to think there has to be a better way to change a toddlers nappy...please help!

[ICBINEG]

We are still using a change table which we should have stopped using about 6 months ago.

We also have a technique that seems to use around 200mls of water, 10 cotton wool squares, around 15 sheets of kitchen roll, and more patience than we apparently can muster. The location is our bedroom which means we have a shit covered toddler roaming over the bed while things get made ready and basically the room is full of non toddler friendly things and it sucks and I'm fed up.

Please tell me how you go about changing your toddlers nappy and where, for the sake of the environment if nothig else....

So respond to those posts accordingly but don't get shitty with all the people who've also offered advice without passing judgement. Me being one of them. The advice wasn't 'nonsense' and none of the kids I've successfully nappy changed are 'bizarrely compliant'. So there.

Shitty, hah! I made a nappy related pun!

gentle I actually really worry that she doesn't seem to be capable of being calm, or waiting etc.

I agree it would be good to teach but have no idea how to do it?

She can be quiet and engrossed in things, but on her own timetable not anyone elses.....

Right, this is what I do.

I position a changing mat on the floor.
Lie toddler down
Hand toddler a book
Open up a new nappy, open wipes packet and take lid off cream (I sometimes do all of this before lying toddler down)
Talk/sing to toddler to distract from what I'm doing
Undo/take off nappy, wipe with baby wipe. If there's any poo, I squirt a bit of baby lotion (I use this www.chemist.net/sysimages/origimages/Disney-Baby-Lotion-Sensitive-400ml_sp11956.jpg -on offer at asda- as it's really gentle but fab for cleaning in her nappy area), wiping clean with a baby wipe.
I then very quickly and firmly put a clean nappy under her.

If she's really wriggly, I position one hand across her legs to hold them up and her arms to hold them still.
I then use the other hand to apply cream and do up the clean nappy.

They key thing is to do it all very firmly and quickly.

Maybe she enjoys fighting with you. If you are making a big deal out of each nappy change she probably sees it as fun. I know my DD was a total nightmare when it comes to cleaning teeth, but I decided to stop with the headlock/arm restraining and try to make it fun with singing, cleaning my teeth etc and she is ok now

But of course you will disregard everything I say because your toddler is totally different from every other baby on the planet

Seriously, somebody mentioned it upthread. I have a wriggly, strong, determined toddler. Lie her on the floor, sit at 90 degrees to her and put your leg across her body. She will not be able to roll, won't be able to get her hands past your leg and into her nappy and you have both hands free for dealing with the business end. If you perfect a wipe, whip new nappy on and go technique, it takes all of 7 seconds.

DD we could do standing up. DS just runs.

Don't use normal wipes more than once, OP! Jeez...

I give my kid my phone and stick on some 5 minute cbeebies programme - numtums or woolly and tig do the trick. She is transfixed and we both enjoy the nappy change. :)

I've no idea of any right or wrong way to teach the calm thing! It's all made up and usually spur of the moment. A few times a day I'll stop what we're doing and say, "Quiet moment," and maybe a big happy sigh/breath and shrug my shoulders up and down. Maybe a cuddle or just a smile. Sometimes I say, "Ahhh..." and he's really picked up on that and copies it - I discovered from watching him that I obviously put my head on one side as I'm saying it! Desperation breeds invention, or something like that...

But the early patterning for "nappy time" being quiet was truly inspired advice and it has paid off, even though I only remember to do it maybe half the time.

Ceeveebee - I'm inclined to agree with you.
I've had dome sage and quite harsh advice on my in the past which I was riled by at the time but grateful for in hindsight. One of the statements was something like 'parenting - this is what it is - you have to learn to manage this situation'

Mines 19 months I change him on my knee but I'd say mat on the floor, baby wipes, nappy and nappy sack close to hand. Hold both legs in one hand up in the air and they find it difficult to move too much, mines a good 2.5 stone and very strong.

