My son won't lay down for a diaper change! Suggestions appreciated!

Georgia - posted on 10/04/2012

You could try pull-ups or put him in the bath, put a towel in the bath first and then you can change him quick and then put the towel on the side of the bath. I always give my son a bath toy or the shower head

Sarah - posted on 06/05/2010

Change his diaper backwards, with him facing away from you and you over his head, he has less control over his movements then and even if he can move they're easily stopped!

Lakerra - posted on 05/31/2010

i firmly told my son lay down and put my hands over his legs did it every diaper change and in a few days after saying lay down he stays there and he has been doin it for months

Nikki - posted on 05/29/2010

my son is exactly the same I hate changing his diaper ill try and doing it when he is drinking his bottle, so that way he is focused on something else, but obviously I cant do that all the time, I found that he will play with things that arent toys, like a wooden spoon a brush, my keys, phone....but what works the BEST is actually a wipe, but now he tries to wipe himself and then starts playing with his pee pee. I just try and do it as fast as possible.

Katharine - posted on 05/29/2010

My son does this too. I give him no-no things like my cell phone. That's usually good for the time it takes to get the diaper off and on. Good luck!

Ava - posted on 05/28/2010

Haha. My daughter does that too. I think all babies go through a stage where they don't lay down for diaper changes. My fiance and I double-team the issue. I hold down her arms and torso and distract her with kisses while he attacks the diaper. If it's just me, I'm usually successful if I hand her an interesting toy, a sock, a snack, a bottle, or something that occupies her attention that she isn't concerned about crawling away. It's called the distraction technique. :)

Rhiannon - posted on 05/27/2010

I had this problem with my little one, then i decieded to change him while he stands up next to the bath. If its a dirty nappy then i lay him down on the floor give him a wipe then stand him up against the bath, i find it easier than wrestling with him and half putting on the nappy.

Amy - posted on 05/25/2010

Kota will not hold still for a diaper change either. As soon as I lay him down he tries to flip over and crawl away. I always have to give him something (usually my cellphone) to distract him, and then very quickly change him. If someone else is with me then I have them hold Kota still while I change him. Then he starts crying and its just drama, drama, DRAMA!!

Amy - posted on 05/24/2010

hahaha @ashley ravellette! how talented is your son programming your cell phone! my friends 1yr old took a photo on her cell and managed to post it to facebook which was impressive!

on the topic though, my daughter is the same for diaper changes. if my husband is home, then i get him to help otherwise i give her a wipe or clean diaper to play with and work fast! other good distractions are a baby shoe, spoon, book, piece of cardboard!

Emily - posted on 05/24/2010

My son is going through the same thing (I think all babies at least mine have done this at this age) distraction is the only thing I can suggest. This may sound kind of silly but I will try to sing the ABC's in a high pitched/silly voice and he will usually stop and look at me ( I learned this from the photographer I bring my boys to, when she's trying to get them to look up this is what she does and it works every time).

Ashley - posted on 05/23/2010

i also give him my cell phone to play with (a picture of him is my display pic and he loves looking at himself) only problem with that was i woke up at 3am once because he set an alarm on my calendar to go off and it said "saaaaaa caaa chaaa" lol not sure what it meant but yea plus he always dials 7441119 (always that same number, not sure who that would be lol)

Ashley - posted on 05/23/2010

i change my son on the floor (its easier for me) and i make sure i have everything ready before i even lay him down lol, then i get his diaper off put his legs under my legs so he cant flip over and take off then i wipe him off and get a new diaper on (while he wiggles his hips side to side lol) snap it up and done! (i use cloth diapers with snaps so usually if i get the first snap on each side tight enough then it wont matter if he moves to much)

Jennifer - posted on 05/17/2010

good to know three things, its a boy thing, its a 9+ old thing, and that nothing works consistantly in keeping them still. I give him naked time after the bath. well naked for 5 min then he gets a diaper then he gets to stay naked til bed time. it reduces our aggrivation on trying to get him ready for bed all in one swoop. but again nothing works consistantly. but i wouldnt give up my little man for anything!!!

Talia - posted on 05/12/2010

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is frustrated by this!

Heather - posted on 05/09/2010

yes my 11 month son just wriggles away and moans, then cries a little its coz hes restricted for a little while, i give him toys, and the baby wipe packet, i take his trousers off and throw them over his face playing peek a boo, he takes them off is face giggling, i put them back on his face...keeps him still, but whilst im changing him i have to keep playing the game too, lol

Becky - posted on 05/04/2010

My son is doing the same thing now too. I wrestle with him to get the diaper off and wipe him clean but let him go after that. He loves to stand so I'll put a clean diaper on him while he stands up. I have a friend who has started to potty train her little guy at this age. I'd never heard that before, but I'm thinking it might be worth a shot... cuz his wiggles at diaper change time are enough to make me crazy

Jessica - posted on 05/04/2010

I am having the same issue. Abby will let get her diaper off and then poof away she goes. And will start screaming when I catch her and lay her back down. Its driving me insane and hope its just a phase.

