Does your dc cry during diaper changes?

[luzagirl]

My 8 month old dd has started crying -- tears and all -- during changes and I can't figure our why. She doesn't have a rash, doesn't do it every time, and returns to her normal giggly self if I clown around extravagantly, so I don't think it is pain or discomfort. She also will let me change her diaper standing up, but the second I try to put her on her back she revolts, screaming and trying to roll over so she can crawl away.

Has anyone else had the same experience? What did you do? I'm particularly concerned that she isn't getting clean enough after poos because even though I plunk her in the tub to wash her I can't see if I am getting everything stuck between all her little folds.

Clarisa, Mom to Lina, 8-04

[searchdog]

My DD gets fussy at diaper changes, so now we just give her a toy to hold in each hand and it seems to take care of the issue. She also likes to hold a diaper or a wipe as well. We don't change her on a changing table much it is usually on the floor.

I have read other mamas have had success with giving there DC pictures of the family to look at during the changes and it works well. Obviously be prepared for her to ruin the picture, but if it worked you could maybe get a couple laminated so they would last longer.

[luzagirl]

Letting her hold on to a diaper worked for a while, but now she has raised her sights to more "forbidden" things. I finally gave in today and let her hold the alarm clock she has been craving, but I expect that the novelty of that will wear off pretty soon, too.

Did your DD alway fuss, or did it come on recently? Lina used to fuss for her weekend babysitter but was good with my SIL and me until a couple of weeks ago. Now it is becoming more and more frequent. Actually, she is becoming much more insistant about getting her way on a whole range of issues. (I kind of like some of it, like when she pounds on DH with a toy when he won't wake up to play with her in the morning!)

Mom to Lina, 8-04

[steph2003]

YES! Started about 10 months or so & he still cries & fights me during changes. I've tried - contraband items for him to hold, stickers, musical instruments as distractions (like a kazoo), pictures of babies & family....

for awhile I was pinning him down against the bathroom wall but I'm now back on the changing table so I can strap him in.

I try to be silly, talk to him in funny voices, etc to make things fun :) but more often than not he just hates diaper changes.

[mudder17]

It's a phase (at least I hope so and hope it'll pass!), and I think Kaya started around the same time as Griffin (10 months). It's pretty much hit or miss these days. Occasionally she's cooperative, while other times she'll arch her back and kick and scream and fuss. I've found that when I have her in a happy mood by getting her totally involved in a particular object, I can often get her on her back and get her started before she gets too fussy. But she has to be occupied by whatever the object is. It doesn't work as well if she's already fighting being put on her back. So if I know I'm going to change her, I'll sometimes give her a couple objects to occupy her attention (works best if it's something she can chew on, including the snack-trap, LOL) and then lay her back. It does seem to help. The object of attention does vary each time, so the trick is to find her something interesting at that moment and scoop her up and get it done. I change her on the floor on a changing floor, right next to a corner, so if I can get her on her back, I have an easier time keeping her from rolling. And yes, singing, clowing around, making funny faces, blowing in her face, making funny noises can all help but none of them are fool proof. :)


Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya, www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 14 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[steph2003]

oh yeahhhh - the snack trap, that I have not tried. But that is next on my list!

[mudder17]

Yeah, Kaya loves the snack trap and will even hold it out to me to refill when she wants more. She does the same with her straw cup. As Rashmi pointed out, Kaya does seem to carry that thing everywhere, LOL. Her current favorite is veggie or pirate booty.


Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya, www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 14 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!

[jec2]

Yes, Big time! since finn was able to roll over diaper changes have been brutal. there are some times when he is really good and will sit through and actually enjoy it, but i would say about 80% of the time it is a wrestling match.

What do I do? I don't negotiate and I change him. seriously. I hate doing it, but I cannot let him sit in a poopy diaper and if he is going to throw a tantrum, so be it. Some days it is absolutely exhausting but he must be changed.

We recently did get a doll for him and he always says "poopy, poopy" so we change the baby's diaper and I make a big deal about how good the baby is "giggling and cooing and just letting me change him" and Finn really has responed to that.

good luck.

[danagee]

My 8 month old DS has also begun to make diaper changes difficult.
Thanks to everyone for the great suggestions. Normally I keep special toys near the changing stations and a wash cloth to play peek-a-boo, but those tricks are getting old.
I'm going to try the snack trap and I have a little plastic/vinyl photo book which I hear babies LOVE, it's called Who Loves Baby? http://store.babycenter.com/product/toys/by_type/activity_books/2196
So it looks like it's time to fill that up with family pix!
Thanks!

[mudder17]

Wow, Juliet! What a great idea with the doll! I can't wait until Kaya is old enough to want to put diapers on her stuffed animals (she doesn't have a doll yet). :)

Eileen

Mother of Beautiful Kaya, www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 14 months & counting
Kaya's cousin, due October 9th!!!