]

I think I am going to have to start changing him on the floor.

KMN. Whenever I change Flynn on the floor he is so quick to roll over no matter weather the poo has been wiped off or not!! If I'm doing it on the floor I definitely need a second pair of hands!!

[Ezz]

The toy on the spring is good. Also playing with a baby wipe (DS loves to pull them out of the container).

[danniellabella]

At FDC there is a toy on a spring which my DD loves. Since starting this post I've taken to giving DD an unopened baby powder bottle to play with and she's been fine with that. I sit her up to put her tops on and get her legs into her pants, then stand her up while she gives me a cuddle to pull up her pants. It's just the nappies that are sometimes the hard part.

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with this problem though and am looking forward to seeing many many more suggestions.

[Bun]

I have been having this trouble too over the lat couple of months. DD is almost impossible to change onmy own. I do find the powder bottle often gives me a little time, or new toys, mobile phone, keys, etc, but she has started having full on tanties when I try to change her now! Someone once suggested putting a sticker on her hand, but she just ate it!!

He he, I also thought the sticky tape was to tape them down to the change mat! Maybe I should try it...