Diaper Change Westling Matches

DUCT TAPE! Tape him down and you'll get it done... and he gets a free wax job! OK before you all call CPS on me... I'm joking.
I had this problem with my nephew... god help his parents! I used my legs to hold him in place and my arms to change him. You just have to be firm with him and he needs to know who is boss. Can't really rationalize with them at this age.

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My daughter (11 months) has done that here and there for a few months now too. I use my "mommy voice" as someone mentioned before and tell her, sternly (but not at all angry), "I need you to wait for mommy to finish changing your diaper. Wait please." I tell her what I'm doing and why I need her to be still for just a minute. I truly believe they understand much more than we give them credit for. It works surprisingly well, and she was one who'd crocodile roll when I changed her.

I'm not at all strict or restrictive as a parent, but there are things that they need to learn... I also tell her "no, not for you" when she tries to play with electrical cords - it's just part of parenting...

I also give her something totally off-limits normally, like her sunscreen tube or one of my hair clips. Something she almost never gets to see, which usually gives me a few seconds to change her.

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I know it is hard, but it's time to get out your 'mom is not kidding' voice. Seriously, this is a power struggle and your son is winning. One thing that you need to remember is that poopy diapers are dangerous. If he gets even the smallest amount in his mouth he can get seriously ill. With all that wriggling about the chances of getting a smidge on his hands increases dramatically. Obeying mom is for his safety. When he learns to walk and wants to take off into the road will you try to distract him with a toy? Of course not. You will use your serious voice and he will have consequenses for disobeying. This situation is no different. At this point he is learning that he can disobey and argue with you several times a day (each change)and get away with it. I'm sure this isn't what you want in the long run.
My two cents! :o)

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I've said this in other responses before, and it may sound harsh but change diapers on the floor and use your feet to hold down babies arms with the rest of his body between you legs and baby cannot get away- don;t hold too tightly- it really does not hurt baby and it makes diaper changes go quickly and baby recovers quickly also- may be worth a try- it is how I do it with my 12 month old most times and since he was about 8 months- it does get better- I only have to use this method once or twice/day
good luck

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you've got to just hold him down and do it....fast. he needs to know it is not an option to try to get away when you are doing that. my son is the same way and since i am stronger than he is :) i can hold him and do it fast. good luck.

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I agree with the other momiies. YOu need to hold him down with your leg while to change him really fast. Especially if distractions don't work. YOu might want to try putting a sticker on his hand. IT takes my little guy about mintue or two to get if off which i made be enough time to change him when he is just wet. When he is poopy i use two stickers. At first he layed there for 5 mintues becuse he could not desiced what sticker to take off first. That only last a day. But it still works.
A.

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I used to sing to my kids to keep them engaged in the moment. Hope it helps!

Try and distract him with song or a toy or a spoon for that matter... just keep objects that he can look and put in his mouth... and be quick about your job!!! LOL!!!

Love, G.. :0)
http://stemcellforautism.blogspot.com/

Get a kitten. Specifically one of those rambunctious ones that runs around every where causing trouble and getting into things. Every time I go to change my daughter our new kitten comes charging into the room, jumps up on the changing table to see what’s going on. My daughter will them grab him, pull on his ears and tail (which he doesn’t seem to mind) and giggle her little butt off. She is so distracted by her fuzzy little friend that she completely forgets that she wants to crawl away. Occasionally he gets in the way and sometimes he’ll sit in the window (which just makes her want to crawl away more) but for the most part it works.

If that isn’t an option try playing peek-a-boo. Before we got the kitten I would give my daughter a clean clothe diaper to play peek-a-boo with and this would keep her distracted for a few minutes.

I am going through same problem with 13 month old grandson. I get down on floor with my legs straight out and put him in between my legs so he cant go anywhere. I count down from 10 in a silly voice while I am changing him, and then say "GO" when diaper changing is done. Silly voice kinda distracts him, he waits for the "GO" then he's outa there. Good-Luck

Hi J.!

As you are discovering throughout your responses.....this is hysterically normal!

One of my more successful tricks, was when I sang the ABC song. I mastered my "tempo" for pee-pee & poo-poo changes when I was all done with the song, then my son knew it was time to get up and carry on with his day :o)

After the age of 1, I added counting to the tricks :o)

Diaper changing times were how they learned their ABC's & 123's...........

Good Luck!

:o) N.

My little guy is just like that. I have found that if I dangle a toy right in front of him and let him grab it. He then has something in his hand to explore and distract him. As long as I am fast it is at least possible to put the diaper on with out two people. :) Hope that helps

Maybe it's time to try Pull-Ups, so that he can stand up while you change him? Although, poopy diapers would be a challenge doing it this way...I remember having these wrestling matches with my kids too. They are now 5 1/2 and 3 1/2. My son was more challenging in this respect than my daughter and I think I used to just hold him down long enough to get his diaper off and wipe him, then I just let him stand up and get a diaper on him that way. LOL! Motherhood is so fun! They really keep us goin', huh? Good luck with everything!
E.

