How do I get my son to hold still during diaper changes?
Usually, when I go to change my son's diaper, he tries to roll and crawl away. It's like a wrestling match trying to hold him still so I can clean him off and get a new diaper on him. Any suggestions?
(Oh yeah, and I've tried giving him a toy to play with... that doesn't seem to work either. Maybe I'll try it some more though... he might eventually be content with just playing with a toy).
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May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
I used to have to change my son on the floor and put one of my legs over his tummy. I held my leg up with my ankle, so it wasn’t resting on him, but it was like a seat belt.
Fisher Price and some party stores sell these spinner things – they are like globes on a stick that have spinning lights inside. We used those, too. But you have to put it away the minute you are done with the diaper so it’s special for diaper changes.
Good luck…
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
Try to distract him with a toy .. my son does the same thing. Sometimes I sing to him, that works too, or talking in a crazy high pitched voice to hold his attention.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
nope, i think it’s simply natural.
but perhaps if you entertained him with something, like put something in his hands which would interest him, but that he couldn’t fling, and something that would keep him preoccupied so that he wouldn’t think about the diaper-changing, he would be less disruptive.
hope this helps!
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
I always had a toy of some kind for my kids and then my granddau. to look at and play with, that works if you act fast!! If that doesn’t work take the car away from him.~:)
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
You can’t, it is just what newborns do. This is also the reason he is so little and you are so big. You can take control of the situation and get it done.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
You could put a balloon in your mouth and inflate & deflate it as you are changing the diaper, that fascinated my son while I was changing him for a while until he got bored with it. Sometimes making funny noises at him works too, if you’ve seen the recent Charlie and the Chocolate factory, the noise that Willy Wonka makes to call the Oompa Loompas is a big favorite with my son, he’ll just lie there imitating me and his diaper is on in no time.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
Good luck. If you find out, write a book about it.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
wait till nap time. then get the creme for diaper rash
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
my girl is 4 months and what i do is make faces at her and play with her toes and she stays stillor holds her feet
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
My 10 month old son does this too. I tried the toy and it didnt work. I usually sing a stupid silly song in a high pitched voice and that usually works. Or I make oinking sounds and tickle his belly..he usually laughs right through it and doesnt know what is happening.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
Try giving him something unusual. The telephone or remote control seems to work for mine. He’s only allowed to play with them during diaper changes. He also likes measuring cups.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
I did the same thing Tracymarie did….my daughter would never stay still while I tried to change her diaper so I got the idea of taking one leg and putting over her tummy (no pressure just resting there) she would then either chew on my pant leg or try to get out of the hold by wiggling her legs…needless to say the pin down position worked! A toy only distracts them for a little while and anything else they get bored with eventually also. You’re the mom TAKE CHARGE! Good luck.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
Welcome to the world of toddlers. This is perfectly normal but I know how frustrating it can be. I raised three daughters who didn’t do this much, but I have a grandson who hasn’t held still for diaper changes since he was just a few months old. Some of the things that worked for us are;
Keeping a few things handy that he is only allowed to play with during diaper changes, such as the tv remote, my cell phone, and various cool toys. Each item only worked for a week or so, we have had to be inventive with coming up with new ones.
If I have help, one of us sings, dances, makes faces, etc, while the other changes the diaper.
As a last resort, If I am alone and have a messy diaper to change, I have had to lay him on a pad on the floor, and gently restrain him with my lower leg, being very careful not to put full weight or too much pressure on him.
As soon as the baby can stand, convertables are wonderful for wet diapers. Babies who are newly mobile hate having to lie down, but will often be very cooperative standing within the circle of your arms, as you put his legs through the diaper and pull it up. My grandson learned very early to put his legs through on his own, and he doesn’t get nearly so frustrated at having to stop for standing diaper changes.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
have the clean diaper under and ready to put on the dirty one so all you have to do is take the dirty one off and wipe and put the side straps on. good luck!
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
Find something of his or yours that he really really likes and loves to get into or play with and give him that while changing his diaper.
May 1st, 2010 at 6:19 am
my son is 11 months and he loves waiting until i’ve taken off the diaper to run off half naked. sometimes i manage to distract him with a toy, but when it doesnt work i have to try to hold him down with one hand and change him with the other. that’s just one of those things that passes with time i guess