I have 21 month old VERY active twin girls. We have come across many challenging situations, but have been able to work through them until now. My husband and I are at a loss for how to keep clothes/diapers on the girls. One of them is the main culprit, meaning that if she didn't do it the other one wouldn't do it (and she's normally the well behaved one). She can very easily and very quickly take off her clothes. Until about 2 days ago she had difficulty unsnapping onesies between the legs, but she has figured that out as well. Also if she is having trouble getting it unsnapped, then she'll just stretch out the neck and get out that way. Once the close are off, then off comes the diaper. She will pleasantly scream out to us that she has taken off her diaper and runs around laughing. I know we should ignore it, and that it is for attention, but who will then watch the other one and clean up the pee on the floor? It is not so bad in public, just mostly at home/grandparents house. We resorted last night to duct taping her diaper on her for bed and putting a onesie and pants on over that. When I later checked on her, the pants were off, but the onesie and diaper were still on - YES!! Is there anything else we can do or try? We are really at a loss with this one. Oh yeah, the girls have been starting to use the potty for a few months now so that's going on as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
They're in that "Magic number" age between 15 and 24 months when they are expressing some independence and control. I like the potty training ideas and the nighttime duct tape ideas!
I would allow nakednes at home, however for disobedience there should be consequences as well as for obedience. If you're old enough to take off clothes then you're old enough to help clean it up. Make it matter-of-fact and not out of anger, though.
i would just ignore it. after a little while, she will probably stop. you could also have "naked time" maybe an hour before bath time where both of them get to be naked the whole time. we did that with my son, and he loved it. you could just remind them that it is not "naked time" and that they get to be naked later. maybe if they know they get to do it every day, they will start keeping their clothes on at other times. also, they are old enough to help clean up their messes. obviously they can;'t do it all by themselves, but they can use a washcloth and help you.
My sister had twin little girls who were also little stinkers about things like this. They are now grown and well, intelligent and funny women...hang in there as your little girls are just forming their personalities!
However, you can work to make things better by discouraging this behavior without drawing attention to it. You say it's not a problem in public, so for a few weeks, spend more time in public! Go to the park, go to the library, go to the mall, etc. Maybe it will break the habit if there is just not opportunity to do it for a while. Maybe they'll forget!
The other thing would be to offer random opportunities for dressed little girls. Like, "who wants to skip to the mail box with me and then get a sucker for being Mommy's helper?! Oh, I'm sorry, naked little girls cannot go." Don't give them a chance to get dressed, just go without them and try again in a little while with something else. "OH! I see the most beautiful flowers at the neighbor's house I want to go smell. Who wants to come with me? Oh, naked little girls cannot go. Maybe next time!" The other thing would be to take them home from the grandparents' house the minute they get naked and just say, "we cannot be naked in front of other people, not even Grandma and Grandpa. Let's go home."
Hope these things help. If not, just enjoy this time they are comfortable in their own skin and at home to do this. It will get better soon, I'm sure.
I had the same problem with my son. I would put his diaper on backwards with the tape on the back. It made it harder for him to take off.
N.,
I am also a SAHM of twin girls. They are 3 years old. I found that you just have to let them be. If they take their clothes off it really isn't a big deal. For some reason they love to be naked and run around. I know it can be aggravating but just try not to let it get to you. Also, it really does help with potty training. I let my girls run around bare bottom and they picked it up really quickly. Good luck!
A.
You already know what you should do. You said it, ignore it. Act like it's no big deal, and really it's not that big a deal to cleanup pee. As soon as she's not getting a rise out of anyone, she'll move on to the next crazy toddler behavior. I know it's a pain to change her bed every day, but she'll get tired of sleeping in pee. As one of four children, your incredibly smart little girl has figured out how to get all the attention. This behavior is working like a charm for her and she has mommy and daddy all tied up over her. Also, the situation is exacerbated by your fatigue because you're worried about her getting nakey in her bed. Just get a good night's sleep and laugh over it in the morning. With teenage sons, you already know that some things are not worth worrying over.
I am a mother of a very wide age range of children, also (including a teenage son and a toddler). Good Luck!
Now would be the time for some big girl panites, pretty ones that get oohhs and aaahhs. Couldn't hurt with the potty training either. But in my opinion....how cute!!! (As long as it's stays at home and grandma's)LOL
B.
Why not let them run around naked? It's summer, so it's not too cold, really embrace the potty training & see if you can use the lack of clothing to your advantage. Most kids hate to have pee running down their legs, so that could be a big motivator to get it squared away. If you're not already, start putting them on regularly and/or give them a potty seat that's available for them where they're playing so they can start sitting themselves (I like the baby bjorn little potty). If you're really against the nakedness, you might try letting them pick out their own clothing, and encouraging them to put it on themselves. After all the hard work, they may be less likely to strip down. Another motivator might be to get them in big girl panties. If all else fails though, it's probably just a phase they'll work through on their own if you do in fact ignore it.
I dont have any advice but I wanted to let you know you are not alone. My 16month old is doing the same thing and people have suggested duct tape. The last few nights I have been putting her in onesies because she hasnt figured out snaps yet. I dont know what we will do when she does
Heh heh - NAKED TIME!!!! I thought that's what duct tape was for. Its a phase, good luck, you're not the only one :}
lol..well, seems you figured out my secret. I used to put duct tape across the tabs of my son's diaper so he couldn't get it off. As for the clothes, as long as we are at home or at Grandma's house, we just let him run around "naked".
Find things for her to wear that fasten in back, with snug necks. Maybe safety diaper pins to fasten things shut, unless she figures out how to open them.
You must be a very busy woman! God bless you.
At this age I would suggest two things - the first (and this is a good general rule for potty-training). Let the girls clean up their own "accidents". Have them take a towel and wipe up the pee and then use a soapy cloth to clean the floor. Make them take responsibility for their mess, just as you would have them clean up toys, etc. Secondly, I would make the rule - clothes and diapers stay on at all times and then establish consequences for disobeying. Be VERY consistent with enforcing - no exceptions. If you give in, you will only be prolonging this situation.
Bless you,
D.
