Nappy changing hell

[drumst1ck]

My DD is 13 months. For the past month nappy changes have been the worst part of the day and I dread them so much. She goes absolutely bananas when we try to change her nappy, turns into a devil, thrashes around and screams blue murder. She's quite strong so it's beginning to get very hard to do them now. I'm pregnant again and have sciatica so worried about how I'm going to manage further on in pregnancy as it's already a struggle.

I've tried literally everything I can think of, books, songs, being firm, trying to change standing up (okay for wees, can't do it with poos which are about 2-3 times a day at the moment).

Loosing the will a little bit, any suggestions will be much appreciated!!!

And if it's just a phase, PLEASE tell me it gets better..

Put the TV on. She won’t be in nappies forever so it’s not a habit you then need to break.

Have you tried pull ups? They can be a bit easier to get on.

No advice.
All I can say is THANK GOD for WFH right now. It’s taking two of us for a dirty nappy, one to hold her down and one to actually change. For a wet nappy (changed solo) it just takes ages and there is definitely at least one escape per change.
She’s 15 months now and luckily doesn’t get as upset, but she won’t lie still.

With my middle one I found that she would lie still while on her front, so I just put all her nappies on backwards!!!! It's worth a try! Or like another poster suggested, try the new pull ups that are as absorbent as nappies.

Pull up nappies and a distraction. Don't give her the wipes unless you want her to pull every one out. It's a phase, it will pass (and if it doesn't she'll potty train sooner or later)

Try her on a mat that's tilted up so she's on a slope. She may hate the feeling of her legs being brought higher than her head or it just may be more comfortable for her. She also may be able to see what's going on more in that position.

Dd did this for a while. Absolute pain. Agree re pull ups.

Also, may not be the best mothering tip ever but if I give her something she's not allowed the task is easier. Like my phone, locked, or my fit bit, the car key, my purse, etc. Something she doesn't usually have, to be fair even the sky remote. A lot of deleting was then required!!

Are the standing up nappy changes easier? If they are I would try to find a way of making that work even when changing dirty nappies as well as just wet ones. That’s the only thing that helped when we had similar struggles - think some older babies just hate the lack of control in being forced to lie down against their will.

I used to have to sit down, use both feet up by his shoulders to keep mine still and hands to change the nappy. Lots of nappy free time. If I'd been pregnant at the time I'd have been completely scuppered. People suggested we do stand up nappy changes, which was worse for us but it works for others - hope you find a solution!

Also a friend used to just count. I dunno why. Just counting up to 10 a bunch of times. It worked for them!

Stand up nappy changes for a poo:

1. Switch to pull-ups. Aldi ones are great
2. For a poo nappy, carefully tear down the side panels of the pull up, keeping hold of the front
3. As you tear the second side panel, keep one hand on the back and one on the front
4. Use the back of the nappy to do a preliminary wipe as you pull the nappy down

Wipe, new pull-up, wipe the sweat from your brow and get a cup of tea chocolate buttons/something on your phone also work well as bribery!

My DD (12 months) is also a real pain when we change her nappy. What I've worked out works best is if I sit her on the mat in front of me first, give her two things to occupy her - one in each hand - and then when she's properly absorbed with those I slowly lie her down and she accepts it much more readily, I guess because she's busy.

Also if I continuously talk/sing/make stupid noises or play 'boo' with her vest or nappy etc.. that distracts her too.

I also saw an advert for a mat called 'the wriggler' where you fasten straps over their chest and kneel on the sides of the mat. I haven't bought it yet as my coping mechanisms work most of the time, but maybe look into it?

I'd put the TV on personally

my daughter went through a very strong willed phase like this. I just used to stand her in the bath tub (without water in) to change poos because it was just impossible if I was alone to do it lying down. I’d clean her with wipes then sleuce her down with warm water. It was the only way I could manage for a while!

I've taken to lying DS down sideways on the floor in front of me, then I hook one of my legs over him and keep him still that way so my hands are free for the nappy. Quite often he becomes distracted by trying to tickle my knee.

TV on for stand up poos. Also giving them something they wouldn't normally have as a distraction works, mostly, with my DS.

Looks like TV may be the way forward... Thanks all!! We do have pull ups we use during the day which are a lot easier but need to find ones that fit her properly, the Aldi ones seem too narrow for some reason. Wees standing up seem to be going okay, poos still difficult, she tenses up her butt cheeks and I can't get in there to clean her properly!

I'll give these ideas a go though and see how we get on.