It’s almost as soon as your child discovers the joy of their legs that nappy changing time can become a huge and upsetting struggle. Changing a nappy can be so difficult and some children just seem to simply not like their nappy changed. As a parent who has experienced this, I have a few tips to surviving the nappy change wriggles.
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Possum has always been the type of child who, from a very young age, had much better things to do than getting her nappy changed. Rolling, twisting and squirming during nappy changing time were all too familiar sights to me as a parent. It got to the point where I was absolutely dreading changing her nappy because I knew it was going to be a challenge that I’d have to eventually win but no really feel so great about the battle that got me there.
Tips for surviving the nappy change wriggles
Over time I feel I became good at knowing what helped and hindered the challenge. Obviously all children are different, however, I’d love to share with you a few of my own tips that have helped me get through the nappy changing wriggles.
Provide a distraction
You might have read a recent post I wrote describing how I organised my baby change table. As you may well know, it’s basically full of safe little toys and random objects that would provide enough entertainment for me to complete a nappy change.
Give a time frame
Giving children pre-warning can be very helpful. Saying something like, “I’ll be changing your nappy in 1 minute” gives the child a good understanding of what they can expect to happen and (hopefully) be more compliant.
Make it fun!
Playing music or introducing them to cute characters, such as Baby Bud, can be relatable to your child and make this time less stressful. It’s always easier to do something when you’re not feeling you’re the only one doing it.
Encourage child participation
You might also like getting your child involved in the changing process. Ask them to pull out a wipe or choose which nappy they’d like to wear are great little ways to get them involved.
Create something for them to look forward to
Children will be much more enthusiastic to have a nappy change if they have something to look forward to afterwards. Saying, “Once you’ve had your nappy changed you can ______” creates anticipation and excitement and the task of a nappy change doesn’t seem as such a big deal.
Finally…
BabyLove Nappy Pants – awesome and not just for toilet training!
I’ve honestly always been a massive fan of BabyLove nappies. With Possum’s sensitive skin she always developed a rash with the other competitive brands so we’ve stuck with BabyLove brand from her birth and not looked back. When BabyLove asked me to review their nappy pants, I was more than happy to as I already loved the products and couldn’t wait to share how they have helped me with the nappy time wriggles.
Despite what people often think, BabyLove Nappy Pants are not just for children who are starting to toilet train, if your child can stand then these are what you need to make nappy changing time so much easier.
The super stretchy waist means that these nappies are really easy to get onto an escaping little one and offer the comfort and leakage protection of a regular nappy. I’ve found them to be particularly helpful during those moments when your little one falls asleep unexpectedly in the car, as you don’t have to worry that their nappy won’t provide them with the leakage protection they need.
This gorgeous soft toy is one of Possum’s favourites. His name is ‘Woofy’ and he is demonstrating to you how these BabyLove nappy pants have easy & clean removal sides that you can simply tear. This makes cleaning up a little (or big) mess quick to deal with.
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I made up a nappy changing song for my youngest daughter (my other children were happy enough to have their nappies changed, but my youngest was not a fan of change time). I used to sing: “it’s nappy changing time in 5,4,3,2, and 1. Time to grab your nappy.” This gave her a cue that the nappy change was happening and a time frame. She loved to get her nappy. Then when on the change table she was kept busy with the words from the rest of the song, which were: “Clap your hands three times, touch your nose, pat your head, blow a kiss – all done. I just added extra words if need be (pull a funny face, quack like a duck etc).
Oh what an awesome prize!!! With my two active boys, singing a lively tune (with accompanying funny faces or voices) helped keep their attention – kisses on the tummy and eskimo kisses were great too 🙂
I’ve been using those Baby Love stretchy waist ones now for some time as my little boy is very active and like Poss, doesn’t like to stay still for a nappy change. I’ve found that by making it into a race, I often get the results I want. Each time we try to beat how long it takes to change the nappy. We count together, starting at 1, which is great practice for him and we make it fun by getting faster as the number gets higher. A 10 second nappy change is a good one, haha.
we use these nappy pants as night nappies for my smallest… that way he can get himself dressed and ready for bed which is great for everyone!
OH, we have a car book. It’s the ONLY thing that keeps him still! Otherwise he kicks me in a big game. Strong baby boy legs are not much fun at nappy changing time.
