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Behaviour/development

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Being driven mad by nappy changes (or lack of) - help!

5 replies

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 21/05/2010 08:32

I have sort of indirectly posted about this before (well, refusing to do things generally) but this particularly thing is doing my head in now, any suggestions?

DS (2.5) has started to refuse to let me change his nappy - he either runs off, or just sits on his bum saying "no nappy" so I can't get at it. If he had his way I would spend all morning faffing after him trying to get it changed (and then his clothes on, which is a similar story) but I refuse to do that!

So far I have tried counting to 3 and if I get to 3, putting him physically on the mat and just doing it - but he is less often letting me do it before 3, and as he is getting quite strong it is getting hard to keep him still enough to change it without using more force than I am really comfortable with (especially once he has me nicely wound up already). I've also tried choices like doing it standing up or on the mat, or before/after a story but that is not working either. The only other thing I can think of is totally calling his bluff and leaving him in the soggy nappy till it falls round his ankles, but that could get a bit embarrassing at toddler group! I have threatened to do this though (also with refusing to get dressed) and so far he has always let me do it just at the last second but it still ends up being a big stress and often making us late.

Before you ask the obvious question - we don't want to start potty training quite yet as 1) I'm not sure he is 100% ready and 2) we are going away for a week soon so it's a bad time. But anyway I think this is more about the battle of wills than the nappy, so we could easily end up with just as many strops about using the potty unless I can find a way to make him want to cooperate. Any ideas?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
IMoveTheStars · 21/05/2010 08:36

pull-ups?

ohsomuchtodo · 21/05/2010 10:36

I second that suggestion - pull-ups could work as you can rip them off and can put them on like pants. You could 'sell' them to him as 'big boy pants' and tell him he's too big for nappies now. It would be a step towards potty training for when you think he is ready too - summer is a great time to do this as much easier to have nappy-free time. Good luck - it won't last forever - not that that helps now!

In terms of getting dressed, have you tried letting him choose between two outfits so that he feels he has some say in what he wears? Just a suggestion but might be worth a try.

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 21/05/2010 12:13

Oh yes I have tried the choices thing, he usually just says no to both of them or demands some impossible third option - like "blue one" when I don't have a blue one or it's in the wash, and then has a huge crying fit because I can't provide it.

Will think about trying pull-ups, though I am not sure how much they will help when he starts running off and struggling...

I am just having a really shit morning with him, he has been a right pain all day except while we were out (but we nearly didn't get out as he wouldn't let me get him ready...) and I am mega tired from the baby waking me all night so I know I am not dealing with it very well either, am having to really struggle not to be Cross Mummy and shout lots or alternatively just cry. Doesn't help that the baby isn't settling well today either and she is usually screaming away while he kicks off...

OP posts:
MamaVoo · 21/05/2010 12:55

I hate to say it, but I have a 2.5 year old who is exactly the same with pull ups so don't get your hopes up. The only thing that works is distraction, so I'll try to get him interested in something and then change him really quickly before he remembers that he's supposed to be kicking off. It's hard though and so monotonous - we fight to brush his teeth/change his nappy/get him dressed. You have my sympathy.

I would love to start potty training but DS absolutely refuses to sit on the potty or toilet...

tryingtobemarrypoppins2 · 21/05/2010 15:23

one word.........Chocolate buttons!

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