NCN!!!! (Nappy Changing Nightmares)
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Topic: NCN!!!! (Nappy Changing Nightmares)
Posted By: Anonymous55
Subject: NCN!!!! (Nappy Changing Nightmares)
Date Posted: 02 February 2011 at 10:13pm
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Our DD is a fiercly independant, highly spirited little person. This is really the nicest way of putting it.
Nappy & clothes changes have been a nightmare for the last couple of months and it's just getting worse. We're at our wits end as to how to turn this around or ease it atleast. 1. She will not lie on her back for 2 seconds. This, I guess, is pretty normal behaviour and we have tried to combat it through new toys/items at every nappy change, making a game of it (blowing raspberries on her tummy while changing etc).... Sometimes we can lie the nappy underneath her while she inspects a new item of interest but as soon as she feels we're going to close the nappy she flips her whole body around and starts screaming blue murder if we don't let her run off!! 
We use cloth nappies, so pull ups are not an option (I dream of using them, how nice would it be...), we made sure the cloth naps are not pinching her. 2. She now has bad candida and we have to thoroughly apply cream at every nappy change which requires for her to lie still for a bit longer (i'm wishing here for 5-7 seconds lol) We often end up having to pin her down  quite hard because she is soooo strong and if we don't, quite simply the nappy change can take up to 30 min by myself because I have to let her go off without nappy or a barely done up one because she just won't lie down.
In the evenings it's especially bad and we feel terrible for sometimes having to force her to lay there. It can't be what we have to do, it's terrible. Do you have any tricks that we haven't tried? And no, the idea of EC doesn't seem to appealing!!! 
P.S. We give her nappy off time each night after the shower which she loves.... |
Replies:
Posted By: RedHeadDuck
Date Posted: 02 February 2011 at 10:44pm
Hehe 
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M2HIAWATHA wrote:Posted By: Anonymous55
Date Posted: 02 February 2011 at 10:48pm
And I thought youy had something to contribute...... 
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Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 7:53am
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can you change her with her sittinglying/ on your knee? my friend does this with her daughter and it seems to work quite well. For nighttime I use the treasures nappy pants (coth nappies during the day) and I find them heaps easier for putting on. ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 7:59am
I can *almost* relate, Tyler twists and screams if he's not in the mood. Specially when he's done a poo 
I hate treasures nappy pants - The one time I tried them all I could smell was wee 
I just get all mean mum on him and pretty much just do it as fast as I can or hold him down. He's not the boss'a me!  Mama always wins in this house.
Have you tried giving like 2mins of nappy off each change? Like take the dirty one off let her go, get her back and swipe the other one on and let her go again. Dunno if it'd work, kinda just made it up lol GOOD LUCK HUN xxxx |
Posted By: 1st_Time_Preggies
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 8:47am
Haha this made me smile. My DS is "high spirited" too. He also screams blue murder sometimes when getting his nappy changed, or will spend his time desperately trying to turn over, or worse, put his hands all on his pooey bum or in the sudocrem. I too have used distraction, toys, something he is not normally allowed (like my cellphone) which SOMETIMES works. However I too have resorted to pinning him down cause he doesn't give me any choice
No real advice I guess, just empathy!
PS When it comes to clothes I generally dress standing up or when he is sitting as I find it is easier that way. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 8:58am
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diane levy has a bit in one of her books about copying with children who dont want their nappy changed... i'll see if i can find it if you want. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: nannyabbey
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 9:03am
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a battle of wills!
