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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

changing time turning into a battlefield - help please!

18 replies

clamp · 30/09/2007 20:16

I'm beginning to dread nappy changing, washing, dressing undressing etc as my ds won't keep still and gets into a complete state (me too!) He's now 9 months - I used to do a change in about 5 mins, now I need about 30 minutes. Before I even put him on his back he's arching his back and rolling over - he's now so strong that I can't stop him rolling over for fear of hurting him. I therefore have managed to find a way of changing him standing up - but not easy as he wriggles and gets into a state by me just trying to stand him still - I'm fearful he'll hurt himself and it's really unpleasant to see him getting so upset. I have tried changing locations, distraction techniques, tried to not make it into an issue (... which it is now!). He hates having his hands and face and ears washed and although I try to keep my cool I'm now finding him very difficult to handle. Has anyone else experienced this and if so any hints or advice or better still can someone cheer me up by saying this is just a short phase he's going through? Thanks. PS I'm feeling rotten as I've shouted at him a few times and I know this doesn't help either of us.

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SenoraPostrophe · 30/09/2007 20:20

well, you might not like my method, but it involves having the changing mat on the floor and pinning him down with my feet. I don't have to do it with ds2, but ds1 was the wriggliest baby in the world ever. also I found that giving him a toy helped (though didn't stop the wriggling.

how are you washing his face and hands? really quickly with a flannel?

scattyspice · 30/09/2007 20:20

Its a PITA isn't it.

I switched to pull ups when DS got like that (don't need to lie down) and ditched the body suits for a speedy pit stop.

Meglet · 30/09/2007 20:22

hi clamp . I'm dealing with something similar. My 10 month old DS has started wriggling like crazy and its the only time I get ratty with him. I am trying a technique of pinning one of his legs between mine so he can't roll over but I haven't perfected it yet. Not sure what I can suggest but you're not on your own...... deep breaths.......... [stressed emoticon].

Original poster

clamp · 30/09/2007 20:43

Thanks for the speedy replies - nice to know I'm not alone. I'll definitely invest in some pull-ups for sanity's sake. I'll need to try some leg pinning first though as ds has had diarrhoea (or at least very runny, smelly poos) for 4/5 days now and his bottom is rather sore - so he needs to stay still for as long as it takes for me to 'dig' out all the poo and pop the cream on. If I manage to find a good 'leg-lock' position, I'll let you know Meglet! Up to now I've continued with cotton wool for face wash etc but a flannel at speed seems a good suggestion - thanks.

OP posts:

Donk · 30/09/2007 20:46

I tried using a horse training technique (How I would teach a youngster to stand still!) - just replacing him on the mat (frequently - every 10 seconds if necessary) and using positive reinforcement (mostly verbal) whilst in the right place.
It was very labour intensive for about a week - then it improved steadily........

Shoshable · 30/09/2007 20:46

Trouble with pull ups is, you have to take all the childs clothes off to put them on.

Find the easiest way is to lay out everything you need out next to you before you even get the child, including a toy, then lay child down and do it a QUICKLY as humanly possible, whilst singing song in the silliest voice poss

Works for me and I have to change 3 under 18 months at a go.

pigletmaker · 30/09/2007 22:02

yes, singing worked for me - and pulling wildly silly faces. got a laugh out of him anyway and temporarily distracted from the nappy fuss

boo64 · 30/09/2007 22:05

Definitely singing and toys - it's seen me through difficult nappy changes for the last 18months or so - ds is now 2.3.
The current fave song that works a treat is 'let me change your nappy, let me wipe away your poo' sung to the tune of 'fly me to the moon and let me sing upon the stars'....the things I do to try and get ds to co-operate!

boo64 · 30/09/2007 22:06

p.s. a special toy that is only given to ds at nappy changes works quite well....for ds it is a particular yellow dinky type car...sometimes he has to look for the poo in the car while I look for it in the nappy...

Toothyboy · 30/09/2007 22:10

Get everything ready - wipes already pulled out the packet, nappy unfolded. Take his trousers off, lie him on the floor and you sit on the floor at his side, pin him down with your left leg over his chest (so he can't do the twisty shoulder thing) then whip the nappy off, clean him up, fresh nappy on in the blink of an eye!!

iwouldgoouttonight · 30/09/2007 22:12

My DS is a bit older (13 months) but is exactly the same - he's just learnt to crawl so hates having to lie. I've found with the face washing if I get him to wash my face at the same time and make it into a game that stops him hating it so much (although it does take longer and I often get poked in the eye!). But still no solution to the nappy changing, apart from just doing it as quickly as possible.

TheDuchess · 30/09/2007 22:13

Is this a boy thing? My DS is exactly the same, crawling off still covered in poo...

pigletmaker · 30/09/2007 22:14

Boo - how brilliant to use Sinatra, the ultimate charmer! I've been singing "oh dear, what can the matter be, two old ladies locked in the lavatory etc"

boo64 · 30/09/2007 22:20

oh yes have used that one in my time too - ds thinks it's very funny.

Pull ups strike me as a messy idea when they have poo in them no?

UCM · 30/09/2007 22:27

Oh dear, I am going through this with DD who is only 8 months. DS didn't do it until about 11 months.

Do it on the floor. Sit them up for the top bit, lay them down for the bottom bit, put your leg across their chest and although the bottom bits wiggle, it's much much easier.

MegBusset · 30/09/2007 22:29

Have the same prob with 7mo DS. If you put him on his back he flips onto his front in a flash, so I have had to master the art of doing a nappy change with him lying on his front (not as tough as all that).

Carpo · 02/10/2007 22:02

While I know this isn't meant to be a funny thread (yes, I know that changing a 'poo-spinner' can be stressful/irritating/downright horrid), I've had to laugh at some of the techniques. Nice to know I'm not the only one singing ridiculous songs to my DS's arse!

Our faves are: "Stinky, oh such a stinky boy etc" to the tune of "Born Free" and almost guaranteed to calm him and keep him still at the mo, "Patience" (how apt) by Take That.

Sometimes, however, only a brief bout of wrestling and several false starts will work...

nelliesmum · 02/10/2007 22:15

A friend of mine used to wear one of those skiing hats with all the spikes sticking out which seemed to keep her ds amused. Suppose the novelty would wear off tho.

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