How Do I Change Her Diaper? :O)

Ok you already got a lot of responses but mine is a little different. My daughter does the same thing. She also loves to play peek-a-boo. So every time I put her on the changing table I put a cloth diaper or a receiving blanket on her face. She giggles like mad and starts playing peek-a-boo while I change her. As long as I play along with the game she doesn’t try to roll.

I just change my baby on the floor. I put my leg over them (lightly)just enough to keep them in place while I quickly change them. I talk and play with them while I change them. It works for me.
J.

You can try hanging a toy from the ceiling. That way she has to stay on her back to look at/play with it. This has worked well for us, and several other people I know.

If you change her on a pad on the floor, she will not be able to fall and have an accident. This way will be easier for you too. Keep giving her a toy she likes but is special for diaper change time only. You sit near her legs when you change her and lightly put your leg over her torso (across it) while you change her. You can hold her down with your leg if you need to, obviously being careful not to hurt your baby! This worked great for me.

Dear V.,
Oh...welcome to the joys of your children becoming mobile.
My son was't so bad, but my daughter.....she was like trying to dress and change a moving target. I would be in a complete sweat by the time it was all over. She was limber too. She thought it was funny, but it was exhausting. The only real tips I have is to try whispering or humming very quietly. She may be still for a minute, trying to hear you. My daughter did eventually settle down and cooperate.
So, good luck....and consider it a workout.

Hi V.,

I just watched my friend change her very mobile daughter's diaper with her in crawling postion since she refuses to stay on her back for even a second. I wasn't sure it could be done, but it can. Dad even admitted that he sometimes puts the diaper on backwards and it's worked fine so far!

Jen

My first son was always on the go and didn't want his diaper changed. He would roll over and sit up too. I was lucky though my changing table had a strap to hold him in place so he couldn't roll off or over. Does your table have that?

H. s

Give her some finger puppets and make up a story as you change her diaper. Also, as she gets a little stronger, you will learn to change her diaper when she is standing. It's easy for wet ones, and she may not mind so much laying down for messy ones if it's only once in a while.

My son was like that too. What worked for me was putting a toy inside his shirt. He'll be busy fishing it out while I hurry to change him. I hope this works for your daughter too. Good luck!

My son is totally the same way. I'm lucky if a toy preoccupies him but all I can say it, good luck. I don't think there really isn't a method to it. Just quickness I guess. I sometimes sing him a song too that way he'll look at me while I'm changing his diaper. Sometimes if it's really bad, I'll need my husband's help and that's all you can really do. Sorry, I know it's not the answer you wanted but just wanted to share my thoughts with you on this.

I had the same problem with both my girls. Actually, if you hold her hips down, she won't be able to move. So, use your forearm and press on her hips as your changing her diaper. Place the diaper under her, then use your forearm. Wipe, then place the diaper cream (I use Aquaphor). Be real quick to place the top part of the diaper underneath your foream, then seal. It should work. The whole time, you want to play with her, sing, whatever she likes to do - make funny faces yada yada yada. You can even explain what you're doing! lol... Good luck :)

You are lucky she is just getting thast way now and sorry to say it will just get worse as she gains her mobility independence. Just do the best you can and use that time to talk to her.

V.,
Okay, I was going to suggest a toy but since that doesn't work, try singing to her. Anything that gets her attention away from what you are doing worked well for me. The alphabet song is a good start, then any other songs you know. I even made up silly ones just to keep my son still.
Good luck.
T.

It is more of a challenge at this age. Forget about the changing table & change her on the floor or sofa, something that is harder for her to fall off of. You don't hold her down, but you will have to turn her body as needed to get the daiper under her and on her. Work quickly- don't worry about the cream unless she has a rash. You can try toys & this may work sometimes, but mainly she is reveling in her new freedom of movement. Once she is crawling and/or walking you will get to chase her too!

