Son Is Flipping Out over His Diaper Changes

My kids are both out of diapers, but I do remember that I had a stash of tape at the changing table. Yep, tape.. duct, scotch, masking... and I'd tear off a small peice and stick on their hand or finger with enough of it sticking off that they could then use that peice to peel if off of themselves. Then they'd spend the next few minutes playing with it which was just enough time to get the job done! Hope it helps!

They are just more mobile now... its a phase and it happens all the time from about this age. Both my kids did that too.
But it will pass.

He's just changing and developing. Don't take it personally.

But, so in the meantime, with my kids, I just had to change their diaper anyway, whilst they are screaming, holding them down with my legs as I sat on the floor to change them, and giving them a toy to play with while I do it to distract them. Then, I tried to be real quick about it. Then it's over, and on their way they went.

Later, as they got a little older, I would enlist their "help" telling them "go get a diaper for Mommy, time to change...." and they would "like" to help. Then they go through the stage where once they start walking, they will actually run away... while laughing, thinking it's "funny" that Mommy has to chase after them and catch them to change their diaper. Ha, ha. Oh well.. .just another phase. Then, if not, then I would tell them if I don't change their diaper they will get "red" and get a rash... so they understood this and then would cooperate more...

It WILL pass though. It's doesn't last long.
no worries. It's just irritating for us. They scream at diaper changes, or at brushing their teeth, or at taking a bath, or other things. They just are learning cause and effect too.

My son does not like to change his clothes either... but so he will scream but I change him anyway. As soon as I am done, he stops yelling. We gotta change them... it can't be helped.

Good luck,
Susan

Hi J.,
I have the same trouble. It seems to be common at a certain age to have that sort of reaction....I started giving him little toys to discover whilst changing him. It can be a selection of toys or just even a tube or plastic box; it doesn't need to be new all the time. What I have not done yet, but will try is to place a mirror near the changing table that he can gaze at himself for the short time of dressing and changing. A mirror usually is the most wondrous thing on earth for them at that age. Good luck! S.

Has anyone else been changing his clothes or diaper? Is there an chance he has been hurt in some way?

Hi
This is just a phase. I had a stash of special toys that my son only got to see and hold when he had his diaper changed. Try toys, food, etc, and just go as fast as you can
Good luck

I had the same problem with my daughter. At about the same age!!! I didn't know how common that was until I read your responses. Everyone is right, it doesn't seem to last very long. While you are going though it, do whatever works. I used to pin my daughter down with my leg because she actually boke my nose once while thrashing around. Distraction with toys helps a lot too.

Probably most kids do this. How about giving him a bottle or something to suck on while changing him?

You've already received a bunch of great suggestions and it sounds like we're all having the same issues (my son is not much older than yours). Sometimes, I'll put his pants/shorts on my head and say, "Hey, look. Mommy's got your pants on her head." He thinks it's funny. If he continues to try to roll over, I'll lower my head and shake the legs of the pants in his face to get his attention again. Sometimes mimicking his cry "Waah, waah, waah" turns off the waterworks and gets him giggling, too. I also try to make a point of telling him when we're done. "Okay, we're done and you can get up now" hoping to establish that we're done when I say we are, not when he wants us to be. It took some time, but now he seems to recognize that as his cue to roll on over and take off. BTW - I moved his changing pad to the floor (ouch my aching back) once he could roll. Good luck!

We're going through this phase right now...although he's not angry, just curious, restless, and wants to play. I keep several small toys that he doesn't normally see and give him one. When he throws one on the floor then I give him the next one. He also likes to hold the lotion bottle, etc. while I change him. I try to make it a game where he helps mommy, which seems to work the best. I've also learned to diaper very, very fast...lol. Good luck!

Hi J.,
My 16 month old daughter has been very squirmy the last few months during diaper changes but the distraction that works for us is looking at pictures. I keep a few wallet size pictures of family and friends kids' that we don't see to often. It keeps her attention for a few minutes. Good luck! It is a phase, my son did it too!

I will be interested to see your replies becauce I have a similar problem. My son is 14 months and hates the diaper change - flips and cries just the same. Not really with the clothes though. You are not alone J.!

We had two seperate problems with our son and diaper changes. The first about 1 year old and it turned out he was scared of being on the changing table. So we started puting the changing pad on the floor and that solved the problem. The second was about 18 months old, he was wanted to do things himself like trying to get dressed and didn't want us to do things for him. So we said it was time for "him" to change his diaper and mommy or daddy would help. After we got the dirty diaper off and mostly clean we would hand him a wipe for him to clean himself. Then we would put the diaper under him and he would fold it up. For him it seemed like he was doing most of the work. Hope this helps.

Try EC. Your son might be upset because he doesn't like to pee and poop into the diaper anymore. Check out http://www.diaperfreebaby.com

That was the age all of my kids were terrible about diaper changes. It didn't always work, but I had small toys reserved only for when they were having their diapers changed. That helped to maintain their interest so that I could quickly change them. Also, singing songs helped. When the diaper was only wet, I became a pro at changing them while they were standing & playing. Eventually, he'll get more cooperative for changes again.

My daughter was going through the same thing. I didn't know what to do. I would ask her if she went poo poo or pee pee, she would just turn away. I finally asked her if she wanted to see her poo poo and I said "GROSS!!!""...it worked. Now, I don't do that but it worked then. I know she still doesn't want her diaper changed, because when I ask her if she did either, she says "NO", but somehow, she's OK with me changing it with that answer, and no more screaming or kicking.
Good luck.

My 11 month old son does the same thing. I try to give him something to play with and I distract him with silly songs. Kissing his feet, tickling him, anything to distract him for 3 minutes. Good luck.

