Any other moms here who managed to live through the old diaper change battles whenever diapers needed changing? My son is nearing 16 months of age and when it comes time to change diapers, he's not at all interested in helping out or cooperating with momma whatsoever. He whines, fretts, fusses, throws temper tantrums, and even rolls over the instant he knows I'm about to change his diapers. I'm finding it ever so difficult in just bringing his diaper up between his legs and pin fastening it without poking him, never mind trying to push his flailing feet through the elastic leg holes of his rubber pants afterwards. Ahhh! Do they grow out of this stage? If not, what did you do? I'm trying to stear away from spanking but the more and more I'm putting up with his actions, the more and more I'm thinking that spanking may be just what is needed to redirect him.
Have you tried maybe giving him a small toy to help occupy him while you are trying to change him?? I remember that when Zach went through that phase of not wanting to be still while I was changing him, it seemed to help to give him something to focus on until he was clean, then when I was finished I cuddled with him for a few minutes to make it more of a positive thing for him, since he hated it so much. Wanted him to know how happy mommy was that he was such a good oys while he was being changed. I know how it feels though to get so frustrated with them when they are beign little wiggle monsters and having fits while you are tryign to do something that obviously NEEDS to be done.LOL!
Oh boy I remember when Lily was doing that. She still does it occasionally, actually. What I did was try to give her a toy or something to distract her. The other thing that worked really well is we had a special mat that she liked to lay on, so whenever I would changer her diaper I would get really really excited about the mat, and then she would get excited and want to lay down on it, and the whole time I was changing her I would just keep talking about the mat. It was cheesy but it worked! Just try to find a special toy or something to make it fun and try your hardest not to spank. I know it's tempting when they're acting like that but it doesnt help the situation any, it just makes momma and baby more upset.
When my son was around 19 months old, we had the same problem. And after one lovely day when I had to clean... well, you can guess what I was cleaning off of every surface in the entire living room! I came up with a way to change him without letting him get away. This is NOT the most dignified of techniques, but it worked for me. I would change him on a pad on the floor or bed. I'd get one leg up & over his chest, and change him while he was temporarily "pinned." I wasn't squashing him & he wasn't freaked out... but he couldn't escape either. And for what it's worth, my son outgrew this just after his 2-year birthday; 5 months of fighting is NOT that bad in the course of parenthood love, mom
distraction. distraction. distraction. anything to take the child's mind off the battle. Because once it becomes a power struggle (and that's exactly what was going on with my oldest in this situation) nobody wins. What seemed to work best with my kids was to make up silly songs about urine and poop, get them giggling instead of fighting. Getting some fancy diapers/covers she picked out for herself also helped.
To me teaching your child to behave would be the right way to go about it. If you are against spanking try taking toys away or something like tv. Whatever he is interested in. I don't go for the figuring out ways around bad behavior, to me that just teaches them that you won't back up what you have to say.
Alexis HATES having her diaper changed. She cries, flails, flings herself around....she's a VERY strong 3 week old. Lol. Today, I tried singing to her....it worked. She still cried....but she was calm enough for me to change her.
oh man aiden just started bucking his legs at me whenever i lay him down to dry him off get him dressed or change his diaper. it hurts like the dickens he aims for my belly and i have to yell at him to stop or he will hurt the baby but he doesn't so i just spread his legs and sit down and put one leg under each of mine until i am done changin him
when I lay my son on the changing table, I start playing a game with him....I ask where are his eyes...his hair...his teeth..nose....etc.... He points to each and every one. I take my time too. "whhhheeerrre are yourrrrrr teeth." he lays there and plays the game until we are done.
All of the wonderful ideas moms. Thanks! Since yesterday I have been trying something new, standing dear son up inside his crib to pull up his rubber pants after his diaper change, instead of doing it with him flat on his back. So far he seems to accept the standing part over the laying down part, so I'm adapting to his needs. I still don't know where in the heck he got all the sudden fussiness from, since he has always been quite content to lay perfectly still while getting his diapers changed. Maybe he'll be one of those kids that potty trains early. Then again if he's anything like my baby brother was, he'll be in diapers and rubber pants till 4.
Leane does that all the time, too. Again, the best thing that I can recommend is distraction. There's times when that won't work, either, though, and in that case, I'm a little lost about what to do. There's times that Leane doesn't give a crap what I give her, she has to throw it away, and kick and scream then turn over and try to stand up on the change table. This scares the shit outta me, and it usually ends with Leane upset and crying cuz I pick her up and lay her back down again. About the only thing that I can recommend is distraction, like I said....but for the most part, I;m in the same position as you are
