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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Nappy changing nightmare

13 replies

superbabysmummy · 07/12/2013 16:04

Hi Mumsnetters,

I may have posted about this before, hoping for some words of wisdom though as this is getting me down.

DD is 13, nearly 14 months old. She's super happy and as far as I know a perfectly normal little girl.

My concern is in nappy changing...

Sometimes she is perfectly happy to have her nappy changed and lies there, she just let's me get on with it with the help of some toys and a couple of other distractions. Other times she goes absolutely ballistic, crying to the point of inconsolable and even making herself sick, twisting, kicking legs, you name it.

Today was the last straw, in a restaurant for lunch it took me 25 minutes to change a soiled nappy and about 5 to then clear up the carnage, not to mention it'll take me all weekend to get over the trauma of it...

I have bought her pull ups as getting her dressed stood up seems easier. All very and good but when the nappy is dirty I need her lying down so I can make sure she is clean. This is the hard bit. Friends and relatives tell me to pin her down with her clothes etc which is plausible if she was just wanting to sit up/wiggle/move about.

It's more than this however she is gets so upset she just panics and lashes out, kicking, screaming, sobbing, twisting etc.

Any tips please? Nappy changing is stressful and traumatic for all of us...

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AmandaCooper · 07/12/2013 18:34

How is she if you just let her go on playing and change her using your best ninja skills while she clambours about? DS is only happy to have his nappy changed if I crawl around after him, dashing away with cloths in a desperate effort to contain the mess. Sometimes I pop him in the empty bath and deal with it there while he toddles about. I realise this is not a solution ha ha. Just wondered if your dd was the same!

Original poster

superbabysmummy · 07/12/2013 19:23

Glad it's not just me with an 'on the go' toddler! She's a bit the same but she gets really distressed, she even bats at my hands and tries to hit me to get me off! Monkey!

OP posts:

ThisIsMeNow · 07/12/2013 19:41

Dd will only 'happily' have her nappy changed on her changing station in her room. Other times I use a combination of a) pinning down b) brute strength c) bribery d) all the above.

plentyofsoap · 07/12/2013 20:13

My ds was like this. I remember a similar meltdown where a woman was shocked and asked if he was ok. It must have looked like I was killing him!
If its wee wait, poo you can't. TV on at home helped but otherwise pin down and change fast. Sorry I just never solved it but you are not alone!

smearedinfood · 07/12/2013 23:09

Ok. If she can be distracted by cbeebies pop it on. I have a boy so it may have been easier to do the standing up change if he hadn't sat down in it. In emergency situations such as the poo right before you dropping off at nursery as you have to be at work on time - bribe with jelly beans.

ceeveebee · 08/12/2013 00:40

I used to put the change mat on the floor, sit next to it and and put one if my legs over DDs chest -she finds it impossible to move - its not pretty but very quick and soon over.

AmandaCooper · 08/12/2013 11:00

smeared yes it is probably easier with a boy!

Original poster

superbabysmummy · 08/12/2013 16:02

Ceeveebee have tried that; she still manages to twist and all sorts, also that's when she goes from a bit upset about it to so upset I'm going to hurl about it! Thanks all, nice to know I'm not alone!

OP posts:

stepmooster · 08/12/2013 16:16

DD is 17 months she is worse when teething I think the pressure of lying down hurts her.

Also I try to be super relaxed, stuff toys/wipes/anything in her hands asking her to look after them for mummy.

I am sure she picks up on any anxiety. If she notices I'm stressed out in the babychange she gets worried too. So lots of soothing voices and 'row row row your boat'.

Sometimes if they're going to go into one nothing can be done. X

Original poster

superbabysmummy · 08/12/2013 19:08

... Have resorted to the iPad... & xfactor! Bad times! Teething makes sense, she's got a couple of teeth on the way through...

OP posts:

FeckOffCupofMulledWine · 08/12/2013 22:26

I used to keep a packet of chocolate coins in the changing bag and bribe with one when nappy changing out and about, by the time she got the foil off and ate the chocolate it was usually over and done with.

bonbonpixie · 08/12/2013 22:37

Oh no, going through this at the moment with DD and it's truly the worst! One day it was so bad we both ended up soaking wet under a shower in a desperate bit to get her clean. Thankfully it's never been that bad again. She is 18 months now and we have gently begun potty training as I think its a control thing for her. If I have loads of time I sit and explain to her over and over that she needs to lie down and have her nappy changed and if we're lucky she'll go along with it, if we are in a rush and I grab her to do it quickly it's instant tantrum time! On these occasions and when were out I find giving her my phone to hold with utube open to 'the bear necessities' from jungle book works or something similar.

Tapiocapearl · 09/12/2013 04:11

At home just walk off and ignored her for a few mins if she is badly behaved during nappy change. This worked for my DS as he craved my attention.

Alternatively can you have a song to move in time to whilst nappy changing. You could do some silly leg movements in time

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