We went through the exact same thing for a few months..and it was rough! This may sound ridiculous...but what ended up working was every time I had to do a diaper change, or clothing change, I would take her favorite stuffed dog and put him through the ritual. I would pretend like he was wriggling around and gently told him "no doggie we don't move during diaper change". Slowly..she got the picture and as of a month later, we haven't had a problem since! Also, I give her something that she normally can't play with...like my watch, or a picture frame to keep her occupied. Good luck!

Our friends' son got like that at the same age - we babysat him one day and they told us to do the chicken dance while changing the diaper. We were singing and dancing and it made him laugh & laugh!! Boy - who knew changing a diaper took that much energy!!!

Good luck!!

He's at a good age for small board books, too. Those always help me distract my son.

Put a rattle in your mouth and shake your head so he will look at you when you change him. Make silly sounds & work fast. They all hate changing at this age and it is best if you can try to make it fun. You can use humor to get through all kinds of difficult moments. Also, you might try changing him standing up. You have to abandon old modes of operation and adapt to his changing needs. Good luck!

we are also going through this phase, though not as bad as you describe. I rediscovered the safety belt on the change pad and use it. I also hand her the wipes so she has something to play with while I change her. These two tricks have gone a long ways.

I have one word for you...BRIBERY. Give him a cookie or other little treat that he likes. It works every time.

I change my 11 month old daughter while I'm sitting on the floor with my legs spread out in a "V" shape; my daughter is between them on a changing pad, and I use my feet to gently pin down her shoulders. It's the only thing that works long enough to get the job done. Good luck!

Hi J.! I too am a first time mom of an 11 month old and went through the same exact thing about a month ago. I was using all of my strength to keep her down and couldn't believe how strong she was!!!

After a week or so I was feeling defeated and realized she was bossing me around with this behavior so I decided to treat this like any other intolerable behavior since I HAD to change her and this wasn't an option.

So I would hold her down by her shoulder from the side that was starting to twist up and looked her square in the eye and I said "NO!" very seriously and held eye contact. This made her mad the next couple of times but every time she did this I repeated it. After only 2 days she got so much better and now she only does this with my husband who is too chicken to say "no!" *lol (sucker!)

I also now give her her tooth brush and tooth paste to keep her busy brushing her teeth while I change her now (which is actually her chewing on the brush but she thinks she's brushing :)

Hope this helps!

At about age 6 months my son (now 11 months old) started refusing to lie on his back for any diaper changes. I tried distraction and everything I could think of but he just doesn't like to be on his back. He would really fuss, rotate to his stomach and try to crawl away scaring me that he would fall off the changing table. So we ended up doing all diaper changes with him standing up and things are so much better. I stand him in front of the bathtub or close the lid on the toilet, put toys in front of him on the ledge of the tub or on the toilet lid and he plays while I change him. It makes it a bit of a challenge when we are out sometimes but I can usually find a place to stand to change him or I use the backseat of the car where he stands on a portable changing pad. When it comes to changing clothes, that is still quite a wrestling match, but I hope that helps with diaper changes.

K.

My son does the same thing and I have found having everything ready (diaper ready to be put on, wipes already to wipe, a toy)before I go to change him helps a lot. Also, if I can just get the diaper off and him clean I can hand him his old diaper and ask him to put it with the dirty diapers. It keeps him distracted and thinking of his "job" (he loves to help) while getting the new one one and as a bonus...it is teaching him good hygine being we both wash our hands afterward. It is kinda a pain sometimes but I just remind myself that soon he will be out of diapers. Good luck

Hi J.,

When my kids entered this stage, I started changing their diapers with them standing up. It's a little more challenging to do with a poopy diaper than one that is just wet, but they seemed much happier with this arrangement. For one thing, they were at the cruising stage, so they had to balance with their hands against the wall, which kept their hands occupied. And, since they were standing up, they couldn't kick!

This trick also came in handy for changes where I had no option for laying them down.

Hope it works for you! And don't worry -- the stage won't last long. Before you know it, your son will be out of diapers altogether!

R.

Oh my Gosh my son does the same thing, let me tell you it is a work out for me to change him, I am even sweating when I am done with changing him, Some times handing him a toy helps or singing a son or making silly noises or faces helps sometimes I just have to have patience and wait him out! GOOD LUCK!

It's so not uncommon...my son was just upset about being asked to stay put when all he wanted to do was get up and move around. I was interupting his fun, and he wasn't going to take it.

It only lasted for a few weeks, and then with distraction methods...books, blocks, toys...he got over it.

Now, like Susan, I make my son a part of the activity. We have a diaper change song and he goes and gets the diaper from the drawer. I even let him wipe himself, really it's more like his belly...but, he has fun.

Good Luck.

Both my kids went through a phase about 8-10 months old where they screamed and thrashed around during diaper changes and it was a major hassle. Can your son stand up and keep his balance? If so, try changing his wet diapers while he stands up, maybe put on a video to let him watch for a few minutes while you do it. (this won't work well with poopy diapers, huh?) Or try a special toy he can ONLY play with during changes and ONLY if he's quiet and calm. Good luck.

You have a lot of good suggestions and sounds like we are all in the same boat. My son didn't want to stop playing or be pinned down (it was around the same time he started to walk). Distraction and fast hands - those are my suggestions! Good luck!

My son was not quite so exhuberant in his protests, but when he started to dislike diaper changes, I began keeping toys (ones he does not usually see) at the changing table and that helped distract him. It seemed he was too interested in playing to stop and be changed, so the toys helped a lot. You might also consider changing him on the floor where he is playing. Some moms find that easier anyway, but the change of "venue" may help some too. Good luck!