Diaper changing aggrevation

[carli]

Is anyone else struggling with LO fighting diaper changes. DD rolls and kicks and pulls the diaper away. It's so extremely frustrating! I'd appreciate any tips yall can offer to get her to cooperate. It takes me 20 minutes to get her into a diaper and I just dread every diaper change.

[lilqt3929]

Yes, I'd say about half the time we have this problem. My suggestion is to keep books handy and offer them to LO. We frequently borrow library books that we keep in DD's room for bedtime (she doesn't have free access to her room) and since those are normally new and interesting books to her it typically does the job. You could also try special toys or just random things (small boxes, instruction pamphlets, toilet paper rolls, etc.). I will also confess that we are still using the changing table, it just works for us and DD is so much better on that then she would be on the floor and able to run away, although she is too tall for it now.

[annarose]

I give her my iPhone - she knows how to open up the Sesame Street app for Elmo's World or some of her fisher price apps

[fiveohfive]

I make her hold onto her pants which she usually either tries to turn right side out or attempts to put back on by herself. It usually gives me about a 2 minute window to change her diaper.

[carli]

Ok, I'm feeling like a failure parent today. How's bedtime for yall? Right now DD is crying in her room and I'm trying to get her to sleep. Baby #2 is coming Friday and I can't continue to rock her to sleep every night. I seriously feel like I'm so far behind in everything in terms of parenting today!

[lilqt3929]

Hang in there lady! We all have those days, we're only human. We definetly go through phases of easy and difficult bedtimes but I wonder if your LO senses something is up with the new baby coming soon. I know my LO gets fussy/upset/misbehaves more when I'm stressed out etc, I think she knows when something is just not the norm for us. If you are able to or have someone that can maybe try bringing her to a playground to exert some more energy, my LO always sleeps well after some playground time. I'm sorry I don't have any other real suggestions, just hang in there as this is most likely just a phase!

[joi922]

DS has been acting up more lately, too, particularly around nap or bed time. At first we assumed it's because he's an almost two-year-old, but now we're thinking it's also because he knows things are about to change with the arrival of his baby sister in 9 days. Hang in there - sounds like you're doing great! It's hard not to feel overwhelmed sometimes, but I think that's normal.

For diaper changes, we use a toy or my phone, or I just give up altogether and change him on the couch while he watches a cartoon. I've started saying "please stay still for mommy, we're almost done." That works about half the time. The other half I break a sweat wrestling him into the diaper

[carli]

Thanks yall. I have to say for all you stay at home moms (especially while expecting) I salute you! Saturday's are fine, I enjoy having her home but the past couple of weeks, by Sunday I'm so exhausted I about lose it. She went to sleep after 20 minutes last night so I guess that's not so bad. I just don't want to spend the last week of her only child-hood fighting with her.

I'll keep trying different things at diaper changing time. This morning I just let her take the diaper and fiddle with the Velcro while I put another one on. She went along with that really well.

[happymama]

We found the key to bedtime/naptime by accident. DD is very attached to her wubbanub and "ducky" (lovely). But she was starting to get buck teeth so now she only gets it to fall asleep. We leave her wub and ducky in her crib and wave goodbye, and she knows that she will get them again when she is ready to sleep. Now she has started asking for naps and bedtime and can't wait to go to bed.

We also got her a toddler pillow that she is pretty obsessed with. Now her crib is her little happy place. I also let her take a book to bed with her.

[sugarkissed]

carli, we struggled that last little bit before DD2 was born as well. Diaper changes have never been an issue but she suddenly started to fight everything else, like brushing her teeth or getting dressed and even her beloved baths. It's hard at the very end of pregnancy when your patience is already limited. Hang in there! It's a tough transition, but it does get better. We are 6 weeks in and returning to normalcy and better behaviour.

[redfraggle]

I could have posted this myself! I asked some other friends for advice, and I got some good ideas to share with you.
Diaper Changes
DD wants to sit on the potty at a lot of her diaper changes, so I've been making that happen. She peed on it today!
DD does not like it when I hold her leg during diaper changes. I knew she didn't like being restrained by the leg (if that makes sense), but I didn't realize how much me touching her leg bothered her. She articulated that to me one day, and it has made a huge difference.
I let her lay herself down. If she won't do it, I threaten to pick her up and lay her down myself, and she almost always complies because she wants to be independent.
I let her pick a book or toy or hold a wipe or play with her privates (after she's cleaned up) or whatever keeps her calm during the change. Today, she wanted me to sing silly words to the tune of the Innkeepers songs in Les Mis (something like "Master of the house, keeper of the zoo! Come lay down on the changing mat so I can change you!")
Some friends change their kids standing up. I opted not to try this because DD will run if she is on her feet, and then she'll pee on the floor.

Bedtime
If you haven't tried sleep training, you might want to. I wouldn't do it this week, though because she is likely to associate it with the new baby coming. I recommend the Sleep Lady Good Night Sleep Tight.
If she needs to be rocked to sleep, find a way to divide that with your H or another helper while you have a brand new baby in the house and re-evaluate your needs in a month or 2.
Be a part of her bedtime routine, even if it is just a hug and kiss or reading to her while you feed your baby. Also find some 1 on 1 time with her every single day, even just 5 minutes, even if it is really hard for you to do. This shows her that she is really important to you, even though you are devoting most of your time to your NB.

I can't believe Friday is the big day already! Can't wait to read your birth announcement!

[carli]

Thanks everyone. She was a perfect angel tonight lol. No issues with diapers (I followed your advice and let her fiddle with an extra diaper or my phone) and she went to bed really easily too. Hopefully we can continue to have good days. I'm a bit freaked at the idea of not being able to pick her up for 4-6 weeks post RCS so I think it has me fretting stuff I would otherwise handle better.