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Does your baby scream hysterically when nappy changed? What to do?

24 replies

tyujpp · 25/11/2022 12:42

It’s really intense wailing and I can’t calm them down.

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Icecreamandapplepie · 25/11/2022 12:44

Oh, bless you. It's awful to hear but they are OK. They will very quickly get used to it.

tyujpp · 25/11/2022 12:44

It’s been two weeks and no change @Vintagecreamandcottagepie

OP posts:
KitchenSupper · 25/11/2022 12:45

What age?
If grasping things, very interesting toy on the changing table.

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tyujpp · 25/11/2022 12:45

@KitchenSupper two weeks x

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KitchenSupper · 25/11/2022 12:46

Is the baby two weeks old or did the crying start two weeks ago?
If two weeks old, it’s normal. Just be quick and then cuddle. It’s good for alertness for bfing after.

Milkand2sugarsplease · 25/11/2022 12:48

Mine is 18m now and still hates it 😂 I e got used to the protests now. Good luck x

BertieBotts · 25/11/2022 12:55

At that age they don't like being changed at all, I think they just don't really know what is happening. Try to do it as quickly as possible to minimise them being upset, but breathe and remind yourself that it's not an emergency, they are in fact OK, and can have lots of cuddles as soon as it's finished. It's OK sometimes if you have to do things that they don't like. Remember that it would be much worse if they got nappy rash and were sore. Talk them through each step, this can help keep you calm and remind you that it will finish and your calm voice can be soothing for them.

If you can be bothered, reusable wipes or cotton wool (or even just a normal wet wipe) and a bowl of warmed water is much more pleasant for them than a cold wet wipe - I found my October baby benefited from this enormously, I didn't bother to warm the wipes with my summer ones. Even at night, I'd take the chill off the wipe by pressing it to my belly skin. I think, in hindsight, a little PFB of me, but I don't care, it made night changes in a cold room much nicer and I didn't spill water everywhere.

As they get older you can play games while changing, sing songs, distract with toys etc but at this age it's just getting through it quickly and then having a cuddle afterwards.

JuneOsborne · 25/11/2022 12:58

Is he cold? Wipes are cold! Getting half naked is cold! Roll up blankets and make a u shaped nest on top of the changing mat and as if possible cover his nappy/tummy/chest area with a muslin so he's not completely naked. While you wipe up.

You'll get so fast at it even if none of these tips help, it'll be less than 5 minutes of upset soon!

Parkopedia · 25/11/2022 21:23

I think at two weeks it's the shock of being cold and you just have to get on with it.

However i did also stick up some of those black and white sensory cards on the wall by our changing table. And DD would stare at them while changing which helped a bit

Merryclaire · 25/11/2022 23:19

Mine hated it for a few weeks but got over it and now (12 weeks) seems to enjoy it

Epli · 25/11/2022 23:26

Mine did not protest during nappy changes but hated dressing up and sleeves were the enemy number 1. It lasted until she was ~4/5 weeks. Now she is 7 months and hates sleeves again :D

But I second the advice to put some black & white sensory cards or something that catches their attention. After 2-3 weeks of crying my boyfriend put a muslin blanket around the lamp, because he had thought crying might be due to strong lamp light , and whilst it did not solve crying issue (since it was going on in the daylight it could not be this), she was fascinated by the shadows on the ceiling that the combination of light and cloth created and cried less.

NewtoHolland · 25/11/2022 23:41

Soft warmer changing mat helps, like the tots bot s happy mat. It is really normal for them to cry during changes...it's their only real way of being able to say hey! I don't like this!
As others have said getting it over quickly and lovely soothing cuddle at the end will help.
My 8 month old still cries every clothes change although not every nappy change now, I just reassure her and try to get it over and done with fastish!

Blocked · 26/11/2022 00:11

Course they don't like it, it's nearly December and it's freezing! Crack on.

anyonenowheremypenis · 26/11/2022 01:02

I sang to mine, a silly little jingle about a toy hung from the ceiling which was close enough to catch their and primary colours. Everything very calm, little chat to the springy toy at the start which kept him mesmerised from day one. Wonder if he is uncomfortable lying flat on his back? Could you raise him slightly at his back? Any chance something is trapped under the mat and digging into them?

Cannaa89 · 26/11/2022 08:04

15m here and still haven't found a way of changing without tears... think that's quite unusual though!

PorridgePowered · 26/11/2022 15:42

Yep. Totally normal. Try to keep them as dressed as possible. I keep a cardi on the changing mat to help keep my son snug during changes. If the crying is bothering you (also totally normal, it's evolutionary) I find singing helps. Gives me something else to focus on. Also try to remember that your little one is crying because they have a drafty bum and (i assume) no one has ever actually died from having a drafty bum.

Himawarigirl · 27/11/2022 09:38

My friend’s son was like this and she found white noise while she was changing him helped calm him. I think she turned on the hairdryer but there are other options.

YellowTreeHouse · 27/11/2022 09:39

Ha ha my two year old still screams during nappy changes 😅 At least a newborn can’t try and run away!

AllotmentTime · 27/11/2022 09:44

Totally normal. They’re too tiny to be distracted by much and they don’t want to be put down/undressed/any of it basically.

When they get older and more interested in you pulling faces/singing/a toy etc then it’s much better (or was for us). Till then just remind yourself that your baby would be much more miserable NOT having their baby changed!

AllotmentTime · 27/11/2022 09:46

*nappy changed!

Pinktruffle · 27/11/2022 09:56

Totally normal, he will grow out of it. My 7 week old now only cries at night changes, perfectly happy during the day. I'm hoping he will get used to the night ones soon too

chocsaucestrawb · 27/11/2022 10:23

2 weeks out of the womb of course it's normal

Cheesywholemealbread · 27/11/2022 21:41

Absolutely normal - midwife's/HV and GP will all tel you the same. Your baby was living inside of your cushty womb for 9 months and to be exposed to the world 2 weeks in is completely foreign to him/her. Keep them warm and sing to them while you change - make it fun and positive. They will eventually get used to it Bear

lljkk · 27/11/2022 22:09

Ach, little tiny ones, What helps them is to bundle their arms, lightly swaddle the arms if you can. They just feel very insecure when their arms are free holding nothing but air. It's instinctive from when are ancestors did this (pic) , i suppose, not clinging = abandoned. Even just holding the newborn's arms/hands can calm them down a bit.

Does your baby scream hysterically when nappy changed? What to do?
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