Diaper Changing Help

My daughter hates having her diaper changed. In fact, on the list of the Top Ten Things That Hazel Hates, it's #1,2,3 and 4. Then it's peas, vacuum cleaner, high chairs, throwing up and owies!

Anyway, here's what I do to generally avoid the tantrum. (It should be noted it only works at home and if you have time to do it.) If the distraction ideas haven't worked and you don't have another adult around to put the baby in the WWF chokehold (only kidding, folks!):

1) get dirty diaper off child. Don't attempt to restrain the kiddo - diapers come off just as easily when kiddos are standing.

2) If you can, encourage Kiddo to throw away his own diaper after you've carefully bundled it up into a neat little package. Note: this only works if a) he knows where the garbage can is and b) there isn't much to distract him between the site of changing and the garbage can.

3) If diaper is poopy, attempt to wipe child's bottom while they're on the move. Use your Nintendo Duck Hunt skills and attempt to hit that moving target! Warning: You may not get the cleanest bottom but it'll be cleaner than it was! You can save the deep clean for a time when there's another adult around to help you.

4) Once bottom has been wiped, let them be naked for a while so they forget that the changing of the diaper was ever in the plans. Once you've lulled them into this false sense of security, change that diaper! If you can do it while he's standing (it's possible) or use a pull-up (it's quicker) all the better.

In all seriousness, the main thing is to make diaper changing a non-event. Remember that toddlers, which your little guy is, hate to be restrained from exploring their environment, even for the two minutes it takes to change a diaper. Two minutes may not seem like a long time to us but to a toddler it's the equivalent of a millennium. Plus, toddlers are all about learning their independence and using it. Having their diaper changed takes away some of that freedom that they so desperately cherish.

I have found that, with Hazel, if I just keep it simple and work with her instead of against her, it goes a lot smoother.

Good luck!

It won't do any good with #2 diapers; but if he is large enough, maybe Pull-Up diapers would work better for the changes. Pampers start in a size 4 (22+ pounds). Just an idea. My daughter used to be a hard one to change as well, had her almost standing on her head sometimes with the twisting and turning she did, but never had the biting, etc., issues you're explaining. Ah...the joys of motherhood! Good luck!

Hi D.,
My son is the exact same way. I haven't really found anything that helps much but one thing that I do is make sure that I have plenty of time. I start out by putting him on his changing table and then letting him talk and play up there for awile. Usually he will eventually lay down so that I can change him. I don't know if it is the control of him deciding when to let me change him but sometimes that works. One time it took me 25 minutes of waiting to change him. At least he wasn't kicking and screaming for the 25 minutes. I can't wait to be done with diapers. Good luck.
Chris

I also agree with Tamara J, do it while standing and let your little one know ahead of time that you are going to change him.

Hi D.!

If you have tried all the distration techniciques, then your son may have difficulty with transitions. The next time you have to change his diaper, let him know ahead of time. Tell him what you are going to do before you do it-- to prepare him. It could be you are catching him off guard, and to a toddler who has very little control , this is frustrating.

I have to say Tamara J nailed it!!!!!

Have you tried using the changing buddy for assistance? From my experience, a toddler will be fussy regardless, best thing to do is try to get the task over and done with as soon as you can. www.changingbuddy.com can help you change a diaper much quicker.

Try using a Pull-Up, you could just pull off and on when he pees. And the sides can be separated when he poops. They're a bit more expensive but it might be worth it! You could try the Wal-Mart brand; it's probably cheaper. Also there are usually coupons for Pull-Ups in our Sunday paper.