I need a GD way to deal with this

[Caittune]

When it comes to get changed for bed or having her diaper changed, DD is rather...uncooperative. I was having some major anger issues before, and my best way of dealing with it was to walk away and cool down.

Unfortunately that has kind of become a habit, and it is a habit I don't want to continue.

For example, this afternoon at nap time, I told dd that it was about time to change diapers and go get into a sleeper for snuggles and snoozes. She was not thrilled about the idea, and didn't want to come. I eventually picked her up and carried her to her room. She proceeded to do a crocodile roll every time I was about to get her dipe undone to change it. So I said, I don't want to play this game and walked away. She cried and got super upset.

I don't want her to think I'm withholding my love from her if she does things I don't want her to do. Maybe at 22 months, I'm just expecting too much? I don't want to hurt her by holding onto her. I've accidentaly given her a bruise because she has very sensitive skin. I felt like the worst mommy in the world!

So what can I do? Do I just sit there until she is ready? She wouldn't sleep if I didn't sort of force it on her, but she is usually out within 5 minutes so I know she is tired.

[LilyGrace]

I don't know if you already do this, but having a choice handy helped at that age. "It's time for a diaper change. Do you want to lay down on the blue blanket or the fuzzy blanket?"

[Caittune]

Hmm no I haven't tried that.

Maybe I'm also waiting too long to get her ready for bed. The battles usually happen around bedtime with dipe changes. Maybe she is over tired and hyper...hmmm Just thought of that when I realized it does only take her about 5 minutes to pass out cold asleep.

[wendizbaby]

Well first.....TOTALLY normal.
I was having a lot of battles at diaper changes and then one day I noticed that my dh wasn't. He really plays with my ds when he's doing diaper changes. So, I started doing what he does....a lot of times, I'll let my ds play with a toy while we are doing it or I distract him with letters on his wall or stickers that he has stuck up by his changing table that are captivating because he only sees them when I'm changing him. Another thing I do is change him on the floor and just say, "come on over and lay down here". I'll put a little pillow down that he likes to lay on and act like he's sleeping.
That's all the tricks in my bag.
Good luck!
Wendi

[highdesertmama]

We are going through this too - frustrating! :

My dd is more cooperative if I don't force her to come into her room, but change her wherever she is at the moment. That's about all I've got. I'll have to try the distraction and choices pp mentioned!

[Nekawa Ma]

Can you change her diaper while she's standing up? Would it work to let her sleep in her diaper or in her play clothes?

My dd doesn't like to be changed if I lay her back and treat her body like I'm dressing a doll. But if I let her "help" me a bit while she's sitting up or standing, she's much more agreeable.

[Caittune]

I think that letting her stand up will help. At the moment we are not at home so we don't have our usual bag of tricks and I'm sure that isn't helping.

We usually get prety messy throughout the day and I hate changing sheets. Hmm I see that this maybe is my problem. She always seems to sleep better in a sleeper too. BUt I haven't tried putting her down in clothes for a long time.

She loves to be very warm when she sleeps. Example, last winter she would have on a fleecy sleeper, a swaddle blanket and 2 minky/fleece blankets. Her dad is the same way. Needs a lot of blankets.

We are using sposies atm to...which I find hard putting on standing up. When we get home we will go back to cloth which also might help.

[Ornery]

Diaper changes are a challenge for us as well. I don't do as much "play" during changing as my DH does either, but for me, it is because I do so many changes a day. When I do remember to take a minute and play through it, it is so much easier. Otherwise, all I have are hugs for you, and to remember that this too shall pass.