Thursday, August 4, 2011

A little ADDIEGATOR with a whole lot of ADDIETUDE...

Photobucket
our little Addiegator
Diaper changing has been a chore since Addie was about 4 months old...and not because I mind changing diapers...its the production that diaper changing has become.  At 5 months we stopped using the changing table because of her rolling around and my severe anxiety of her rolling off the table.  We used the crib until we had to lower that because she was starting to pull up and now we are on the floor in the living room most days with a changing mat.   It never fails though...any diaper change involves one of more of the following:

1.  Big crocodile tears - Loud wailing and lots of crocodile tears over the diaper change...she generally stares right at me while doing this as if to say..."momma, are you really putting me through this-can't you see you're breaking my heart?!"

2.  Flipping to her stomach - Despite me holding her legs she will flip her body over and do her best to crawl away from me - if I stop her...cue #1 above.  The worst part is that she usually does this before I have a chance to wipe her...and for the sake of my rug which just so happens to be dark brown - it's kind of a mess.  She is one feisty and determined little girl...wonder where she gets that from?!

3.  Playing with her just removed dirty diaper - uugghhh...gross.  I try to keep it as far from her reach as possible but sometimes she gets it...a tug-of-war match generally follows.

Any mommas out there have any advice for this momma on how to make this process any easier??  I have seriously almost started sweating before over a diaper change because of the amount of energy it takes some days.  My best trick has been to hand her something to keep her occuppied and work as quickly as possible but with a 3 second attention span - it just doesn't buy me much time these days!

J

21 comments:

Natalie said...

Girl I feel you pain! Nolan used to be so good about changing minus the crocodile tears. Now it's that and the flipping over and trying to crawl away. I feel like I have to man handle him just to change it...and I'm like you I really dread changing them. I can sometimes distract him with a toy or object but like you said it doesn't last long!

Lucy The Valiant said...

This is so frustrating! My oldest never did this, but the baby? Has been a huge struggle to change every.single. diaper! She rolls, she cries, she kicks... it's maddening!

Annie said...

My 7mo does the SAME thing! I do a few different things depending on his mood:
- If he's super fussy and sleepy I nurse while changing him (it's just easier that way).
- I tickle and blow raspberries on his belly and play peekaboo.
- I give him a toy.
- Every time he tries to roll over I gently press his hip down on the spot that tickles really bad right above the top of the pelvic bone. Works great!

Nothing really works fully, but you do what you can. Haha!

Amber said...

OMG I totally feel your pain - Abby is the same exact way! The crocodile tears break my mom heart on a daily basis (especially since she does fine if anyone besides me is changing her)!Sometimes I can distract her with a "toy" (i.e. something she really shouldn't have like one of her hangers or a bottle of lotion), but usually I just have to listen to her scream at me as if I'm causing her some kind of immense pain!

Samantha said...

Such a struggle! I don't think that there is a PERFECT solution... we just switch it up everytime, hoping for the best. Hey, at least we are getting faster with each change ;)

Kim said...

We are going through the same thing. I dread diaper changes! She screams like I'm torturing her and arches her back to flip over. I try to have a "new" toy to give her each time. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't :)

Cajun Cowgirl said...

We do A LOT of singing and "where's your ----" for distraction! Oh these babies!

Carole Morris said...

I have no advice. Ballerina and I go through this same dance every day except we have no tears. She laughs at me. Seriously laughs. As if to say, "Momma, you are such a goober! You know I'm gonna win!!"

Good Luck! And if you find anything that works, post it!

Carole @ The Jubilee Circus

Joeylee said...

I'm having that same problem with Keira. She doesn't cry, but she squirms around...flips on her tummy and doesn't sit still. So I found giving her a toy helps me to change her diaper quickly

Kate Clower said...

YEP! Totally feeling this.

Madeline is such a rolly-polly, too. I on the otherhand continue to use the changing table becuase she tends to roll less on it.

Sometimes when the floor is my only option I just stick the thing on her while she's sitting. It looks hella awful, but I just re-adjust once she's in a better position (note - this only works with wet ones!) ;)

Good luck!

Unknown said...

Ok the title is just too cute! I feel ya on the diaper changes. I refer to it as wresting an alligator too. Wish they could just changed themselves haha.

Anonymous said...

I so feel your pain because Morgan seems to do the same thing. The only thing that seems to usually work on most days is a clean fresh diaper. I dont know what it is that is so entertaining but she loves the diaper. It usually allows me just enough time to get the diaper change finished.

Jessica Hudson said...

This post could literally be about Tyler. I feel like a UFC fighter trying to tackle him and hold him down. He turns so hard I'm afraid he's going to pull his leg out of the socket or hurt his spine. If you figure out a trick, let me know! I can occasionally keep him occupied with the tube of Butt Paste, but that doesn't last long.

I feel your pain!

Brittany said...

Cute post! Xander is 17 months now and I have to say that it does NOT get any easier! I am the same exact way when it comes to changing his diapers. He hates diaper changes!! I usually give him my Iphone to play with for a few minutes.. esp. if its a poop, it keeps him distracted! I saw a commercial for Huggies pull on diapers today "for busy toddlers" and actually considered trying them!

Jennifer said...

I can so relate to all of this. We had a long standing battle with diaper changing. Now, its much, much better. Well, except for the fact that she still wants to grab her dirty diaper. Much to may dismay, of course.

Ashley said...

Number 3 grosses me out the door and they try to do it EVERY time!!

Lana said...

Well, my advice was going to be to try a toy, but you already do that. My only other tip is to put the clean diaper under her bottom before you take the dirty one off. Then once you slide the dirty one off you can wipe and cinch up the other one. It's hard to explain, but it does save time. We haven't reach that point with Lydia yet, but I'm sure the time will come. :) Lana

Jessica said...

http://www.mommyshorts.com/2011/07/9-strategies-for-diaper-change.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MommyShorts+%28Mommy+Shorts%29

Read this post awhile back by a blogger...Mommy Shorts.

I'm fighting the same battle...I'm still not winning. Hope it gets better

Raven said...

I also feel your pain!! My 16 month old does this and drives me crazy! Only thing I do that helps is give him my cellphone. He is crazy over my phone so that distracts him while I do the deed!

Aubrey-N-Shaemous said...

I've always got a special juice in a sippy for mine to have. He ONLY gets it when he gets diaper change, after bath, getting dressed. He's so happy he gets the yummy juice that he stays still and gobbles it all up. But the time the 4 oz of juice is gone i've gotten him a new diapers, lotioned, and pjed. Hope this helps!!

Madison's Mommy said...

Ummmm....yeah....totally could have writen this post myself ;-) This was the story of my diaper changes ALL week! I have started giving Maddie a board book to hold during the whole changing process and it seems to help! If you find the magic fix PLEASE let me know!!
XOXO