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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

1yr old strange behaviour is worrying me

25 replies

shellki · 18/10/2007 12:31

Hi there, I am new to mumsnet, but wanted to share this recent issue with my daughter with people who might be able to shed light on it. In the last week Zoe has had a couple of episodes where she has had a sort of tantrum when I have wanted to change her nappy. She screams and writhes around, and the only way to cope is to go away and do something else for a few minutes, and when we return she lets me change her but is quite wary. She has been going to a childminder 2 days per week for over a month. She also has a history of urinary infections, which I am getting checked out. Yesterday I thought that she might be in pain, from constipation or something, but she wasn't constipated. Once the episode is over she happily goes running about and playing again as though nothing had happened. But this has happened about 4 times now, so I'm concerned. Has anyone had similar experiences, or can you help? I would very much appreciate any advice or thoughts.
Cheers, Michelle

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

3Ddonut · 18/10/2007 12:32

She just realised that it's not fun to have her nappy changed when she could be running around, does she get any 'nappy off' time?

EffiePerine · 18/10/2007 12:33

DS is 1 and hates having his nappy changed. It's a funny age: tantrums starting, pushing boundaries, finding strange things scary (we've got over the bath phobis, now it's washing machines ). Distract, distract, distract. Prob worth getting the UTI thing checked but it might just be that she's 1

Meglet · 18/10/2007 12:45

My 11 month DS is also a nightmare when he has his nappy changed. He will not keep still and its a bit of a wrestling match to get it done, he's been like it for about a month. I do try singing sill songs or distracting him with a book which helps for a minute, still a pain though. I assume its just a stage .

EffiePerine · 18/10/2007 12:46

Try giving him your mobile, works a treat for DS. Of course you then have to get it back...

blueshoes · 18/10/2007 12:53

yeah, ds 1 is a nightmare for nappy changes now. I have to change him on the floor with one leg draped over him pinning him down. He screams like being boiled alive.

And then is as happy as larry once over.

I too give him a toy to distract him. Mind you, he might fling it away mid-tantrum. Then I tackle him.

Sunshinecursedmummy · 18/10/2007 13:00

I used to sing to my DS. Was the only thing that would distract him enough to let me change him.

3Ddonut · 18/10/2007 13:09

My eldest was the worst for this, we hung a mobile above the changing mat and she sat perfectly still! I make nappy changing (clean one) a game with my baby and so far, we've had no probs (she's 16months)

mistypeaks · 18/10/2007 13:09

both mine have done it at the age 1 stage (dd2 still going thru it). It is just a "get off me I wanna plaaaay" thing I think. The worst is when they;re really pooey and manage to escape leaving a trail behind them!@!!!!

wheelsonthebus · 18/10/2007 13:10

how does yr childminder change the nappy? sometimes people can be a bit different when it is not their child.

nurseyemma · 18/10/2007 13:17

oh yes hysterical screaming for my dd everytime. then happy as a lamb the second it's over, it's a 1 yr old thing

snoozer · 18/10/2007 13:20

my 10mo has been does this EVERY time i change his nappy. i usually take it off while he's crawling (i peek in first to make sure it's not too dirty), let him crawl for a bit and then put a new one on, either while he's crawling or standing up (me holding him). This morning DH took a shower in the same amount of time it took me to change ds' nappy!

nappyaddict · 18/10/2007 13:50

have you tried singing/distracting with toys?

if using disposable get huggies little walker nappies for easier changes. if using reusuables poppered nappies are great.

minouminou · 18/10/2007 13:56

I've taken to donning a pair of swimming goggles when changing ds' nappy, as he seems to find this hilarious.
another trick is to (and don't call social services) put a big transparent lightweight plastic bowl on my head, and then over his face
he thinks it's the height of comedy to look through it, remove it, try and put it over my face, then back over his own
be prepared for tricks like this to abruptly stop working and need to be upgraded, though
my axl rose impression fell out of favour a while back.................
i think they just hate having to lie still for what must seem like an age, when they were quite happy doing their own thing

LadyOfTheFlowers · 18/10/2007 13:58

Why would she be wary?
That's a bit wierd.
Ds2 is 1 and writhes and bucks and squirms but i either battle on and get it done or try again in a few mins and he will do the same again.

julesrose · 18/10/2007 14:03

Hi Michelle and welcome - Are you worried about something specific?

DulwichDolly · 18/10/2007 14:05

one piece of advise regarding giving mobiles to babies... mine has already managed to disable to of my mobiles... her saliva is toxic.....

Original poster

shellki · 18/10/2007 15:22

Thanks everyone for your replies, I am quite reassured that this maybe 'normal' 1 yr old behaviour having seen all your posts! I was worried because it has come about all of a sudden, and it did make me wonder whether something had happened at the childminder's when she was being changed, not necessarily something malicious, but something that she didn't like. I guess I'll keep an eye on things, but keep in mind that she's starting to push the boundaries a bit too. I don't know that many other mums, so its great to hear from you!! Thanks.

OP posts:

Sunshinecursedmummy · 18/10/2007 15:30

Nappyaddict's idea to get pull-ups is a good one.

minouminou · 18/10/2007 16:50

second the pull-ups idea, as my chum uses them on her ds (we have nature boy nappies, and they don't do pull-ups) and they work a treat.
she'll start growing out of it before much longer - ds is already showing signs of getting used to lying still THEN being released back into the wild to run with the dog

mummymagic · 18/10/2007 16:57

Can i just add:
make sure you give them some warning that you are going to change their nappy in a minute, eg 'let's go and change your nappy in a sec'. It can't be very nice to be yanked away from your playing without a second thought or explanation.

janjas · 18/10/2007 21:19

Have you tried involving her in the "nappy changing process". My dd loves to get the nappy and wipes out the box ready for me to change her. She's 14 months and is going through a phase where she wants to help!

pinkyminky · 18/10/2007 21:32

My 1 yr old DD loathes having her nappy changed. Often I end up having to put her on my lap to get the clothes back on. She not as easily distracted with a book as my DS was, and she always toddles off if you let go, regardless of what point you are in the process. If I tell her I'm going to do her nappy she laughs and toddles off in the opposite direction!

Seriya · 19/10/2007 22:51

If she has a history of urinary infections, make sure you always wipe her front to back so you don't transfer bacteria. Just in case that has anything to do with it

nappyaddict · 26/10/2007 21:26

we've got one of these
easy nappy changes at nappyaddict's house!!

suwoo · 26/10/2007 21:34

Ooh loving that, nappyaddict. Good price too.

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