HELP for a difficult diaper changer

Alicia - posted on 03/20/2009

The only thing I find that works now is to start singing a song like 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' before I start and then I keep singing while she does the motions as I change her diaper.  She is an extreme twister.  I can't even use a changing table; the floor is much safer.  Sometimes I have had to let her 'get away' for a second and then she holds still better for the VERY quick putting on of the new diaper.

Good luck!!!

Emilie - posted on 03/20/2009

Thanks for the advise ladies!!!  I am sooo glad to hear that it is a problem that a lot of you are dealing with also.  Most of these ideas we have tried.  Sometimes they work and sometimes not.  Thanks again for all the responses!  There were a couple new ones we are going to try and see how she does with them!

Zeidi - posted on 03/19/2009

I just try and distract my daughter in any way possible. Sometimes giving her a diaper works,  other times giving her a wipe works. The best method that seems to work for us is either singing and making lots of noises while tickling her or having her dad stand behind her and talk to her too...My daughter is VERY active and I can usually get her distracted long enough to change her diaper...If not, oh well thats the joy of having a baby! The excitement never ends! Good Luck to you!

Heather - posted on 03/14/2009

I'd like to see some of the answers people have on this matter! My daugther is terrible about arching her back and stiffening out like a board-and it causes her to slide herself up on the mat, and off the diaper, or playing with her feet which makes it hard to get her diaper fastened, and she really likes to kick her feet...we've gotten poo on her legs, feet and thighs... I have not yet figured out how to distract her.

Laura - posted on 03/14/2009

my little boy used to crawl away and scream constantly till he was hysterical it got to the point where it was nearly impossible to change him and i was on the verge of giving up with nappies completely but now when i lay him down i tell him what i want him to do ie 'lay still while i change your bum' and talk him throught what im doing but as soon as he twists to get away i roll him back and tell him 'no lie still' and now after 2 weeks he is listening and seeming to understand :)

Autumn - posted on 03/13/2009

mine is the same way. sometimes he ends upside down and twisted. Sometimes I am able to distract him with another diaper or a baby wipe. He's interested in those because he doesn't see them very often. Maybe you could try giving her something she usually doesn't play with (like keys or a credit card) something you always have on you, but will be fasinating and new to her. It could distract her long enough to change her

hope this helps,
Autumn

Samantha - posted on 03/13/2009

My son thinks it's a great game when i change his nappy especially if it's a soiled nappy. He's fascinated in playing with his bits lol! I give him something to play with like my mobile phone, some thing he's not mormally allowed to play with, that normally does the trick. Good luck!

Megs - posted on 03/12/2009

I ask my little boy to "help" me and ask if he can hold something, usually his diaper, which keeps him occupied for a while. OR  I grab something and place it in my mouth, so when I try to lay him down, he gets distracted b/c he wants to grab it from me and sometimes I let him take it right away, sometimes I tease him by moving my head back  and forth to make it more challenging for him to reach, all the while working on changing his diaper.  I usually use a toy or something like a baby clothes hanger of his.  And then I tell him how happy I am that I was able to change his diaper and thank him for laying so nicely, I think that is important! 

Singing works sometimes as well, especially Old McDonald, or Wheels on the Bus.

Megs - posted on 03/12/2009

I ask my little boy to "help" me and ask if he can hold something, usually his diaper, which keeps him occupied for a while. OR  I grab something and place it in my mouth, so when I try to lay him down, he gets distracted b/c he wants to grab it from me and sometimes I let him take it right away, sometimes I tease him by moving my head back  and forth to make it more challenging for him to reach, all the while working on changing his diaper.  I usually use a toy or something like a baby clothes hanger of his.  And then I tell him how happy I am that I was able to change his diaper and thank him for laying so nicely, I think that is important! 

Singing works sometimes as well, especially Old McDonald, or Wheels on the Bus.

Katherine - posted on 03/10/2009

Hi i have the samw problem with my little girl 10 months, i have a formula tim full of interesting objects. eg plastic squishie toys, store loyalty cards that look like credit cards, keys an old toothbrush that has been steralised, shaking toys. she only gets these toys when her nappy is being changed then they are put away till next time out of reach. sometimes she is happy with one of these toys for the whole nappy change other times she goes through the whole container of toys in a single change. but at least she isn't crying and kicking me. Hope this helps

Kathryn - posted on 03/10/2009

I always try to turn diaper changes into play time to make it enjoyable for my little guy. We sing songs, I blow on his tummy, play the "stinky feet" game, put his diaper on his head and say hat then noooo, and put it on his bum. He is a very busy boy, but stays still because he likes the 1 on 1 attention. (he has 2 big brothers). Hope this helps!

Becky - posted on 03/10/2009

My son has been doing the twist since about 7 months old (now 11 months). I lay him down to change him and he twists completely around onto his belly. That is WITH the belt hooked! I have found that he needs to be kept occupied while I change him. If my hubby is home when it gets changed he plays with some of my sons stuffed animals in his crib. If he isn't home, then I use odd things (like an unused nasal aspirator) to keep his attention long enough to get it changed. The hard part is when they are poopy. He kicks so much that poo ends up everywhere...all over him, me and the table. He hates to get his behind wiped. Still haven't figured out what to do for that one.

Colleen - posted on 03/10/2009

I totally sympathize!  I've almost given up on the lay-down-on-the-back diapering (unless my little one is sleepy or really into playing with a small toy).  I usually let him stand up on the change table and hold the wall while I change him.  If it's a messy one and I have to keep him on his back, I show him the spray bottle I use to wet his wipes (I use cloth wipes), and sometimes I give him a squirt of water in his mouth (which he loves).  He also likes the sensation of getting sprayed with the water on his bum, and this will often keep him distracted long enough to change him.  I give him a squirt and then hand him the bottle and let him play with it.  Good luck!

Kimberly - posted on 03/10/2009

My son has lately gotten unruly during diaper changes, too! I give him something he ordinarily doesn't get to play with and that SOMETIMES distracts him long enough. (Like the bottle of baby lotion or tub of bottom balm...). I also have become pretty good at changing just wet ones while he's standing up. (We use cloth diapers, don't know if that makes it any easier to do that...)



I read somewhere once where a lady somehow discovered that her son would lay still MESMERIZED if she chewed gum and blew bubbles while she changed his diaper, so she kept a pack of bubble gum on the changing table. I haven't tried that yet.



My son will stick his hands "down there" while I'm changing a dirty and then touch us both! It's getting so messy! I haven't completely distracted him enough to avoid these situations...so I'll be following the tips you get here, too! :)

Tokie - posted on 03/10/2009

i'm not sure about this bu a friend of mine devised a way of changing her son's diaper whilst he was standing up. not sure how she managed it but it might be worth a try!

Layla - posted on 03/10/2009

have you tryed talking through it...like taking her mind off it that way adn try to make it fun like singing to her and stuff...i hope its a quick and easy fix for you