Sadly there isn't really an answer for this one other than being the stronger of the two! After a while it might get into her head that its not worth the fight because she can't win. Other than the distraction of something thaey aren't usually allowed like 1st time said (wet wipe and/or container is another good one) i've yet to find a solution over the years of nannying! Good luck! this will be one of a couple of battles you will have with a 'highly spirited' child!! Just pick your battles and keep breathing!!! |
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 9:32am
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I can totally relate and it's always the pooey nappies that he twists and moves the most, spreading it everywhere
We've had his mobile over the change table for ages and recently (about a month) I started talking about the individual animals on the mobile eg here's zebra - hello says zebra. Now he really responds to this. I say where is zebra? He points (not necessarily at the right one) and where is monkey? Anyway, he's a few months older than your little one but I'm amazed at how well this has worked. It's not 100% but I maybe keep trying with something to engage his interest, but you need to be involved too (or at least that's what I've found). How long this helps I have no idea, but I thought I'd let you know what worked for us. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 9:50am
| Can she stand up holding onto the couch or something? You could apply cream then, and then only lie her down for the nappy change. Or do up one of the snaps on the cloth nappy and let one leg and put it trhough like pants, then do up the other side- all with her standing. This is what I often have to do with DS. |
Posted By: Kalimirella
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 10:48am
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I was thinking like kellz, do up the snaps loosely, put the nappy on like pants and then tighten them while shes standing. ------------- Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd! http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Anonymous55
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 11:11am
We dress her standing / lying sideways / while crawling away with me crawling alongside her / dangling off our arms.............
I will try the trick of using the cloths as 'pull ups' and see how I go with that. I imgine it might be a bit fiddly atm because I have to use a fleece liner to protect the nappies from the candida cream, so it needs to be all in place etc. We have naps with velcro but mainly snaps. I'm dreading of having to change her in public because of this. I usually put a real absorbant nappy on her and pray that she won't poop until we're home
I'm worried someone will call CYF
The other day I had to use one of those fold down change tables at the hospital, you know those plastic things on the wall? THEY HAVE A HOLD DOWN STRAP I thought fantastic! Turns out that my baby is soo strong willed that even on the tightest setting (just about to snap the nylon & lying taught on her skin) she still managed to flip around halfway and then screamingly engaged in twist & jerk kind of movements so that the whole fold down table was shaking on the wall and some stranger knocked on the door to ask if everything was alright..........
I cried and laughed at the same time, who knew parenting can be similar to bipolar disorder??!!?? She ended up with a red mark on her tummy from the strap 
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Posted By: Anonymous55
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 11:13am
| Bizzy, that would be lovely if you can find out. Wonder what the professionals do....? |
Posted By: Nothing
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 11:24am
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Our plunket nurse taught me a trick. You sit on a chair or couch, lie the baby down in front of you, then you put your feet on her shoulders to hold her down, firmly but not too tight, then she cant roll over, and you have your hands free to change her nappy/ do cream etc.... I know it sucks having to hold them down, but its only for a minute, and then they can go do whatever, much easier to have a screaming baby for a minute than half an hour IMO Good luck ------------- 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 12:27pm
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Lol! This is so familiar! The dressing and nappy changes! She just wants to run off (or crawl off) and explore the world! So getting dressed/changed is a huge nightmare for her! We also pin her down which she hates and we feel bad but it needs to be done and tbh she cries/screams like she's being abused/really hurt no advice though sorry! We're 'trying to go with it' and hoping she 'grows out of it' lol no luck so far... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: SquishysMum
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 12:30pm
We did this when DD went through her "roll away and don't touch my bum" stage, horrible to do but it is only for a minute or 2. Legs still went everywhere, but she couldn't get out. |
Posted By: Speck8
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 2:54pm
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Seems to be many of our challenging babies have this trait as we are in the same boat with DS!!!!
Tried to do it nicely for months but now (as someone else already said it - he's not the boss of me) so I just hold him down really firmly and let him scream and try and do it is as quickly as possible. Much harder with cloth nappies which I try to use and then when it's been one of "those days" I just treat myself to disposables as it's easier. If DH is around, he sometimes helps by distracting him or holding him down for me. At the end of the day - he NEEDS a clean nappy on so he can scream all he likes. I keep thinking if I'm consistent enough he'll grow out of it.... |
Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 3:25pm
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DD was like this for ages, still is at times except she crawls away and starts cracking up at us. I used to hold her down and change her or else sit her on my lap and do the nappy up. If its only a wet nappy then I would take it off while standing anyway and I know where the snaps are on the nappy that I can do it while she's sitting.
