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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

won't stay still for nappy change

30 replies

tab1 · 27/06/2008 20:40

My dd is nearly 1 and very active, she won't lie still for a second so nappy changing and washing/dressing are getting impossible and normaly end up with her screaming and me feeling like screaming too, it really winds me up! I feel like I can't cope with her at the moment as she is on the go from 5am till 8pm and climbs everything. Even in the bath she stands up and walks round and toys and distraction don't work, nor does repeatedly sitting her down. I am starting to think she is hyperactive? HELP

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PussinJimmyChoos · 27/06/2008 20:45

We had the same problem with DS and I have counteracted it by changing him when I give him his bottle and putting cbeebies on so he's distracted...he's got to expect it now and I can't change him unless I do this so I admit its not my most perfect parenting moment but its either that or he runs around with a dirty nappy and has hysterics when I try to get him to lie down. He doesn't get a full bottle for every nappy change though, just 3/4 oz - enough to keep him quiet while I change him!

kittywise · 27/06/2008 20:47

I've 2 words for you :pull ups

ja9 · 27/06/2008 20:48

yep, we have this too. distract like mad - i sing action songs like a maniac and dd ofen starts doing the actions which keeps her still, sometimes it makes her stop and look at me like i'm a loony - which still gets the result you want! or i give her things to hold. or i just shout at her - which never works btw, but relieves some of my frustration!

ja9 · 27/06/2008 20:49

pull ups? really? from so young?

PussinJimmyChoos · 27/06/2008 20:50

Yes but even with pull ups, you still have to get them to lie down clean their bum or they will be running around the living room with a shitty arse! They won't stand still to have their bum wiped standing up either - if DS has a poo before he goes in the bath and I'm wiping him from a standing up position, he runs away!

Sexonlegs · 27/06/2008 20:51

Another one here. I find giving dd2 something to hold in each hand helps as it is harder for her to roll up and sit/stand up.

Singing if you're happy and you know it is pretty handy too - cue lots of clapping!

kittywise · 27/06/2008 20:52

What I do is hold him over my knee and wipe his bum and then put pull ups on. voila.!!!!

cwtchy · 27/06/2008 20:53

I keep a box of interesting things by the changing mat to distract DD during changes. I have to rotate the items though, so they are interesting enough to stay still for..

Original poster

tab1 · 27/06/2008 20:55

tried books, songs, toys, tv, nothing lasts. Can't do while feeding as is bf. Didn't know pull ups came so small?

OP posts:

jabuti · 27/06/2008 20:57

she is just experimenting after all those boring months of not being able to do anything! mine is the same. how do you have a break, any help around?

meglet · 27/06/2008 21:09

my ds was like that around 12 months and I HATED nappy changing for a few weeks. I managed to perfect a wrestling style hold with his hands locked around his legs and me holding his wrists doing the nappy one handed. He's still a wriggler at 19 months but will usually look at a book for a minute so I can do the nappy.

LouiseAnn · 27/06/2008 21:11

I used to sit on the floor and put one of my legs over his middle (my knee over his tummy). It pinned him down quite effectively without squashing him.

micci25 · 27/06/2008 21:12

can you do it accross your lap? i do both my wriggly dd2 and my nephew that way. they dont have as much space to wriggle iyswim?

Thinkstoomuch · 27/06/2008 21:26

They're exhausting at this stage but it won't last forever.

I'd second the suggestion of a stash of distracting objects that she gets to handle when she's on the change mat. These need to be things she hasn't seen before (or not much) or wouldn't usually be allowed, such as (safe) gadgets from the kitchen drawer or other non-toy items, even simple things like a piece of paper, a cotton reel or a DVD case. Scour the house and I'm sure you could find lots of things.

woodstock3 · 28/06/2008 18:16

ds is the same, it often ends tbh with me chasing him round the bathroom doing it on the hoof but i have had some success by shameless bribing with stuff he is interested in but not normally allowed (my mobile, for some reason any squidgy bottle of toiletries, anything that can be shaken) that he will lie down and look at it. and talking and singing and stsuff like a loony.
that said he does lie still for dh and nanny to change them - they are both MUCH firmer about it than i am - so it is possible that he has just sussed that i am a wuss

juuule · 28/06/2008 18:32

You have to get really quick at the nappy change.
Get everything ready before you start. Nappy off, wiping as much as you can with the nappy as it makes it's way off.
Hold ankles and clean the rest off.
Slide the nappy under, ankles down and fasten.
Talking your baby through it all the way sometimes helps too. As does giving something new or that the baby likes, to hold and explore while you're busy.
With a bit of practice, you can get very quick.

tab1 She sounds much like all mine have been. Once they know they can get up and move they seem to like to practice it as much as possible And lying down for a nappy change is soooooo boring. Very tiring though, I agree.

Kittywise doesn't using pull-ups work out really expensive? Especially if you're going to be using them from 1yo?

hollyhobbie · 28/06/2008 18:34

I do the same 'leg over tummy' move as LouiseAnn: DCs hated it, so after a while they would lie still knowing that otherwise they would get 'the leg'

kittywise · 28/06/2008 19:18

juuule, I think of it as paying for my sanity!!!

DoubleBluff · 28/06/2008 19:20

with pull ups manged to perfect the art of nappy changing whilst standing!

paperdoll · 28/06/2008 19:24

I give my DS things like the baby monitor or my phone - as another poster has said, things he is never normally allowed to have! It usually occupies him at least long enough for me to wipe his bottom. Sympathise with OP though as it can be pretty wearing, esp last thing around bath/bedtime.

Original poster

tab1 · 29/06/2008 18:17

getting her dressed after bath time is the worst cos she goes so tired and cranky but is still determined to get away and explore. She alsways ends up crying and it's such a shame to end the day so bad when it could be a quick job. No jabuti, don't get a break, no-one has had her for us since the day she was born, not even for an hour, got to the point now i am scared to leave her as no-one knows her well enough to look after her.

OP posts:

Glen32 · 29/06/2008 18:37

distract distract distract, anything that works. other thing is that you can use this time as cuddle time distraction is your best bet though what is it she doesnt like about getting nappy on?

Glen32 · 29/06/2008 18:39

be consistent even when you think it doesnt work keep going witht he consistency as the behaviour will initailly increase to get a reaction then diminish if no motivation got. Difficult

Original poster

tab1 · 29/06/2008 20:30

She doesn't mind her nappy, it's just that she can't stay stll for a second, she constantly crawls and walks round and doesn't want to stop while I change her.

OP posts:

fizzbuzz · 29/06/2008 20:50

I find changing them straight after a nap helps. They are still a bit dopey and sleepy and slightly more compliant than at any other time. At least dd is. It's the only time she is compliant mind...

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