Baby keeps trying to roll/escape during nappy change

[LittleLala]

Hi everyone, I'm in some desperate need for advice please!

My 8 month old has NEVER liked having his nappy changed, but now it's become a nightmare. He keeps trying to roll off the table and wants to escape. I've moved the change mat to our large table so he can't roll onto the ground, but it's still crazy. He turns into some kind of acrobat I end up holding up his legs/leg and he will be holding up his whole body with one hand and his core strength and when he's done a poo it's just a mess!!!
He's been able to roll since 3 months and able to crawl for months now too, so it's not him trying to use a new skill or anything

Any advice on what to do? He used to try to roll off occasionally when he first started to roll but then he stopped, but this time is different. I feel like I'm trying to put a nappy on a wild animal!

 

[jessmke]

Can you give him something to play with that will distract him long enough for you to change his diaper? Your keys or something that he doesn't get to play with often? That's what I do with my LO when I have to trim her fingernails.

 

[LittleLala]

Oh that's what I forgot to mention! Up until now I've usually been able to distract him with something (a cup, a nappy, a packet of wipes or something) but now he doesn't care and just wants OUT lol

 

[_Meep_]

Ah yes, the crocodile death roll. Mine has gone through stages of this, on and off. I always just change her on the floor ... I used to give her my phone (playing a song or video of herself), but lately she has been excited by the fact that the nappies we are currently using have a picture of a panda or a ladybird on the front. She is 21 months though, so I don't know if either of these tactics would work for your LO?

 

[Zephram]

Put the changing mat on the floor, that way he can't roll off anything and hurt himself. Give him a toy or a book to hold on to. Failing that, use a foot to hold him still while you wipe his butt. Gently, obviously, but if you've ever had a baby roll poo on the carpet you will understand the necessity of this. They just don't like being made to stay still and stop playing to get changed, you just do what you have to do to get it done whether they grump about it or not.

 

[jodilee6]

I do mat on the floor and have perfected pinning him to the ground with my knees for the 2 mins it takes to change him!

Toys/distraction didn't work here, I just have to do it as quick as possible and quite often he escapes mid change!

 

[Teri7489]

Have you got a nursing/ v pillow? I've found that putting my escape artist son in a cocoon of his nursing pillow he can't escape as quick. I have his wipes out the pack, nappy ready and bag opened so I can change him as quick as possible. Xx

 

[Bevziibubble]

I used to give something to distract her. When that stopped working, I just had to learn to change her on her tummy

 

[Button#]

Yep I've had to pin down an escaping child during nappy change with my leg before. I think most of us have done it.

 

[RaspberryK]

I change mine on my lap, harder for her to get away. Now she is a bit older she cooperates better when I tell her what I'm going to do and ask her to lay down x

 

[RaquelDee]

Try putting the long edge of the change mat against the wall, and also tucking some small, easy to grab toys between the mat and the wall so that they are visible and in reach. If you put your baby on the mat so that the wall is on their preferred rolling side, they won't be able to roll too far, and will hopefully get distracted by the toys. You can also body block them if they try to roll back towards you. For my girl, the magic number of toys is 5, this is enough to keep her occupied for a whole nappy change. She was crazy for rolling a few weeks ago, but has lately calmed it down a bit and has decided it's more fun to kick the wall instead.

 

[Smanderson]

My DS was like this, we ended up changing him on the floor and found pull ups way easier as he used to twist and turn so much by the time I had one side done up I'd lost the other side under him or he was crawling off. Pull-ups did us till he was potty trained

 

[hanni]

Change him on the floor, sit with your legs in a V shape and lie him so his waist is under one of your knees. Obviously don't pin him down enough to hurt him, the position of your leg should be enough to stop him rolling away. He will hate it and scream but it will half the time it takes wrestling with him and save getting poo all over. We only do this when distractions aren't cutting it.

 

[LittleLala]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone
So glad to hear I wasn't alone haha.

For the time being, I moved his change mat to our large dining room table and put a non-slip mat underneath it to prevent it from sliding. He has been so much better with a change of venue! He still gets upset but he hasn't been trying to escape in the same way. Once he starts being a little monkey again, I will move him onto the floor

Thanks everyone! Glad to know that I wasn't crazy for considering pinning him on the floor hahaha