argghhh! Stay still! how do I put medical creams on toddler?

[GrassW1dow]

I am currently putting various creams on my 19 mo DS. Several times a day, on various patches over his body. But he squirms and squirms, and I'm there with the tube of cream in one hand and cream on the end of finger on the other, and he's screaming now and trying to crawl away....

What do I do? It's like battling with the Minotaur. And we both come out of it drained and exhausted. And God knows if I'm actually getting any cream anywhere it should be.....

How do other parents/carers manage it? (I don't have anyone to help, or at least not often)

I would lie mine on a mat with my leg over his chest to pin him down. And then roll him over to do the other side. But I've been told I'm mean. It gets easier as they get older. Ds is now 2.5 and understands that the creams help him so will stand still whilst I apply them

I'd do it while they were asleep.

Some ideas - Letting them watch their favourite TV program while you put them on, and they are distracted. Or by singing to them. Once you do it regularly they stop fighting it and get used to it, so it may get better. I'd just try and make the whole thing as funny and silly as possible while you do it, like make it into a silly game. Or let them put it on you (depending on what type of cream it is) might help. Try and stick to doing it at set times so they know it's part of their routine. Hope things improve for you

Thanks Peeps.

They are mostly steroid creams (of varying strengths for different patches)

Try getting him involved? Give him a bit of cream to put on? This sometimes works with DS, other times I have to sit on him.

Ah hopefully one of these ideas will work for you, must be hard when you don't have anyone else around much to help. Had never thought about putting them on while they sleep, may have to remember that for future!

Downloading a kids app (fisher price monkey) into my phone works wonders with DD. Wouldn't usually give it to her, so it's like a special treat.

Can you strip him off and give him a snack while you cream?

I was going to suggest the singing,make up a silly song about the cream and where it needs to go and what it's got to do. This is going to sound stupid but my husband sings 'metenium for you, metenium for me, metenium for the bits that are touched by the wee' for nappy cream.