I had exactly the same problem - and then I found the "hug'n'hold". It's a flannel/velcro shoulder and waist restraint that goes on the changing pad. Worked like a charm - and my son didn't mind it at all. I got mine from Tiny Tots in Campbell, but you can also order on-line. (Of course, at some point he got strong enough to undo the velcro, but by that time he was more amenable to diaper changing).

J.,

I've worked with infants and toddlers for years. Keep him focused on the task at hand. Do not give him any toys or he will think it is playtime. Talk to him as your changing him and walk him through the process. When he starts to squirm hold his legs and get his attention and tell him, "No. Hold still. I am changing your diaper." Let him squirm and cry. It may be a wrestling match for awhile but soon he will know you mean business. Be consistent.

Hi there, my little one loves to play with the remote or the cordless phone. Both light up when you push buttons so he digs it. If you've got a spunky one, start out reading "raising your spirited child" by mary sheedy kurcinka. I have 2 very spirited youngsters, 3 and 1.5. This book helped me understand them and cope more productively. I found it right before i lost it!!! :)

He may be too young for this yet, but what helped me out with my older daughter was that I got a bar stool and stood her up on it, right next to the changing table. Since it is a small surface area, and high off the ground (to her little eyes), she did not squirm at all! Granted, changing a baby who is standing up is harder than changing a baby who is laying down, but to me it was a lot easier than trying to wrestle her. I hope this helps... it is no fun wrestling a child who is a thrashing, poopy mess. Take heart, in a year you can potty train him. =)

Hi J.,
It sounds like you've tried many things. Have you tried a board book with animals? : asking your little one to find and show you ... for example, the dog, the cat, and so on. Usually little ones love that kind of interaction because they get applause or praise after each correct animal recognition. If this has been tried already without success, I'd suggest tying him down. LOL
Good Luck!
Syl

sometimes I give him a bottle to drink

I resorted to changing my son standing up while he looked out the window. We are now back to laying down. I give him a choice of holding the diaper or something else. I sometimes make music sounds with his feet and my mouth and other times I make up diaper changing songs. Have Fun!

Do you have some sort of mobile, bell or other interesting item hanging above the changing table. Lots of distracting things for him to look at might help. I have a stuffed animal on a trapeze hanging over the table and just off to one side a set of bells that hang from the wall (I can easily reach and set them to ringing if needed, and it keeps the attention of a child for at least a few seconds).
I also have a small mirror mounted on the wall at the foot end of my changing table (which is against a wall in a corner). I let the child have a chance to look at himself in the mirror before or after being changed, and we talk about (and to) that cute baby in the mirror.
Another idea is that if the diaper is only wet, try changing him standing up if he stands well. If not, I have perfected changing a child sitting on my lap. Just put a towel on your lap, sit the child on that and go ahead and do the change. It may be awkward at first, but the child will likely be so surprised at this new position he'll cooperate better, and you'll soon be an expert at getting the diaper changed in that position .. and the new one will even be on straight!

Above all.. as others have mentiond.. keep up a conversation, singing or such with the child as you change him. Diaper time can actually be one of your best teaching moments as he hears your voice giving gentle commands, or just in conversation. Talk about what you are doing each step of the change. It's a good time to mention body parts... eyes ears nose, etc. or even 'bottom', since what you are doing involves his body.

My husband always wonders how come our son doesn't move around as much as he does with him. So finally he watched me do it and he realized it's because I let my son that I'm in control and that I tell my son, the less you move the faster we'll get this done. Now the chances he actually understands that are probably slim but I like to say it anyways. So like Elizabeth, it's all about speed and some type of technique. You'll get better at it. I had to because when it came to poopy diapers, I didn't want him to make a mess on the table. The things that you are doing now are great. You can even try singing to him or talking to him. Sorry this isn't much help but good luck because some days it's still a battle but I have to win, not him. Lol!

As the others have said, it will get easier and yes, let him know this needs to be done. Stay calm and in control. I have also found that distracting our son with some sort of toy or singing is always helpful too. Our 18 month old son does become fidgety at times, yet we get it done as fast as possible while making it fun. Once your lil' one starts to walk, you can include him in the process. Our son loves to run and get his diaper. Granted, he may continue to run from the actual diaper change and think it's funny, yet in the end, he helps and we get it done : ) Good luck!

First thing I would make sure you have everything you need ready to go. Get the diaper out and opened up. Get the wipes out of the dispenser and ready to go. If you need to use the desitin or whatever it is you use...have a q-tip with some on ready to go. So, then when you get your son up on the changing table everything is out and ready. This helped alot with my son.