So this may seem a little much, but it works. If you change your baby on the floor you can put your legs over her shoulder/arms and keep her from rolling over. You can be very gentle, it just keeps them from being able to roll. I have 3 and many nieces and nephews. It has worked really well for many of them. Soon enough she will calm down for her diaper changes. Good luck keeping it clean.

okay this might sound harsh or cruel but if you do it fast it really isn't, plus what other choice do you have, you want your baby to have a clean butt, so I lay my son on the floor on his back and sit on my butt in front of him and place my feet on top of his arms so he is truly pinned down and cannot squirm away, and my hands are free to change diapers quickly. he definitely protests but he would anyways when I tried to change his diaper,
good luck

V.,

I know it sounds funny, but swaddle her arms when she is on the changing table- put the other diaper underneath before you take of the old one- so that you are ready-already have the wipes out etc and to the side- my son was super fast-so you just have to do it fast or learn how to change them when they are on their knees crawling- good luck!

Molly

LOL, I remember this stage! I put a mirror on the wall by the changing table at my daughters eye level so she could look in the mirror while I changed her diaper. This seemed to really help. Sometimes if they can hold an interesting toy that helps. It does seem like your wrestling at times doesn't it?

Lots of advice but thought I would share my idea as well. My daughter was the same and we used and still use a changing table. If she's moving that much, I'm sure you would rather have a poopy mess on your changing table rather than your floor. =) So, my suggestion is hang something from the ceiling like a mobile of some sort. Just out of arms reach so she can see it and you can move it or blow on it while you're changing her. I also always kept all sorts of new little toys or pamphlets in the changing table drawer that she only got when she was getting changed so they seemed new.
Good luck and don't worry these little phases to pass.

Hi,
I used this trick many years ago with my son. Both of you are down on the floor (with a pad/cloth underneath her)head at 12 o'clock and feet at 6 o'clock towards you with everything ready to go (fresh diaper opened up, any lotions/bottles uncapped/opened). Gently pin down her arms with your feet, leaving both your arms available to change the diaper. Sounds kinda wierd but worked for me and didn't seem like I needed to do that for a long time. Good luck.

Giving my son the remote control has been working so far :)

Try putting stickers on her hands. She well be so into those that she just might lay down for you. I tried that it worked for about a week. Finally i just had to hold my son down with my leg across his chest. But it made me get really quick with the diaper canges. The other thing that workd sometimes is to let him play with something that i never let him play with. Like my cell ohone or keys or teh diaper rash cream.

Keep different objects (small compact mirror, spoon, old CD, a cup) and toys she likes next to changing table (just make sure it is all clean because it is going straight in to her mouth)... and always let her hold one of them in her hand and talk about that object to her ...or sing a song making eye contact with her!!! And try to be fast about the diaper!!! LOL!!! Just have always everything you need with in reach... and make it pleasant, fun & FAST!!!! Love, G.. :0)
P.S. A soft tummy, arm & leg massage always helps.. and lots of kisses too!!!And no matter what.. do not get flustered beacuse it is contageous!!!

Ahh, the fun is just beginning! At this stage I changed them on the floor, gently "pinning" my kids down with my feet on their upper arms(wearing socks only of course).

Just wait, soon you'll learn how to change a diaper with your daughter in the standing position! That's even trickier!!

I know what you mean, I sing to my little one as I am walking her to the changing table and then i give her a little massage and continue to sing nursery rhymes and songs to her. I get her attention before aI start changing her. Hope it helps.

I'd say forego the changing table and move to the floor.. you can use your legs to surround her or put one on top of her if nothing else works. My nephew was like this too. Egads he was horrible! But I digress... I basically had to hold him down to get him still long enough to change him.

When my son went through that stage, I laid him on the floor, and sat at his feet with one of my legs crossed over his chest to hold him still(er). You still have to be fast, because they can squiggle out from under your leg, but I could usually hold my son down that way for long enough to get the diaper on. And, if you don't need the diaper cream, don't use it! It just makes diaper changes longer! I think I came up with this when I needed to change him on the floor one day, and I ran out of hands to hold him down. If I was using the changing pad, sometimes I would try holding him down with one arm/elbow while I changed him with the other hand, but that didn't work nearly as well.

Hi V.
Sounds very familiar. A toy did work a few times for me. Also singing (Old McDonald or Row Row Row Your Boat) got my son's attention to look at my face. Nothing worked for me everytime, but it still helped.
-S.