Tips for keeping spirited 8 mo old still during bum changes?

[Mashi]

I have no idea where to put this, so putting it here and please move to appropriate place!

Anyone have any tips for keeping an 8month old to STAY STILL during a bum change?  My little guy just flips over onto his tummy the second I put him down!  I end up flipping him back onto his back over and over and over again.  I give him toys to play with put they only amuse him for about 10 seconds and he wants to go over again. Argh! 

After 3 or 4 flips he gets really angry that I am repeatedly putting him on his back and he has to stay still for 3 minutes to get changed!   It's worse when he's covered in poop 

Someone once suggested sticking a sticker on my face, which I tried, and it worked for a short time, until he got frustrated that he couldn't REACH the sticker!!   

Surely someone has some good ideas!

[sanaya]

hey sweety, before you put him down give him a toy to hold and that will keep his attention for a bit, then put him down and change him FAST!

[mum101]

give him something novel, I give DS a book (something he is really interested in), a tube of cream (closed), or a dummy cover. Things he hasn't seen before are best.

I also put something funny on my head like a car, or socks and allow it to fall on his tummy. As they get older you can ask them to open the nappy or 'help' get a wipe. He thinks it's pretty funny to see something on my head.

Someone else mentioned something they are not usually allowed.

Each time Leo tries to roll over I simply say 'no, lying down' and roll him over. I am hoping pure repetition helps him understand the way it is while on the table.

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

I used to let Masyn hold something like the phone or a remote, which she wasn't normally allowed to have...then I switched to pullups at about 10 months - easy for changing a wet bum, just slip on a new one. Not any easier with the poopy ones though!

Heidi

[Mashi]

We've run out of "novel" things here! We've been through the wipes packet (which is now just his favourite standard toy....  ), the remote, the phone, the diaper, a diaper bag, my cell phone, a sock, a shoe, my dirty slipper (another favourite  )...

I was hoping someone would tell me where they bought some sort of velcro contraption..... 

[Edesanja]

If you hold both ankles with one hand (so his knees are to the sides like a froggy) then he'll be unable to roll over. My dd often protests but at least she can't roll over!

[Mashi]

If you hold both ankles with one hand (so his knees are to the sides like a froggy) then he'll be unable to roll over. My dd often protests but at least she can't roll over!

HA! You've never seen my DS!!!  This child can roll anywhere. And is VERY determined!! LOL!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

I was hoping someone would tell me where they bought some sort of velcro contraption..... 

hmmmm.....maybe buy a kids harness and sew it onto the change table? Might hold him down until he figures out the buckles  (I am fervently praying that Spencer never realizes how much fun rolling really is...she knows how, but has only done it about 6 times so far...)

[Edesanja]

My DD is spirited too, but with her ankles held at her belly button she can try to move her head in an attempt to roll , but she has no momentum because her legs can't push her round.

[Mashi]

So my DS is a weirdo! I wonder if he has some sort of hypermobility - the easiest way for him to turn is if I put his ankles at his belly button as described!  He arches his back to make himself flip, so if I put his ankles there, he just arches as much as he can and then uses his torso muscles to flip, and over he goes!  Ack!

[Mashi]

Yes Jay, all of the poop ends up on his feet, his legs, the changing mat, and then he starts flapping his hands and gets it everywhere! He's been a bit constipated this week and so getting some pellet-poops and I am secretly a bit happy about that!!  Less mess! How horrible is that of me! LOL.

We have a changing thing with our travel cot, I've never even assembled it as the travel cot isn't for travel but for use as a playpen so maybe I will dig it out and see if it has a belt.  Thanks for the tip!

[sanaya]

mash i dont know if youre open to this but i dont change ds on the table these days, it take him to the bathroom counter, open out the diaper with him standing, kinda pull the pamper down with the poop in it, take some toilet paper, clean up the exta poo, then wash him in the sink with soap under the running tap, hes facing me part on his stomach resting on my hand with something in his hands of course to keep him occupied.
of course i've mastered it and do a good clean up job after i've changed him disinfect everything well....... i hope you're not eeked out but  i tell you i stoppe the change mat thing about 2 months ago.

[~*Nicole*~]

I am both laughing and sighing while reading through these. My lo is a lil over 7 mos and she is starting to do this. I have changed many diapers with her on her belly by awkwardly pushing the diaper through and up....because I had given up flipping her back over!

Poo is a different story though. I have to keep putting her on her back. She hates staying still. Usually I do what the others have recommended, holding both ankles or giving her a toy or something new (she likes the vaseline container and the lotion container, but of course tries to put them in her mouth YUCK), but she is still wiggly and uses all her strength to twist her torso and the top of her often has to be turned to get her to go back on her back. At this point, I'd say it might take 2 people for a messy poo change! hehe. Wouldn't it be nice if we all had that luxury?

I have found that it is easier for me to change her on the floor for some reason. I gave up the table most times. I even dress her on her bedroom floor now b/c she can sit up for the part where I put the shirt sleeves on her arms or over her head and she much prefers sitting up these days!

[speechie]

OK- LOL- I think it may have been me that mentioned the sticker on your face bit- or at least I posted it somewhere...yes, my DS was the SAME way and had that crazy back arching flip and was incredibly strong- sorry you may have an early walker/runner on your hands. Okay...I let my son peel the sticker off my face - so sometimes I'd put 5 dots on my face, nose cheeks forehead, etc and keep his hands busy, then I put them on him, the wall, etc. anything to amuse him. I actually used those round office/yard sale dot stickers as they are cheaper. you could put a bunch on a empty toilet paper tube, etc. I too did standing poopy diaper changes at the toilet for a while...Stomach raspberries inhibit back arching, BTW. Singing or making really loud weird noises gets their attention...I'm just pulling anything out...hugs, hoping you get some more ideas...

[Ajay]

I'm probably jinxing myself, but, I have had some success in the last couple of days with a wrist rattle.  He hasn't had it on since he was a wee baby, and he spends the nappy change trying to get it off his wrist so he can eat the velcro.
HTH.
I have also found that 'singing' keeps his attention.  I can't sing, so he is probably trying to figure out who the heck is making that noise. lol.