Renee - posted on 05/03/2010

It's actually a really common thing. I have a child develpment chart from my daughters doctor and one is, fussy during diaper changes 9-12 months. I told him Oh I can't wait, and sure enough she is so fussy. I usually give her a bottle of lotion and tell her, Help mommy Please, sometimes it works, but not all of the time

Vicki - posted on 05/03/2010

LOL. I think this is a very common issue.I have 4 boys and all of them have done this. Soon as the nappy is off they are gone. Try putting a sticker on the back of his hand (just watch he doesn't eat it) to keep him occupied long enough to get the nappy on. Or play peek a boo or something, sometimes I have to act like a complete idiot to occupy my little fella.

Jayne - posted on 05/03/2010

I give mine a baby wipe and say to her you wipe, she normally wipes her foot or leg, and allows me to change her nappy

Lauren - posted on 05/01/2010

Here too! My daughter HATES to get her diaper changed too. She tries to flip and very often does flip herself over. It's really really bad when she poops and flips over. It's nasty lol. I try to give her toys and that doesn't work. It's the same way when I try to dress her. So we are in the same boat.

Krystal - posted on 04/30/2010

Oh, it's so good to hear that this is happening to other Moms out there! My girl is ten months. I plan ahead for the diaper change give her a really cool toy - maybe one she hasn't seen in a while!!
Some days this doesn't work. She is such a wiggle butt!
I am sure your little guy has his eye on one favorite thing of yours - Let him see the mirror, or check out your bra!

Kirsten, hang in there. I am told that they do grow out of this! It's called POTTY TRAINING! I can't wait for the day! lol

Michelle - posted on 04/28/2010

What I do when my little girl isn't staying still for a diaper change, I give her a toy or something I know will keep her put like a cellphone.

Autumn - posted on 04/28/2010

ive been having the same problem for the last month or two... if i can i try and wait til she's drinking a bottle that seems to work best for me! i've given up changing her on the changing table too because that just isn't working anymore

Mazy - posted on 04/28/2010

My son does the exact same thing. I think Jaimie is right about boys being the worst about it!! ARG. Ander thinks it's a game & laughs & runs away (usually after the cat). He seems to be okay if we are in a strange place, like the car or a public restroom, but no way if we are home! His father has no problem changing him, just me. I think he sees me as weak & takes advantage of that. I have to just strong arm him & hold him down for the few moments it takes to throw a diaper on.

What does help is that I use Little G Pants & the closers are in the back so I can quickly close them up as he's crawling away. I've started turning all of his diapers around since he scoots away from me so much :) GOOD LUCK!

Laura - posted on 04/28/2010

My son is the same way. I can just manage to get everything done if I give him something to hold. He is fasinated with things that aren't toys like, the wet wipes container, or a romote control. But as soon as he sees me wrapping up the first diaper he knows my hands are busy and he's off!

I also find that giving him a small bottle keeps him busy too!

Emma - posted on 04/27/2010

I've had this problem for a little over a month now. I tell him in a firm voice to stay still. Then I give him something to distract him with. 9 times out of 10 he is still long enough to get cleaned up and a clean diaper on him. Once I've done that I let him stand up and put his pants back on, button up etc.

Erin - posted on 04/27/2010

My son is ten months and he does the same thing. Toys worked for a little while but now he screams because I make him lay down I have yet to find away around this but it is good to know that I am not the only parent that finds this frustrating.

Alyssa - posted on 04/27/2010

Use a strong voice with him. Tell him to be still. I started doing that and he isnt completely still but better than nothing. lol

Lyla - posted on 04/26/2010

My 10 mnth is same nothing will distract him i wont use my feet to hold him down , i think thats grss , so i hav mastered changing his diaper while he is standing up holding something , have even managed to change him in my arms in a public washroom cause he stands up and starts touching the wall ewww to that lol
usually i wait till we get to the car to change him and avoid the dirty looks of holding him and changing him
Good Luck its fun but challenging and frusterating lol

Valisa - posted on 04/26/2010

jamie i have to do the same thing w/ my twin boys!!! i feel bad about holding them down like that but if not and i let them play as i put the diaper on it is loose and comes off!!

Jamie - posted on 04/26/2010

Ha ha ha My son runs from me as soon as he sees the diaper and me coming after him. He wont lay down wiggles away as soon as do get the diaper off. I have to side track him with toys, bottle, blow rashberries on his belly. anything to keep his down. One trick though for a baby that rolls to the side to get away keep a firm hand on his belly and he cant roll away! Good Luck! LOL I have to literally put both feet in one hand and hold belly on the floor with the same hand and then hand him a toy with the other then do the diaper change one handed! LOL Boys are the worst at diaper change time because they wanna move and we are resticting them. Hope this helps!

Molly - posted on 04/26/2010

My daughter isnt crawling yet, but flips over and wiggles around....I get stern with her and tell her no even though she gets upset. I try to give her a toy to play with which seems to help. I know if sounds strange cause they are so little, but when I started getting stern she got mad and refused but then after a few days she began to sit still as long as she had a toy.

Deborah - posted on 04/26/2010

I give mine a baby wipe to play with, he has no interest in holding toys or the nappy or sitting still but with a couple of the baby wipes in his hands he's happy for a bit

Hilary - posted on 04/26/2010

my son is 10 mons old and he does this all the time he thinks its funny to try and get away as fast as he can! i tried toys to but it didnt work so i would give him something he doesnt normally play with......measuring cup....plastic spoon if that doesnt work i play peek a boo with a blanket he will get completely still before he peeks at me!!!