Changing table monster?

Brittney - posted on 02/10/2010

you know what i do ! i lay my 8 month old son down, inbetween my legs, and i put my ankles on this arms close to his shoulders, babys use their arms to roll over i have noticed, if he cant use his arms.. he cant roll over, so just lay him/her down inbetween your legs on the floor. and hold his arms down with your feet! it works real well,

Kerin - posted on 02/10/2010

OMG! im glad im not the only one.. thanks for the tips it really helps, my lil one just dont stay still.

Danielle - posted on 02/09/2010

i try to do it right when i give her bottle

Brittney - posted on 02/09/2010

My 8 month old also freaks out when we try and change her she screams and trys to roll over somtimes it takes both of us to hold her down because she just freaks out so bad but this is the only time she is like this she is a really good baby other wise, we have tryed everything toy's, bottle, talking nothing has worked but she likes it when we nibble on her ribs she can't help but laugh. I really like the mirror idea we will have to try that. We have also found thats she reall likes to hold the powder bottle that also helps to relax her, any little thing that can keep her mind off getting her diaper changed.

Ma. Rudith - posted on 02/05/2010

my 7th month old does the same too. What i do is i play with him while changing his nappy or putting clothes on. He pulls his self up and does not want to be held. That is normal for his age coz he is exploring his potentials... a very active baby is a sign of good health, so there's nothing to worry.

Lina Chandra - posted on 02/05/2010

My husband and I, we are a team for this work :)

Elizabeth - posted on 02/04/2010

Yes! And of course she always is the most "corkscrew-y" when she has a messy turd situation going on. I have to just laugh at all the effort she puts into squirming away from me. But my supernanny informs me that they outgrow this by about 11 months- so hang in there and soon he'll learn to just chill and deal with getting his bum clean!

Laura - posted on 02/04/2010

Girl It is not easy changing a baby that won't stay still and Boy OH Boy I am right there in the same boat as you all are. We should have been born octapuses (I know not the real plurel noan) If your changing table has a belt use it if not and only if you can get aound the table in a pinch hit you can use a very large belt to laso your boy down. I have a very bad back and at times I just have to put my boy in his crib or my bed and change him since the male gender seems to be born with the wiggly jean.... Good Luck!

Jennifer - posted on 02/03/2010

Like all the other mothers... I am glad that I am not the only one! My little girl will not sit still either. Sometimes if she is poopy and I really need her to sit still I will hold her ankle with my left hand/wipe with my right hand. She tries to roll and makes sure that she lets out a good yell but at least my carpet isn't covered in poo! I think the important thing to remember is that it isnt the end of the world, they are just complaining.

Meadow - posted on 02/03/2010

Try putting socks on his hands - it distracts them long enough to do a quick change.

Ashley - posted on 02/03/2010

My son started to do this too... but I quickly realized that if I sat him on the changing table first instead of just laying him down he was more likely to lay still when I did have to lay him down to change him. So try giving him a minute to look around or pick something up. If he has something in his hands that he wanted and got himself he may be more likely to be still.

Nicole - posted on 02/02/2010

OMG I feel yah! My 7mo old does the same thing during diaper changes, clothing changes and getting him in and out of the car seat. He screams bloody murder and won't stay still for even a second! For the diaper changes, the best chance we have is with something for him to hold in his hands (wipes package, something that he can hold well). I actually let him play with the teething tablet bottle because it's small enough for him to work with both hands, not choke and it makes noise when he moves his hands. I wish my son was attached to a toy to ensure it would always be a distraction, but he isn't. Sometimes I just need another set of hands and it's still really tough. I know he's not in pain, but the way he screams I feel terrible and at times very frustrated, especially in the middle of the night. I wish someone had a solution, but it seems that based on all the other responses that we are not alone and it the kids will grow out of it when they grow out of it!

Dana - posted on 02/02/2010

OMG, thank you so much for this post. I thought I was the only one. I'm building up awesome muscles trying to dress and change my 8 month old son. I feel like I need extra arms to hold him down with.

