Persuading a crawler to sit still

[burritofan]

Right. Once they're crawling – and doing that mad "sinister spider" hands-and-feet walk where they don't even bother with knees – how the hell do you get nappies, clothes, sleepsuits and sleeping bags on/off? Stun gun? Sit on them?

I've just spent 20 mins chasing 7mo DD round the bathroom trying to put a nappy on her back to front and upside down while she scooched merrily away and bit a hole in the metanium.

Is there a MN trick or is this it now till potty training, good luck and pass the gin?

DS started crawling at 5 months. I bought pull on nappy pants as no distraction technique worked more than once. He settled down and would sit still from about 18 months.

Distraction/bribery basically. Mine was distracted by a toy/book whilst he was quite young. Now almost 2 I bribe her. Top tip, I change the bribe and then she doesn't know what's to expext/ask for! Sometimes some fruit, a biscuit, or YouTube on my phone.
I don't really understand pull ups as when they've pooped you end up pulling it all done their legs! And if they run off then you're really screwed.

Pull up nappy pants tear at the sides, you don't have to pull them down.

Thank you! Toy distraction doesn't work, though we're having some luck with getting her to stay still sitting up. The nappies just about stay on...

This morning I had to tie her tights around my neck, let her yank at them, while cheerily saying "Neigh! Yes that's right, I'm a horsey, clip-clop". That bought me a nappy and a vest. Dungarees were applied in motion. I'm adding gin to the weekly shop.

Gaffer tape.

Same problem with DS here. I've taken to switching BBC news on. Works a treat.

This describes my 9 month old exactly. Two days ago after finally managing to clear up a manhoosive poo and get a nappy back on her while she’s rolling / crawling left right and centre, I discover she’s managed to wee all over her vest in the meantime and so then had to strip her off again and change everything .

DS2 was crawling at 5 months and started walking at 9.5 months. He's just turned 2 and still dislikes staying still for any length of time so I've basically been chasing him for over a year and a half. Bloody knackering.

I distracted my 3 with remote controls/packs of baby wipes etc those things they love that aren’t toys. Sometimes I would sing which worked. It does get easier again!

Managed to immobilise her today... by stuffing her in a padded pram suit. Now just to learn keyhole surgery so I can change the nappy via the leg holes...

I threw my leg over him. My thunder thighs effectively immobilized him. Now he'll lie still for nappy changes.

Gin is always the answer to any problem though.

I threw my leg over him. My thunder thighs effectively immobilized him. Now he'll lie still for nappy changes.

I was going to say this. Sit on floor with leg over child, ignore wailing and thrashing legs and get it over with asap.

DD was the same. It’s hard when you have an active baby who is mobile early on. The distraction stuff never worked and she went hysterical if I pinned her down so I didn’t like doing it.

Tbh I just had to ride out the phase. Saying that, even at 16 months she still wonders off midchange with poop all over her bum. But it’s a lot easier to change her now and she has even led down on the mat by herself a few times. The older they get the more you can reason with them!

So in short, gin or tea and cake and a lot of swearing under your breath will get you through this.

Pull ups. Change nappies standing up if just wee. Tights only if you have to (possibly you do in this weather). Immobilise then. Distraction. YouTube / phone when desperate. If you have another person they can distract while you change nappy.

Gin when they are in bed.

Definitely the leg trick! Baby on changing mat, your leg across them from one side of the mat to the other (not pressing down or anything, just enough so that they can’t roll) then change as quickly as possible!

I found sitting cross legged on floor, put them in my lap facing out, you can use your arms to restrain from each side as you force whatever bits of nappy/clothing you can on.
After that, yes, Gin

Just beware, more than once my on-the-lap method has resulted in poo on my legs. So it's not in anyway foolproof....