We’re in that awkward phase now where we’re just about to start toilet training with my daughter, but not quite ready for it yet (she is ready, I’m not ha ha ha). I’m tearing my hair out figuring out whether to buy that one last box of nappies or nappy pants. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with these Babylove Nappy Pants. Very keen to give it a go. Love those super stretchy sides – and so good to know they are good for wrigglers and are not just for toilet training. Perfect! xo
To help with my twisty little girl I made a family tree on the back of her bedroom door with photographs of all her family. To keep her distracted I ask her “where’s aunty Mariea? “where’s granda Larry?” While she’s looking for each person I quickly do a change before she does a crocodile roll! Lol
I try to explain exactly what’s happening and give warning, i.e. ‘when you’re finished that we’ll change your nappy’. Seems to go down better than a surprise attack, lol.
My little one loves being independant so we call them big girl pants which makes her want to put them on so that she can be just like her big sisters, it works a treat 🙂
Usually placing a stamp or sticker on their hand does the trick and causes enough distraction for nappy changing time. Also, I have a small bottle of bubbles and blow some up into the air.
We have a wriggly worm at the best of times so nappy changes need to be quick and fun so we sing the classic songs – Head, shoulders, knees and toes and she taps on the corresponding body parts or we sing Old MacDonald and she makes the sound of the animals. Peek-a-Boo works but only sometimes (she has to be in the mood) and Row Row Row Your Boat. If she needs further distraction I will give her the nappy, wipes or cream to hold.
Every time i have to change nappy i ask my 19 months old to take out the new nappy from the drawer – its his favourite part of nappy changing time where he gets to open the drawer and then close it.
Then while changing nappy he tries to escape or kick me then i play “Name the body- part ” game . When is shows no interest , then loudly i say ” o my – your elbow is gone ” and it takes him a while to figure it out and by that time the nappy change is over . It works almost every day and everytime i name a new body part thats gone missing ….
This puppy is just adorable! Such helpful tips!
We have a star projector with stars that move and change colour and as we keep the nursery fairly dark it makes a fabulous distraction during nappy change time at any time of day.
I’ve got two in Naopies still who are very busy and active little boys making nappy changes a challenge. Some great tips here to help though so thank you! With my youngest I let him choose something safe, usually from my big utensil drawer, like a whisk to explore during the change time. For my oldest who is able to reason, I use a first / then approach. First we change your nappy and then we can do… etc. I also have some picture cards to help him as he is non verbal. We love baby love nappies, they are super soft and the most comfortable we have found!
My youngest ones are wrigglers and been twins like to compete for everything. So along with a teenage child we sometimes have races to see who can get changed first. They help when needed and older child is determined it will be a long time to having her own child. Baby Loves are great and will be trying the pants soon for indoor use or traveling, should be easier. They use normal underwear outside so much easier to clean up the mess in warmer weather and easier on the rubbish bins.
My 20 month son is stealth in his nappy change avoidance techniques so I have to deploy a variety of distraction methods during these everyday evolutions (yes my terminology indicates that these have to be undertaken with military precision! Often I start with one distraction – and quickly flick between other forms- ie start with singing a sing about his nose which is obliged to grab and then grab mine- as his eyes start to wonder I start kissing his feet or pretending to eat his ear, or the usually successful end of operation tactics is to hold both his feet with one hand and push his feet against me (usually my cheeks) and then I pretend to fall over- that he has pushed me over. This is a guaranteed giggle inducing distraction that always allows me to finish off the nappy change!
I make up silly songs about what’s happening in the room to get my 2 year old to laugh. If she laughs, she’ll always come in for a hug and say “oh mum!” then I can sweep her off her feet. kiss her all over her face until she squeals & lay her on the ground. If that fails I grab her play phone & pretend someone is on the line for her but they’ll only talk to her if she lays down.
To make changing a breeze,
A few things we do to ease,
Number 1 is lay on the floor,
It’s a game, he’s wanting more.
Two, we get a book,
And together have a look,
Three is play peek a boo,
It’s a winner yes it’s true,
By now his attentions gone,
On the nappy it’s no more,
Quickly get in fast,
Let’s hope for now it’s the last!
I try and distract him with getting him to repeat the alphabet letter by letter to me, I give him lots of praise and it gives me just enough time to change him before he realises what has happened!
Other than suggestions you’ve mentioned i do two things – I keep a hand towel handy, my son never gets sick of a good game of Peek a Boo. I’ve also got photos of family and friends on the wall next to his change table. I point and ask “who’s that?” and it seems to keep his attention off trying to roll off the table!
For my daughter to get her nappy changed I sing her a song about having her nappy changed. It engages her attention, she giggles and smiles and its changed before she even realizes that she hasn’t moved for two minutes. The song goes, change your bum, change your bum, mummy going to change your bum, change your bum, bum, bum. The number two’s a different story, I usually put her favourite teddy next to her, set myself up and still sing the song. She is only five months so I am sure she will get more challenging as the time goes on but hopefully for now it works.