kicking screaming at diaper change

jchytil · May 2013

For at least the last 2 months my 17 month old son refuses to get his diaper changed he runs from us. Then once we lay him down doesn't matter if its on the floor or his changer he screams kicks and tries to get away. I will tell him to calm down and tell him to relax but it does no good. It is very hard for me to change him by myself. I don't know why he does this does anyone have any suggestions on to make him stop?

alstumb@gmail.com · May 2013

My son is 20 months and the only solution I've found is pinning his legs down with my legs while I change him.

He thinks it's hilarious to kick me, even though I have never laughed about it and always tell him "no kicking" when he does it. No toy in the world will distract him.

jchytil · May 2013

I will have to try that. I too have never laughed or made it a game I just don't know why he thinks its so terrible to get a nice clean diaper on!

RMama2012 · May 2013

My boy is much younger so I won't be suprised if this doesn't work for much longer but I give him something he is not normally allowed to play with. My iphone, keys, lotion, etc. I don't stress the clothes, just the diaper. Then I dress him slowly as he plays.

oliversmommy32912 · May 2013

We are going through the same thing. He laughs when I tell him no, no matter how stern or loud or scary or serious I try to make my voice. He just knows I'm not scary I guess lol. I have tried pinning his legs down firmly, giving him toys, etc. The only thing we have found that works is singing a crazy song. I usually use old Mcdonald and I do some really good crazy animal sounds. It distracts him just long enough. I think the key is trying lots of different tthings until you find something that works. Hopefully it's a phase and they will grow out of it! I'm tired of toddler wrestling.

Mommy2CB · May 2013

My DS1 isn't a fan of diaper changes either.. I usually ask him to hold the diaper or a wipe or anything really.. or i'll ask him to count, or any questions.. it usually distracts him long enough. Or I will tickle him

WhitWed · May 2013

DD started to do this around 18mo. She'd run, wiggle, kick, or do the belly roll and just laugh at how funny her new found game was. So what we did when she tried these tactics was to sing her favorite nursery rhymes incorrectly (wrong words, out of tune, skip parts, etc.). It frustrated her to the point of rolling over to scold us ("not right, mommy") and then we'd start over and sing it correctly together as she laid still for the diaper. It worked wonders for us. She's 21mo now and we rarely have to resort to that method, but she loves picking different songs to sing at diaper time now! It's definitely a phase, but I recommend finding something that will distract your LO and make them want to interact with you while you change her diaper to help move the phase along. Good luck!

sunnyday016 · May 2013

Yup, changing his diaper is pretty much a guaranteed screamfest. I just try to pin him down, hold his legs up, and do it as fast as possible.

jennyelf · May 2013

Mine is only 12 months, but we've been dealing with kicking and screaming changes since he was 10 months. Recently we've discovered that he really really loves his books, so we give him a washable book to "read" while he's being changed. That's led to a 50% drop in kicking and screaming.