My Son Has a New Attitude

Sorry this is so late, anyway, this is completely normal and a great time to start teaching body parts, nose, toes, etc. Also give him something to play with that he normally wouldn't get to play with. I don't recommend making it a power struggle...just makes potty training harder later. Hope this helps and good luck.
L.

This is your first practice of teaching discipline. Be loving but very firm and tell him, "no", when he does this. Be sure to make direct eye contact with him when you do this. Let him see by the expression on your face that you are not happy with his actions. Also, try distracting him with a toy, pictures on the wall beside the changing table, etc. This stage doesn't last forever but it is the early stages of (terrible two's) him learning to exert his own wishes & independence. This is normal

It's called "Welcome to Toddlerhood". My son will be 1 later this month, and we just went through the I-hate-my-diaper-being-changed phase. Luckily, it only lasted a month or so, but we learned to change his diaper with him standing, and to change him very, very quickly.

Another thing that worked was to give him something that wasn't a toy to hold and play with. We gave him an ugly figurine and a ball of twine to play with while we changed him.

Good luck!

My son started thse behaviors at 8 months (he is now 9 months old) as far as the diaper change goes we give him a small toy to play withit works most of the time. you can also try a mirrior that he can hold. i also play peek a boo with my sons clothes as i dress him he thinks it is humorous and we get him dressed before he even knows thats what we were doing.Good Luck

Your son is very normal. I have a daycare and one of my daycare kids just turned 1yr. He was always very laid back, but a couple weeks ago he doesn't like the changing table, and is very vocal about things. My theory is that he doesn't talk and is starting to know what he wants, but doesn't know how to communicate properly. So, I have started teaching him baby sign. So far he has learned more and all done! Now he doesn't yell or scream during meals-unless I can't get to him right away-but it's better. I would just keep doing what you are doing. Chances are he doesn't want you to pull him away with what he was doing to get his diaper changed. I know that some people think that baby sign delays a child verbal skills, but I have never had that problem with my own kids or my daycare kids. It cuts down on a lot of frustration for both you and them. Hang in there!

HI L.,

If this were my child I would take one of my legs and hold over his body so he can't move. Let him scream, he'll get the message after a few times that mom isn't going to put up with that kind of behavior. At the same time you're holding him down, smile at him and remind him that he's not going to scream and kick like that. I usually will very calmly say "no, you're not going to kick like that".

He's testing the boundries and wants you to define them for him. He'll still be doing it at the age of 13 too, trust me. :)

Good luck!

Sounds like my son!

I tried the toys but sometimes I put little stickers on his hands and he is AMAZED by them. He often is still peeling them off after I'm done changing him and didn't even NOTICE I had changed him.

I've also have cahnged him on the floor so I could use my leg to hold him down. It seems extreme but almost EVERY mom I've talked to has done it at one point of another.

Soon all of this will be funny and a fond memory! :)

Yup, that's normal! My first son was given a toy at daycare during diaper changes; clothes changes weren't as hard. My second, whom I'm home with, is a little more squirmy. We give him a toy during diaper changes; preferably a big enough one that he needs both hands! Also--this is so cheesy--I play the piano for our Sunday School (my 4 yo is there) and we sing This Little Light of Mine. After watching it week after week, my 14 month old can do the hand gestures. It's a great way to keep his hands out of his poopy diapers and off his poopy diaper area! Obviously, it might take some teaching, but this work FANTASTICALLY for us--any hand motion song would probably work. It also soothes him during clothing changes.

Ugh, that sounds just like my 9-month-old! Diaper changes are a nightmare with her. I stay home and therefore do most of the diapering. My DH had to change her the other night when I was out and was saying it was nearly impossible! My strategy has been that we have a little drawer in the changing table, and anytime something baby-safe is no longer useful (like sunglasses that lost a bow, a small flashlight that doesn't work) I put it in the drawer. Then during diaper changes I can whip out a distraction. And the best part is that I swear even the littlest ones can tell what's actually a toy. So she knows she's getting something special that's not made for babies and she relishes it!

She's also been whipping her head back against the high chair, usually when she's done with supper. I've been thinking it's a couple of things with her. One, I need to step up the signing (a few basics like "more" and "all done" can be lifesavers!); two, she's not napping very well during the day, so she's very tired at that point and she tends to get more squirmy and even bonk her head in frustration as she gets tired. And three, she sees her brothers up and moving around and wants to join them, now that she's mobile. So as soon as I see that behavior start, I try to get her out of the high chair so she doesn't hurt herself and also so she will be able to communicate her needs and understood that when she does, they will be met.

Good luck. It doesn't last forever, but it may feel that way!

My son also dislikes the diaper changing. I'll talk nice to him, give him a toy, tickle the toes and if nothing else I just get through it. I can tell his Grampy has a hard time too as sometimes one of his velcro things won't be attached to the actual diaper! Now we're sure to check when he gets home. Thank you Grampy for taking care of our little monster!

Eventually they will have to learn to go on the potty, right?!! I'm holding out.

I love what Julie J said!

He has definitely learned to test you, and what you let him get away with now will set the tone for the rest of his childhood. I would turn your soothing voice into a louder stern voice, without yelling. Hold his head still and tell him he HAS to stop, don't ask him to stop. And if he doesn't, take away something he cherishes for a few minutes- even if it's his sippy cup or something like that. When he calms down, give it back and explain what just happened. They understand a lot more than they let on, and he needs to know that you are in charge. We use the words "nice" and "bad" to help our daughter understand the difference in her behavior. Tough love, or they'll walk all over you!

I am going through the same thing right now and am chalking it up to the age. For diaper changing I can usually get mine to sit still by giving him a toy to play with. He doesn't like his car seat either. I think they are discovering their moods and testing us, and that's where we aren't supposed to react to behavior like this so they know it doesn't work.

Congratulations and welcome to the stage that seems to last forever!!! My son is 2 and he started that about the same time and a suggestion for changing his pants or getting him dressed is to have a special toy that he only gets to play with when it is time to get changed. As for the throwing his head and yelling. My son still does the yelling, I think it is because they don't quite understand volume control yet and they enjoy hearing themselves. We are working with him to quiet down by talking really quietly when he yells. Good Luck!

Don't worry he will out grow it when he gets to be about 50. Except for the diaper change. I wnet through that with my son until he was potty trained even that was a challange. good luck and enjoy every min with him