I give him something to play with that he doesn't normally play with, like a bottle of lotion or his little toothbrush.

He also has a mobile over his change table, which I swing around and sing to (it's got farm animals on it, so I sing "Old McDonald" and show him the animals) - doesn't usually work on it's own though, he still needs something to examine.

To dress him, I try and sit him up as much as I can so that he can look around, that usually helps a little as well.

Good luck. I'm so glad I'm not alone :-)

Alexandra - posted on 02/02/2010

I always make diaper changing time tickle time. He knows that when i put him on the changing table im going to blow on his belly and kiss his toes he loves getting his diaper changed. I just act like a goof ball.

Michelle - posted on 02/02/2010

Omigod! My son just started doing the same thing! Drives me nuts. I just started giving him something to play with and that work today at least. We will see!

Deborah - posted on 02/02/2010

I have this, not so much with clothes but deff with his nappy! I've just learned to put it on backwards and upside down and everything lol!

The other day he had a dirty nappy, as soon as it was off he'd rolled over and tracked his knees through it and everything. Every attempt to clean him up was met with the situation just getting worse that I had to just pop him in the bathtub then shower him off lol. What a monster.

Brittney - posted on 02/02/2010

I gave up on fighting with my little guy. I just change him how ever he stays still. But it takes some getting use to. He however seems to understand that he has to stay still with poop diapers. Got to love our babys.

Shavon - posted on 02/02/2010

Oh yes it helps to move to the floor because then you can use your leg if need be to hold him down: ) I started giving mine the wipes to play with and it keeps him interested also he loves post it notes so I stick a couple to the wall within easy reach for him to pull off.

Tamara - posted on 02/02/2010

post a mirror above the changing table. my kid loves to look in a mirror it is some how different and more interesting than a toy

Tamitra - posted on 02/02/2010

I KNOW!!!!! It's like wresling a baby monkey! When my 7 m/o starts getting squirmy and twisty, I make this high pitch barky noise which seems to get her attention. Sounds quite crazy, I know, but what a mom will do for some peace! lol!

Maria Fabiola - posted on 02/01/2010

Hahahaha I laugh because my lil guys is the same way but I give him a toy as well an for most of the time that works. When it doesn't I just enjoy his playfulness and put the diaper on as fast as I can and play with him...enjoy him and play on :0)

Julia Kat - posted on 01/31/2010

I do have t say that the one thing my son loves is diapers. Silly as it sounds, he likes to chew on them. I used to try handing him one and tell him "One for you, one for your bottom" I have left over smaller diapers. This doesn't work anymore like I mentioned above. I also used to have a crib attachment toy attached to the diaper changing station, which doesn't work anymore either. I did let him play with my cellphone but he water-logged the speaker and now everyone complains they can't hear me talk, haha. I do hope it's over soon! Although, something tells me as soon as he can walk he wont be rolling away from me...

Sara - posted on 01/31/2010

put your leg on him thats what i have to do with my daughter

Kristina - posted on 01/31/2010

My 7mos old is the same way! He's too excited to let me change his diapers, not to mention the constant attempts to grab his winky. I'm just amused at this point. I pretty much just surround myself with small toys for him to hold on. If he's tired of one thing, I hand him another immediately to keep him occupied or make funny faces and noises. This seems to work most of the time. I would also suggest if your changing table is against the wall, try putting some stickers on the wall for him to look at. He'll probably be pretty occupied with that for a little while. It worked for me in the bath. Good luck!

Julia Kat - posted on 01/31/2010

Going through the same thing with my eight-month-old since he was about 7 months! It's terrible when I am alone. At first I'd offer him things and it would occupy him long enough to change him but it's like he knows better now. The funniest thing is when he is in his playpen or his crib and I come in to get him he instantly rolls over to his back and reaches his hands up, but when he's on the changing table or floor it's a whole other story. When my husband is around we have to tag-team him. One of us stands over his head talking to him and playing with his hands while the other changes him while we have the chance.

