[Stormster]

DS won't let me change him, he flips over, doody everywhere, clamps his legs closed.

How can I keep him on his back? I was thinking a mobile over the changing table from the ceiling???

Thoughts? I literally can't hold him down and I'm afraid if I do I'll hurt him!!!!

[Mommy24]

Ahh, I remember those days...drives ya crazy! Do you give him something to hold onto and look at while changing him? That worked for me, I would give them something that required both hands to hold and kept their interest, maybe a small book? (open it up to a page for him, so he can look at it)

Good luck, this to shall pass

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by Stormster

DS won't let me change him, he flips over, doody everywhere, clamps his legs closed.

How can I keep him on his back? I was thinking a mobile over the changing table from the ceiling???

Thoughts? I literally can't hold him down and I'm afraid if I do I'll hurt him!!!!

I used to give fs a clean baby wipe or the remote control. Both would keep his interest for the couple minutes it took.

[Stormster]

Also I read in a book I have that it's good to speak to him when he's like that with lots of empathy..."ooooh I know this stinks! I know your rash feels icky today and you don't want to do this again" and you know he looked into my eyes and stayed put!

Not saying that will always work but it was cool! Remote control will work for sure!!!!!! No mere BABY toy will do the trick LOL

[nikkianni]

We put Eve's changing table by a window so she can look out while we change her. That's a good distraction: Birds, clouds, trees, Amish....
We also have a toy that stays on the changing table only. It lights up and plays music and since she only sees it when she's getting changed it stays interesting.
As for the talking, just babble away. I tell her what cartoon character is on her diaper this time, I tell her how stinky she is, nibble on her toes, etc. For us changing time is play time and she forgets to do all the flipping and fighting that way. Well, most of the time.

[tomandcate]

I went through the same problems with J. when he turned around 6 months, and I have a cyst on my right wrist (and I'm right-handed) so it made it not only very frustrating, but very *painful* for me to change him!

Thankfully he has started to relax a bit, for the last 2 months or so (he is almost 13 months now). I agree with the previous posters - I learned early on to have a special toy (or remote, or anything he doesn't usually get to play with) nearby that I can hand him while I change him - helps a lot.

The other thing I do is "meowww" or "nnnneigh" or "ribbbbit" at him - for whatever reason, this works any time I need him to calm down!

Good luck - I think they start this business when they realize they are a lot more mobile than they have been - once they can flip over and sit up, they are not quite so happy being on their backs, but the restlessness subsides over time. With my older son, by the time he was two, I would say "assume the position, it's time to change your pants" and he would lie down on his back without a word!

Cate

[MommyToTwo]

We changed our kiddos on the floor, and pinned their arms with our feet. It was the only thing that worked for us.

[2manyks]

the same here - i change him on the floor and use my leg across his body to hold him down. cant wait for this stage to be over!

[chrisandaaron]

I started watching WWF and tried a few of those moves, LOL I tried the mobile thing, he just ripped it down and hit me in the head with it Most of the time the diaper wipe or toy thing works. When it doesn't I just wrestle him down and wipe as fast as I can

Good luck!

[Sleepydream]

I sing the "stinky stinky boom boom" song. It gets him laughing and he is focusing on me instead of trying to escape....worked for DS #1, DD and is now working like a charm for DS #2.

If it happens to be one of "those" that takes a minute to clean up I make a huge production of it...holding my nose, fanning the air....all of mine have found it very funny and it keeps them in one spot until I am finished.

If you can't clean it in 2 verses of stinky stinky boom boom and a few PEEEEYEWWW, stinky pants comments it's time for a bath anyway....lol.

[startedover]

I get this look of total disbelieve and yell out something like, OH MY WHAT"S that.... My dauther will study my face trying to figure what just set me off. Be quick though, you may have to change to a silly face and then a scrunchy face really fast. Also you may have to lie. Yes I said it lie. Many times I have "heard" a kitty meowing while we are changing and I keep whispering "do you hear the kitty cat" while I look like I am trying to be mysterious. YOU CAN DO IT.

[Stormster]

sounds a lot like your son Chris (the part about hitting me on the head with the mobile). He went from 2 months of being a doll to this demanding creature who just cries and whines all the time! He also likes to take the skin on my neck/chest and squeeeeeeeze and twist it. I can tell he's definitely enjoying his new mobility and we are encouraging him but you know, when I'm tired and he's flipping over on his tummy on the changing table...I just want to pin him down but I would rather try the other stuff first because I'm convinced I'm going to mess him up unless I'm perfect LOL

Better get over that before the terrible threes (btw that thread about the twos vs the threes was great!)

Also, can I just say this. The boys and men on his bio dad's side are the most macho, active, boyish lot you have ever seen. I saw a seven year old cousin of his on a dirt bike! They had scars up the gazoo! I can't wait to see if he's like that. I hope he's not but it's my job to nurture his nature!~ Terrified!!!! I'm so not the outdoorsy type! LOL We shall see....

[DeafSiren]

Thanks for the question and all the advice. I'm having the same issue withour DS who is 5 months. He immediately flips over and wants to look around for interesting things. I have three "changing table only" toys and those sometimes help, but not for too long. The clean wipe thing might work. I'm hesitant to try the remote idea because we wouldn't want him playing with the real remote, so isn't it a mixed message to give him one he can play with and then tell him "no" with another one? Hmmm...something to think about.

He's wiggly and active (already crawling), but mostly I think he likes to look around and is always curious for new things to see and hold. Right now I think he's craning his neck to see the cord to the lamp that's kitty corner to his changing table...can't let him play with the cord, though. This motherhood thing takes a lot of deduction, reasoning, and cognitive problem solving, doesn't it? I'm clinging with hope to what one poster said that he might get out of this wiggly phase at some point.

Many Thanks,
L.

[mondk]

LOL...I needed a good chuckle reading some of these replies. My ds just started doing this. I make faces and say "oh puh shoey stink" and make a face. I also will sing to him songs where he has to move his hands like "The Wheels On The Bus". He loves the wipers going swish swish swish the best. I can usually get him re-diapered and his outfits snapped after 2 verses.

He also loves to munch his toes. It is so cute...when I say "oh puh shoey stink" he will lift his legs up for me...I wish you all could see him!

Blessings, Michelle