How to change a diaper on a flippy 1 yr old?

[lkmiscnet]

I have a changing table, but my LO will not stay still on his back for me to change his diaper. He is not walking yet and is just pulling up to stand.

I have tried bringing in items for him to play with, including things he hasn't seen before, but he just chucks them off the changing table and tries to flip around to see what else he can throw or where everything has landed. This is especially difficult when he has a messy diaper.

Anyone figure out any tricks on how to get it done?

[cristeen]

Well, my guy isn't 1 yet, but we gave up on the changing table ages ago. I change him on the mattress on the floor. I have a few things that are guaranteed attention getters, and I keep those at hand. And then I just deal. If it's just a wet dipe, I'm willing to let him crawl around for a minute. If it's a dirty dipe though, I keep his ankles in one hand and let him flip/turn/squirm all he wants - he's not going to get far until his butt's clean. And then again, I let him crawl for a minute if he needs to.

[VroomieMama]

my dd changed my twins' dipes today but one of them flipped and crawled away. Her mess got on the bed and the bed was not covered at all. My dh and I said we'd have to disinfect the bed and turn it over then cover it.

[Baby Mama]

My DD is 9months old and has become impossible to clean with wipes when she does a poop. So what i have to do is have the bathroom or kitchen sink running with warm water, soap ready nearby, and towel, then get her diaper off wiping as much as i can off with her diaper then run to the sink to wash with soap and water. She's totally calm for this, probably because she isn't lying down. When it's just a wet diaper, i just struggle to get a new one on.

[lifeguard]

A lot of people seem to prefer to change on the floor or a bed when they get to that active stage. I personally didn't like that (we have dogs that get too interested in the diaper change) & actually found it made it easier for ds to get away from me. I just persevered with the change table, kept everything close at hand & ready to go so things could be as quick as possible. It didn't take long for ds to realize that diaper changes were going to happen & to just accept it. He does still try to kick at me or scream even now but mostly he just lays back & lets me get it done, in return I try to make it fun with kissing & tickling & singing & go as quick as I can.

[bender]

I keep putting my 1yo back on his back until he stays there. I tell him he needs to lie down to be safe while I change him. I use the stern mommy voice when I say it. At some point, he's start crying because he can't flip around, but he'll stop moving so I can change him safely. It's not fun, and the changes can take a bit longer, but he's learning. My parents are impressed that he lies so quietly for me, but with them, he's everywhere. I think it's because they laugh and joke with him, so he does it more to get the attention.

[JordanKX]

I HAVE to use the changing table. Granted my 9month old is about to outgrow it, but there's something about it, he knows he's supposed to stay put. He squirms once, I grab around his body at his belly - not around his legs - and put him back on his back and he stays put. It's not really an issue.

But if we're out, if we're at someone else's house, or if I try on the floor... that's another story. That's his Freedom space. And he Will.Not stay put.
And he's definitely the personality that if I give it one ounce of attention, he'll just look at me and Smile, like it's a game, and keep going harder. So I have to be really quiet and not give in to my instinct to say No, or Stop, or anything else. I just have to, again, grab around his belly - and he's a chunky guy - and put him back in place.

If it's just wet, and I pat his bottom and try to tickle him... it changes the game and he'll lift his legs up and participate.
Toys won't do it for me. But a pacifier for those 20 seconds of a dirty dipe normally works.

[texaspeach]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

A lot of people seem to prefer to change on the floor or a bed when they get to that active stage. I personally didn't like that (we have dogs that get too interested in the diaper change) & actually found it made it easier for ds to get away from me. I just persevered with the change table, kept everything close at hand & ready to go so things could be as quick as possible. It didn't take long for ds to realize that diaper changes were going to happen & to just accept it. He does still try to kick at me or scream even now but mostly he just lays back & lets me get it done, in return I try to make it fun with kissing & tickling & singing & go as quick as I can.

I find changing on the floor or bed to be a hassle too, then ds really can get away. I have started using the seat belt on the changing pad. I'm not sure if I was supposed to be using it before, but I found that it got in the way. it doesn't keep ds perfectly still but it slows him down. I get the diaper/wipes/etc ready before we start and try to have a variety of toys handy (they don't always work). diaper changes are non-negotiable here. I try to make it as pleasant/fun as possible, but if it comes down to holding him down to get it done that's what is going to happen.

[Peony]

Am I really the only one that does this? Once they can stand up I NEVER EVER change lying down again. I plop some toys on a low coffee table, park bench, seat of a car... and change them standing up. I find is so much easier then wrestling a squirming child though I did master the art of putting a diaper on a baby who is crawling away like 7 years ago.

[mambera]

We do lots of standing diaper changes here too. DD likes to look in the mirror or flip the light switch on and off; those will usually keep her occupied long enough for me to change a pee dipe.

We have a sink right next to the changing station and we have always washed her bottom with soap and running water after poops. She stands up in the sink for that, and tolerates it pretty well as long as she can play with the toothpaste or deodorant. If she seems cooperative sometimes I'll try to lie her down for the new diaper, but if not I'll just diaper her standing, sitting, or crawling.

[texaspeach]

I've tried standing diaper changes but can't seem to get the hang of them. he won't actually stand up long enough for me to finish putting the diaper on. he stands fine normally, but I think he has a sixth sense to thwart diaper changing

[MsVyky]

My DD is rollypoly during diaper changes too. Most times she can be appeased by giving her a diaper to play with (that's always what she reaches for). i think we're gonna have to give up on the change table soon.

[coldandsleepy]

We change on the floor on a blanket typically. I lay him down and hand him a toy. If it's a poopy diaper, then I hold his feet way up while I wipe off his front... he's so strong that it's a real struggle. Then I usually just let him flip into crawling position (what he wants to do anyway) to wipe his backside.

If it's not a poo diaper, then I usually just let him crawl away for a minute or two while I get the new diaper ready. After he's played for a minute or two, I lay him back down and put the diaper on. Mostly it works, but sometimes I have to chase him and diaper him while he crawls. Ah, well.

We do standing diaper changes sometimes too but I'm just not as good at them yet. (We do prefolds and covers, which doesn't help-- I can see it being WAY more doable for me if used AIOs or sposies.)

I have to admit I miss the days when diaper changes were something he liked. Now he acts like we're torturing him when we put him down on his back.

[cristeen]

Originally Posted by Peony

Am I really the only one that does this? Once they can stand up I NEVER EVER change lying down again.

Mines not standing reliably yet.

[cloudbutterfly]

I put a wrist rattle on him, or fasten a toy to the changing pad belt with a pacifier tether. Granted, he's not crawling yet, but he twists and turns with the best of them if I don't give him something to keep him occupied.