5 week old HATES having his nappy changed - any suggestions?

[agirlcalledvicky]

We change our 5 week old son on a mat on the floor and he screams and thrashes about from start to finish despite trying everything to calm him! Any ideas for something to distract him? Just trying to get it done as quickly as possible for now!

A mobile? Or something else. It will improve, but at least he's still so little that its not a real problem (think of a 2 year old thrashing about).

Make sure the room, and changing mat are warm enough (a towel or terry nappy on the mat might make it less of a shock). Do it quickly, and maybe try to sing as well?

(This does sound like trying to spin plates, but it will get better, believe me.)

Mine screamed at every nappy change for weeks too :(

I have a picture of him smiling a bit at about 6 weeks during a change so I think he eventually got better at it.

Singing definitely helps too.

I remember being sad at the angry wee face every time.

Hope your DS is ok soon too.

Just last night I found the little note book that I kept jotting notes in during first few weeks after I had DS (to try keep me sane!) and one of the things I written in there to ask the health visitor at his 6 week check is "he's suddenly very quiet during nappy changes, usually screams blue murder, is this ok??" :o Think I remeber her telling me of course its fine and that he's just finally got used to it......... So it might take another couple of weeks but he'll get better soon.....
DS really did scream the place down when ever I changed him, when I was in hospital after my cs I was changing him in the middle of the night and a midiwife came in to my room to see what "all this noise is about" - I swear she thought he was being murdered!!!!

Hope he gets used to it soon! X

My DD used to make a noise like I was torturing her!! I used to find it really upsetting. She's now 8 weeks and it doesn't bother her any more. She even smiles sometimes when I do it. x.

DD screamed hysterically for the first few weeks, then she just accepted it was something that happenned to her.

Do you use a towelling mat/large flannel on top of the changing mat?
I found both of mine preferred this to a cold plastic mat when they were newborn...

Poor you - it's just another of their "things" isn't it?
Would agree with a towel/terry nappy on the plastic changing mat, and lots of coo-ing noises and silly talk along the lines of, "I know, it's a shame, isn't it? but you'll feel better in a minute, poor baby, won't be long now, etc etc!"

I used the radio and an Elma toy; DD loved staring at his colours. Didn't last long though and she soon loved the idea of being naked and hanging out on the changing mat :)

I used to sit on the mat for a minute first so it was warm (as well as putting a towel on it as my boys always pee'd the second the nappy was off!).

I used to sing at the top of my voice (for my benefit - to try and drown out the screams as it upset me).

The last thing I did was learn to change the nappy as quickly as possible to get the torture over for both of us!

I'm sure this phase will pass, think of the lovely soothing cuddles you can give DS when it's all over...x

Do it as fast as you can and act like it's a game. I do this with all things babys are "supposed" not to like, eg, face wipeing, putting on jumpers etc. Just laugh about it, be light hearted, play peek a boo, pull funny faces, what ever. Dh treats it like a chore, baby picks up on this and tears ensue. If you go in to the nappy change dreading it because you think it will be an issue, it probably will be an issue!

We had this from the day we brought our DS home until one day at about 4 weeks the orientation of the changing mat meant there was a bit of crackly plastic just above his head (attached to something secure!) and the Pampers box was next to him on the floor. The combination of the two held his attention for so long that I could leave him there staring at them for a good 20 mins . So perhaps something brightly coloured as a disraction?

My DS didn't like being cold. I used a warm room and warm towel but he's great now. In fact his first giggle was mid nappy!

Can you change him on your lap so he feels a bit closer to you? I did that with all 3 of mine - lay a couple of muslins over your lap, lie him so his head and neck is supported on your leg, against your tummy. It's easiest either on the floor or on a firm chair like a dining chair. Once they get a bit bigger you do it without leaving the sofa!

Was he born on his due date or earlier? My DS was 5 weeks prem and hated nappies and baths for almost two months. DD, now four and born at 42 weeks, never had a problem with either, except for when bath time was over. DS is now, five months later, perfectly happy with both now. No tricks or anything, just gave it time and constant reassurance when undertaking these tasks (although we stopped bathing him and just topped and tailed for a while). It all still early days and you will find your way soon enough: the crying tends to begin to subside after the 6 week mark. Its referred to by some as the "crying peak".

I found a fan heater pointing at dd worked wonders, stopped her getting too cold and the screaming stopped.