wriggling, crying when nappy changed and too early for potty?

[jollygreenmama]

Hi lovely mums,

Any tips on changing baby's nappy without tears and wriggling? Getting to be very hard work!

DD doesn't like being dirty or wet for long so we change as quickly as possible. We think she might also be telling us she's ready for number twos as she does alert us by a winge or cry so should we start potty training?

DD 13 months.

Thanks.

I changed them standing up from that age and if it was a pooey nappy then I tended to bribe with a snack to keep them lying down.

Thanks Trafficone, snack at the ready!

You could try giving her the option to sit on the potty at nappy changes or if you think she is about to go.

The only thing is because her communication is likely to be very limited at this age, you absolutely must avoid any kind of pressure, even rewards like chocolate buttons etc. And don't worry if you miss any wees/poos - just count it as a bonus if you happen to "catch" any.

It might be helpful to read up on elimination communication (a gentle approach to potty training which can start at any age) - most websites talk about it from birth but most have a section on starting with an older baby. This site is good.

As for avoiding stress during nappy changes, I switched to pull ups for a bit (about 10 months I think) and just changed DS standing up. He lies down again now at 19 months. If he'd done a poo I put him in the bath and leant over the side to clean up the worst of it with a wipe or two, then just hosed him down with the shower!

Bertie, love the bath thing. DS is 17 months and we do his nappies standing (well, chasing him aournd), poo nappies are an absolute nightmare. I'm trying the bath out at the earliest opportunity.

To successfully potty train, your child has to have the communication skills to tell you reliably that they need it, the control to hold on, the maturity to walk away from something enjoyable to use the potty and the ability to recognised the feeling of a full bladder or bowel in the first place. That is an awful lot for a 13 month old child.

If you do decide to potty train now you may find that you are just catching the odd poo or wee by chance and not achieving an awful lot else. If you're happy to do that then go for it. If you'll get stressed or impatient because she doesn't progress for ages then save yourself and her a lot of frustration and heartache and leave it for a few months at least.

I think 13 months is far too young for potty training.

My DS started doing this. My friend gave me a great tip for laying them on floor with your sat beside them with one leg across their stomach just to hold them in place. Worked a treat and DS soon got over it and let us do his nappies. Letting him choose a favourite toy or book to look at while we are doing it often goes well, or singing a song, talking about what we have done or are doing later. Anything that gets his mind on something else basically.

DD has recently started doing the wriggling and crying at nappy changes - I have been trying distraction like a favourite teddy or toy. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't. We are still learning as this is a new thing. However I can now more or less successfully apply nappy cream and put on a nappy when DD is lying sideways or face down! You learn something new.......

Good luck whatever you decide, pull ups might be an idea, I have also had suggested to me changing whilst standing up so may try that.

Have tried standing which works a treat tho think I'll try pull ups too. distraction with a snack or bottle has worked so far for pooey ones.

Don't hink I'll start the potty thing just yet.

Thanks to all

Well, my grandmother swears that my dad was fully potty trained before his first birthday. So it could work... well, if you believed my gran

My daughter determinedly trained herself at 15 months (came as a bit of a shock after two boys with no interest in it until nearly three), so it could be that she'll be nicely ready for it in midsummer. Warm weather is THE biggest indicator of when to start potty training, in my book!

My nephew was potty trained at 6 months by his vvvv scary Russian grandma. I don't think he dared have an accident...