8 months old tantrums

[Unexpectedbaby]

Ok in my mind saying my 8mo DD is having tantrums is crazy but I honestly don't know how to describe it.

She has been crawling for a little over a month, pulling herself up for about 3 weeks and is now trying to stand unaided. This is all amazing, if not tiring, but it has caused getting dressed, particularly at bedtime, a nightmare.

We have a good bedtime routine that has developed with her and suits everyone quite well. Dinner, bath, story, bottle and bed. Every part of this goes well, with the exception of getting her dressed post bath.

She goes into tantrum mode. She doesn't want to lie on her back for her nappy or PJs. Flips herself over, crawls away, tries to stand, all while screaming at the top of her lungs, throwing her arms about, huffing and groaning. Honestly when I'm not shattered from work it can be quite comical to watch.

We have tried distraction in the form of the TV, giving her a toy to play with, showing her one of our phones, these work sometimes but for a very short time so you have to work quick. We have tried getting her dressed on her changer, the bathroom floor, living room floor, cot. We have switched from sleepsuits to 2 piece PJs because they are quicker.

What ever we do she is still a nightmare. As soon as she is dressed DP starts her story and she is like a different baby!

Anyone else had this issue and has any suggestions? She is a pain getting dressed anytime and as a result I'm dreading taking her to her hospital appointment tomorrow and having to get her dressed after being weighed, but bedtimes are particularly hard.

Mines the same. Constant battles.
Getting dressed. Nappies. Teeth brushing. Anything that he isn't in control of really.

I think they have reached a development at 8-10 months where they are aware they can make decisions and therefore know if they don't want to do something and are trying to express that.
This is what our swimming teachers told us. He suddenly hates going underwater when had always been fine before!

So not a sophisticated as a temper tantrum but is a nightmare. And hopefully passes soon enough!

I've got a very wriggly/squirmy DS2 and he's been a nightmare to change (not just getting dressed but also any nappy changes) for the last month, I think it's quite common as my first one did it too, just don't want to lie still on their back! Also other mums I've spoken too have experienced the same.
I don't have any advice that you haven't already mentioned, toys work for us too but never for long, singing nursery rhymes or playing peekaboo sometimes helps but only for a few moments lol.
But the good news is they do grow out of it!

Forgot to say DS2 is 9 months so it also started at around 8 months. I can't remember when my first boy stopped doing this.

Overtired?

Yep. She's asserting her opinion. My suggestion for nappy changes is to change her on the floor, use your feet to pin her down then just do the change as quickly as possible (and get everything set up before you fetch her).

God I'm glad other can relate!

It makes sense her asserting her own opinion. She has always been quick moving with her milestones and been really bright, she is definitely starting to understand things a bit more, including being told no!

Suppose we just have to ride it out! At least it wears her out a bit before bed

Same here. DS lies on his back and stomps both feet simultaneously and screams hysterically. He just wants to be climbing from am to pm. I usually sing his favourite song which quietens him down unless he is beyond tired.

DD never did this!

Yes singing 5 little ducks seems to be the only think that captivates mine long enough for a nappy change!

I used to dress DS standing up holding onto the coffee table. Nappy changes too. I used pull ups, they're just as absorbant as regular nappies, the ones for potty training are now marketed as training pants. The only problem was when he'd done a poo but I even mastered that in the end - undress, hard floor, tear the sides and scoop! Then wipe. Pull ups are more expensive than normal nappies but useful while you get through this stage.

Was also going to recommend pull ups for that stage, plus lots of bouncing and games :)

I was thinking pull ups but she is really small, in a 3/6months clothes with space still. Not sure if I could get them small enough?

Thank you all for your advice!!

I've just changed my 9mo into pull-ups for this reason, the smallest size I've found is size 4 (from 9kg). They fit ok (DS2 is just under 9kg) but could be tighter, we've had the odd leak which never happened with regular nappies. At night I still use regular ones.
If your DD is small to start with (especially around the waist/legs) they'll probably be too big but you could always get a pack and try, she'll grow into them at some point anyway.

This describes my DD at that age perfectly. She is 11 months old now and it shows absolutely no signs of stopping, she is best described as wilful. She can now also shout 'nah' in response to being told no or having anything taken off her. She holds onto the side of her playpen and jumps up and down in rage. Shoves us away and twists to get out of her arms when we pick her up and stop her cruising. The screaming stops in an instant when she gets what she wants, I'm hoping this isn't going to go on much longer but I fear I may be hoping in vain.

She is an absolute delight the rest of the time though, I feel a bit bad reading that back, she sounds awful!

Yup this is DS. He's 10mo but has been having screaming fits when getting dressed/changed for months. It finally seems to be getting slightly better now and I've had a few occasions recently where he hasn't cried at all so I'm hoping it's just a phase and it'll pass very very soon

Put her in pull-ups so you can change her standing up. If it's a poo, tear the sides and wipe her while she stands.

I had DD weighed today and she is only 7.4kg so I think I'll struggle to find pull ups for her

I'm glad it sound like it may be a phase. She is spoiled by family, is the only baby right now with older (young teenage) kids about. When we are around family she has someone giving her exactly what she wants constantly I just don't want it to become real tantrums!

Change it completely.

After her bath, keep her wrapped in a towel snuggling on your knee and go to a different room. sit snuggling and read story. Pull nightie over head and place arms in at suitable story juncture. Add nappy whilst having bottle. Place into bed.

Don't put her down, basically.

Definitely pull ups. I cant remember when I last put a nappy on my son! He's just potty training now though which is great as no need for anything (except for at night..)

Aww, what a cute wee thing she sounds! Well it is possible to put a non-pull-up nappy on standing up, you just have to practice. I think they all have velcro type tabs now rather than sticky ones so that should help. Give it a go.

I don't think you can influence whether they go on to have full on tantrums or not TBH, it's just personality, so spoil away! (Within reason of curse )

My DS did this to the extent that I was putting on his nappy when he was lying on his tummy. After a while I got fed up with it and started flipping him around every time and telling him off. He wasn't too pleased about that but he doesn't squirm like something from the exorcist any longer when changing nappies. He's 9 months old.