Now she just lies there and shows off to everyone. We have been doing raspberries on her tummy and asking her to point to her nose, mouth puku, etc. Or singing songs with her and getting her to do the actions. They do eventually learn that if they lie still its only a min literally and its done. Now she likes to put her legs through her pant legs and as soon as her nappy is on is jutting her leg out for them haha. Oh we also went through a stage where she would grip her knees together so trying to wipe was a mission she is so strong ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Anonymous55
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 3:58pm
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At least I am not feeling so mean anymore about holding her down with force, knowing that there are alot of other 'mean' mums out there....
She reminds me a lot of our young boxer dog, if she was trapped she would literally rip her leg off to get out. I think a dog hair might have ended up in one of my eggs......... 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 03 February 2011 at 8:42pm
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We blow raspberries on Lily's tummy too, often if I can distract her somehow or get her to look at something (anything!) we can get it done quickly without too much fuss but yeah, seems like a few of us have to pin them down lol! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 04 February 2011 at 1:04pm
| DS screams blue murder when I wash his face/hands after each meal too- I hate doing it, but dont have a choice either! |
Posted By: Anonymous55
Date Posted: 04 February 2011 at 2:16pm
Oh, I totally forgot about that!!
Same here. I'm not too soft on that one tho. I clean her up no matter, because I know that wiping your face and hands with a lukewarm cotton muslin definitely doesn't hurt! |
Posted By: Speck8
Date Posted: 04 February 2011 at 7:46pm
| We had the same problem with wiping face and hands until I left DH to babysit one day. I asked whether DS screamed when he washed him and he said nope not a bit. And that was because he pulls him out of his highchair, sits him on the edge of the sink and then runs his hands under the tap in the sink and uses a flannel to wash his face. DS LOVES the running water and now never cries when he's getting washed up. Helps that it's summer so he's always in just a body suit with no pants or socks on so doesn't matter if his feet get wet while the tap is running. |
Posted By: mrsturtle
Date Posted: 04 February 2011 at 8:15pm
| We also have the same problem with miss almost 2! I have just started holding her down i hate it but im also sick of her going to the toilet everywhere cause she runs away. |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 04 February 2011 at 9:32pm
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We have the issue re washing face/hands, I normally try to distract her for that too, or wash her by the sink! Good distraction! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 04 February 2011 at 9:36pm
I've done this for our "highly spirited" DD too. I can handle 20 seconds of this far easier than 2 minutes of running after and struggling with a screaming toddler. As soon as it's all done (and you get so fast at it!!), they're right as rain again. At 10 mos there's just no negotiation. -------------  |
Posted By: escadachic
Date Posted: 06 February 2011 at 11:04pm
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Glad I'm not the only one with a stubborn baby at change time! I often just start to feel anxious at the thought of changing her nappy, especially more so if it's poo's.
I also get nervous about changing her nappy in public, if she decides to be difficult. As I too, worry people will think I'm being mean and say something about it. I find nappy pants good, except when it's poo's, as the treasures ones don't redo up like the huggies. But they are good for the speed aspect and making change time a little less stressful. DD also likes to try run away when I have her nappy off and on a few occasions has pee'd on the floor. She does the same when I want to dress her. It sux so much when you lie them down and they scream blue murder. Anyone would think you were torturing them. Well I guess for mobile babies, being held down and stopped from getting around is like torture to them. She often resists the car seat and pram as well. -------------   
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 07 February 2011 at 9:39am
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I haven't read all the posts but this is my idea.
Have you thought about propping her up on a pillow when you change her. My boy screamed blue murder when I tried to change him, rolled etc etc, soon as I propped him up he stopped fighting. Also have you spoken to her firmly & said I'm changing your nappy & I'm not finished yet. This worked on the little girl I look after, she lie on her back happily but the nappy changing was a different story. I put my hands on her shoulder/torso & put her back lying down & said I'm not finished yet (firm voice), at the start I had to do this a lot, then it got to once at the start. I also said when I was done, ok up now so she knew she was allowed to get up. She's a dream to change now. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |