Intro and help please!

PinkDahLia44

Hello everyone! I wanted to do a quick intro and was wondering if I could get some advice from some veteran parents...

I'm 30 years old and have an almost 7-month-old son who is an absolute joy in our lives. I am not new to the bump, although I have never posted on any boards, but I have followed October 13 since I became pregnant, and have checked in on parenting from time to time in the last 7 months. (My screen name will make it look like I just joined recently, but I really just created a new screen name because my old one was my full name). I do like to drink ;-) Dry red wine is my favorite, although I can't hold my liquor anymore (not really sure I ever could, lol). Anyway, I thought because I was so late to the game, I might wait until I was pregnant again to join a board, but I am posting now because we are recently having an issue that I thought maybe some of you more experienced mommas could help me with...

So the issue: My son is a happy-go-lucky baby most of the time. All smiles and happiness. We recently started a bedtime routine, which includes every other night bathtime. He likes the bath well enough, although he protests when we take him out. The real problem comes when we try to get him dressed for bed. This boy screams bloody murder! He does it from the time his back hits the changing table to the time we pick him up. He also flails this whole time. So in addition to making it difficult to listen to him scream-cry, it is also difficult to get the job done. We have tried tag-teaming (one of us tries to distract him while the other dresses), distracting with toys, a bottle....nothing stops it. He does not do it any other time we change or dress him, only after the bath, and I don't think it's a temperature problem, although I guess that can't be ruled out. Does anyone have any experience with this or any advice?

TIA!

kellyrn9956

My son is extremely anti-clothing. 

I do nothing, other than fight until the clothes are on. 

So really, I got nothing. Maybe by this time in the evening, he's overtired? Around your son's age, my J needed to start going to bed really early (like 6:30, 7:00), or else the evening was hell. 

PinkDahLia44

Thanks, @kellyrn9956! I don't think it's overtired. He naps around 5:30/6:00 and his bath is around 8. I wish we could get him down earlier and have some adult time before bed, but, alas, he goes to bed around 9/9:30. I am also a nurse, so I don't get home til 8:00 when I work, so I guess his later bedtime is nice because at least I get to see him for a few minutes on those days...

secretsout

We went through a phase of this.  We just fought through it. 

Fair warning--It got way harder for us to get him dressed once he could walk/run. 

And now, all of a sudden, he hates going without clothes, so I just pretend like he isn't going to get dressed and he is then begging me to put on his pants/shirt. 

PinkDahLia44

Thank you for responding, ladies! Glad to know it's not just us, even if we just have to grin and bear it for a little while. I think tonight maybe I'll try cuddling with him after his bath for a few minutes before getting him dressed...Wish me luck!

theimpossibleastronaut

DD can get cranky during changing time too, I think she's outgrowing it though. Our go-to trick is music--Either singing or playing music on a phone. It works most of the time to calm her down. Just a thought.

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FrickandFrack

Welcome. As @Sterling13‌ said, "this too shall pass".

PinkDahLia44

Thanks everyone! I snuggled with him in his towel for a few minutes tonight instead of dressing him right away, which did help a little. I didn't think it was a temperature problem, but now I'm second guessing myself. I will definitely try dressing him in the bathroom next time.

And of course, if all else fails, I'll make sure to have some wine on hand

jorkz821

I also have a 7 month old and changing him has turned into a flailing, protesting, rodeo style event. Every time. And I dress him in the bathroom after bath so it's not like he's cold. At least he wouldn't be if he'd quit rolling around and kicking off his towel while screeching like a volume impaired pterodactyl.

It's just a phase, but I can commiserate.

ready-or-not

Besides ruling out it being a temperature thing, have you tried giving him a little naked time after his bath? Be prepared to clean up some pee, but my kids have all LOVED a little nakie time in the evening b4 the pjs go on & it's bedtime. ESP my DS, who has found his friend for life in his "winkie" (as nicknamed by my DDs lol). Just 5-10 minutes or so to air out & get a little freedom from the diaper might help change his attitude!