Another thing to try is to make a game out of it. If you dread changing her, she will pick up on that.
Sing Incey wincey spider whilst doing the actions on her arm/tummy, give her a favourite toy, talk to her.
There are lots of things to try :)

Basically you need to break the cycle you are in....

1. Try using a travel mat in whichever room you are in at the time. Avoids the build up of drama going to a specific nappy changing room. Also means you are not taking her away from the toys she is playing with.

1. Bribery. Something must work. Started resorting to giving DD a biscuit when she was going through a particularly difficult phase. After a while she got in the habit of staying mostly still & now doesn't need it. If food doesn't work, try in front of CBBees. Or time it with her bottle of milk. Anything to get her out of her current habits.

1. Use the wipes!!

1. Try baby nail clippers rather than scissors, again with similar distractions.

1. DD is going through a helpful phase & thinks it's great fun to fetch a clean nappy, then the changing mat etc and is much more inclined to co-operate after that. Would your DD go for this?

If you don't like baby wipes in a packet, have you tried something like Cheeky wipes....essentially just a box of wet flannels. Ace.

How are you happy to put a disposable nappy against your baby's skin but you won't use a baby wipe?? It's all chemicals. (not aimed at you OP).

DD is 22 months and has started kicking me, then pausing, grinning up at me, exclaiming "NO KICKING!!!", then continuing to kick.

Linky to scientific study on babywipes v water

www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=8350

Worra honestly I will give you my DD for a day and see if you still think it is that simple at the end.

Also, if your toddler has a favourite song or show, find it on youtube and play it so they can hear or see it. This helps with my DD.

Ditz I do try and use the shower when at home unless it is an inconvenient moment like when we are about to leave the house. I am also always surprised at the same thing as water is so much better to use than wipes. I find most people I know just instinctively reach for the wipes. I think it is just a mindset/ force of habit type of thing.

You could try potty training - my DD was trained by 18 months, so it is sometimes possible (many thanks to my DMum for leading on that one ).

Standing up with baby wipes and a clean nappy. Any room in the house. Technique follows:

Smell butt.
Get wipes and a nappy.
Corner toddler.
Pull trousers off.
Toddler sprints for freedom.
Shuffle after toddler on knees, demanding she stands still.
Corner toddler.
Pull off nappy.
Grab wipes and remove the mess.
Shuffle after running toddler.
Corner toddler.
Grab legs, stuff them into pull-up nappy.
Pull up trousers.
Put used nappy stuff in bin.

Your method sounds nuts - wondering why you hadn't cracked sooner!

Pull ups are expensive! Do the nappy up and it becomes a 'pull up'.
We use washable wipes as we use cloth nappies. Distraction is key. make her laugh,blow raspberries on her belly.

Do not remove nappy until you have your equipment ready.

Changing mat on floor.

Baby wipes.

Try turning it into a game - tell her you're going to close your eyes and count to three. Wonder aloud if she can get to the changing mat and lie herself down, before you open your eyes at 'three'. If she does so, act amazed and impressed - and she'll probably 'play' again.

Tips on Potty traing at 18 months PLESE!!!!!!

My DS3 wakes up with the first snip of scissors on his toenails despite me doing them when he is asleep. I cut each individual toenail every 10 days. Because I only get one cut before he wakes up and goes loopy.

Nappy changes? Plastic mat on floor. Baby wipes. Everything ready. Cbeebies to distract. DS3 usually watches the majority of his TV viewing during nappy changes. Despite having 4 DC's, I've never managed to perfect the standing nappy change. Mine just run away laughing, usually peeing as they go.

See, how often do you cut your toddler's toenails? Once every 10 days? Once a fortnight? If you do one toe a night, they never get too long, and you don't end up restraining an upset toddler.

It's the ONLY way I can do DS3's toes. My older 3 were bizarrely compliant with nail cutting, at least compared to DS3. DD didn't like it, and cried a little, but DS3 is on a whole new level.

So, I decided that one toe a night is enough!