Pretty much it has come down to, if one of us is alone in the task, a whole lot of crookedly placed diapers and lots of "No, Geoffrey please stay! No! Oh my gosh, don't roll over."

He thinks it's hilarious!

Eva - posted on 01/31/2010

OMG me to it is a nightmare nothing i do seems to work when i have someone else here i get them to talk to him but on your own i dont know i've tried doing it on the floor and in different rooms - i guess we all just have to hang in there and hope that the bubs will grow out of it!! good luck to all mums

Melissa - posted on 01/31/2010

Give him something that he's not normally allowed to play with. And only let him play with it while you change him. It works for me. eg) the lotion bottle, her hairbrush

Felicia - posted on 01/31/2010

I have the same problem with my son. Its even worse after a bath. I just try to be quick. I also have very colorful pictures and stuffed animals on the wall and hanging from the roof and that seems to help.

Dianne - posted on 01/30/2010

I am glad I am not alone in this, its worse when I have to dress him, some times it takes shear willpower for me to get him ready for bed as this is when he is at his worst - ah my squiggly wiggly shnuckles has many friends out there I see. Best of luck but like everyone said its trial and error and perhaps you might one day find what it is that you can give him that will distract him so you can get the job done

Kathy - posted on 01/30/2010

We usually open the window right behind the changing table. Seth likes to watch the cars go by. I've given up changing him on the floor or the bed. The cats always walk by and of course he has to try to put their tail in his mouth. And he loves chewing on my cell phone.

Kristen - posted on 01/30/2010

I have the same problem. My son loves the lotion bottle so I give him that & I can usually get the job done. Try giving him something he doesnt play with a lot that he likes. Maybe something thats not necessarily a toy like the diaper wipe box or lotion or something like that. My son is 7 months also & like that kind of stuff to keep him busy for a short amount of time.

Jane - posted on 01/30/2010

My son is a squiggle monster on the changing table too. I have found that giving him a soft book to chew on stops most of the squiggling about. What also works with him is sitting him up when putting tops and onesies on him (I do up the press studs when I'm lying him down for the trousers.

My mum says a sticky label stuck on the back of the hand is a good distraction for a lot of babies so you could try that too.

Good luck anyways.

Renee - posted on 01/30/2010

i give my little girl the wipes pack she loves making noice with that,

Heidi - posted on 01/29/2010

My daughter Brooklynn was doing that for a while and all I did was just give her something to hold on to!!! Something that she wanted to play with... And that was that!

Lauralea - posted on 01/29/2010

YA! My son is normal! sorry, no suggestions though....... I know I was excited for him to learn new skills and I think this is the other side of the coin....

Kim - posted on 01/29/2010

OMG..i'm going through the same thing as you...he screams blue murder, trys to roll over and crawl off and its even worse when hes done a nice big poo...have no idea why he does this..he started at about 6 and half months and hes now nearly 8 months..i've been giving him my car keys or something hes not aloud to touch like my cell phone or even something he doesn't play with that often to keep his hands busy or else he reaches down south ...i also try silly voices and if my partners at home hes entertains him well i do the quickest fastest nappy change ever..lol...sometimes it comes down to using my feet to hold his arms down..i know it sounds horrible you gotta do what you gotta do... the things we got to do haha..i hope it doesnt last forever..hes getting stronger everyday...

Sabrina - posted on 01/28/2010

Have you tried putting a mirror up next to the changing table? I have found that, when I change my daughter on the floor, if I have a mirror next to her she is more intrigued by watching her reflection in the mirror than by moving around. But then again, she also loves to give her reflection kisses in the mirror too. ;)

Sabrina - posted on 01/28/2010

HMOG...I was just thinking the SAME thing today. I am actually EXHAUSTED after every freakin diaper change! It's insanity at its peak! LOL. For whatever reason, he *LOVES* the aquaphor container. So I set that on his chest while I"m changing him and most days that seems to fix the problem.