DD (11 months) is in the habit of executing an alligator roll the instant her back hits the changing table, around 50% of the time depending on her mood. She completes the maneuver by sitting up, leaning over and grabbing objects off the table like her vitamin D drops, nosefrida, butt paste, etc. I try to hedge this behavior by giving her an object to play with right when I put her down, but that only works some of the time, and that roll is STRONG. I can usually manage to get the diaper off before she sits up but applying the new one is a different story. Any tips, other than letting my naked baby roam free peeing as her heart desires all through the house? Duct tape perhaps?
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@PawPrints: Sympathies to you! I remember well (and loathe) the alligator roll! Sometimes singing or asking her about different things on the wall or about her clothes was helpful - anything to keep her occupied. Sometimes I resorted to giving her my phone (usually not even with a video, just literally handing her my phone with a black screen) helped. It felt like it would never end, but after a few weeks it did die down. She went through another spurt of rolling at 20 months that also went away quickly. Good luck!
ETA: When DH was home I would have him come in and hold her down, too!
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This probably sounds really mean but there were times I would have to use my feet to hold him down in order to get the diaper on (we usually changed him on the floor, so much easier once he was mobile).
ETA: we tried toys, etc. as a distraction but they usually ended up tossed to the side. He wanted to be up and moving and nothing was going to stop him!
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I always change him right after he wakes up because he's still sleepy and less likely to mount an epic battle with me and the diaper, sadly doesn't work for those poopy diapers that are the WORST. Other things that sometimes work - singing a song, getting him interested in a small toy we can take with us before attempting the change, letting him stand while I put the new diaper on (totally awkward and takes 10 times longer). Seriously, how are babies this small so strong!?!?!?
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@PawPrints: No advice but I can commiserate with my 15 mo. old. I've tried singing, giving him items to play with, sometimes those work, most times they don't. I try a stern no but mommy's not very good at that.
Daddy being in the room works when he's available since he's got a better 'stern' voice.
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We moved the changing pad to our guest bed. We put a big towel down, put the changing pad on top, and then buckle my son in with the strap pretty tight right below the armpits. Then we hand him something or I throw a towel over his face to play peekaboo and then try to move quickly. If he rolls he has to take the whole pad with him!
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Yes, we know that alligator roll well these days, too! Our 9mo has been doing this for at least the last month & I agree: HOW are LO's THIS strong?!? I try & distract her with toys on the table just long enough to get through the diaper change & we almost always dress her on the floor so she doesn't fall or knock everything off the changing table.
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We had to do the same as @KT326: for a while. I'd try to make a game of it by tickling him with my toes while changing him. But we'd basically pin him down until he learned he couldn't roll away during diaper changes.
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@PawPrints: This is why we did most of the diaper changes on the floor.
I just got a "travel changing pad"
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We started doing diaper changes standing up and using Higgies slip-ons! They're like a pull up but with the absorbency of a diaper.
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we went through a phase of this, too, right around then. and I learned to change him standing up. now he's better about laying down to have the diaper put on but I still take it off and wipe while he's standing up. Not ideal, but it works for us.
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Escape is in full force over here. When he is poopie I change him standing in the bathroom because that makes clean up so much easier. He's going to put my back out launching himself off the table one of these days.
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We change diapers on the floor, and I drape my calf over the baby when rolling is the current phase.
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I am liking the idea of using a blanket for peek-a-boo, and if that fails then moving to the floor. I should mention we are using BG Freetimes so they take a little more precision and oomph to snap on than slapping a sticky tab on, so I don't know that I am up to the task of changing her while standing up. That may soon become a skill that I have to acquire though I suppose.
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DD is 9 months and is in full alligator roll mode. She much prefers to roll in one direction, so I often use a hand to hold down the opposite hip to keep her from being able to flip.
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Some of my tricks 1) intermittent raspberries to the tummy 2) making funny faces 3) singing one of her favorite songs 4) peekaboo using her pants 5) tickling. If all else fails, I'll put her on the floor and finish the job there.
Although usually she lets me change the diaper OK, it's the pants that she doesn't want to put on...so she'll hang out in her diaper for a while before I attempt the pants again.
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Here's an article, but it's more amusing than helpful really! We actually do the making sure not to interrupt without letting her know what's going on, and making it fun, but still. I'm not changing her on all fours. Mostly I just wait it out. If she rolls I give her a few seconds to look at whatever she's trying to get to, then roll her back. If she really resists I wait a little longer. She usually rolls back the first or second try. http://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/05/how-to-love-a-diaper-change/
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@Torchwood: That is a good reminder. I've been reading some Janet Lansbury and we have embraced the "Can I pick you up?" tactic to avoid interrupting her when she's playing, and it's amazing watching her wrap up what she's doing and strike a pose with her head down and her arms up for us to lift her. Kind of hilarious. I imagine the RIE approach to diaper changing is going to involve a lot of time.
Daddy being in the room works when he's available since he's got a better 'stern' voice.
I just got a "travel changing pad"
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