Our second child is officially a 16-month-old toddler. Actually, her body just seems to have caught up with her mindset; she clearly thinks she’s far older than she really is and wants to keep up with her 4.5-year-old brother.
If you have any “big kids” like us, you know that mobility changes the parenting game, big-time. Silence means trouble, closing the bathroom doors becomes a necessity, and diaper changes are…challenging. If your little one is still, well, little here are some things you have to look forward to when it comes to diapering a tot – because odds are you’ve mastered your cloth diaper washing routine and how many you expect to use in a day and the perfect nighttime stay-dry strategy, but things are about to get a little different.
– “You want me to stop playing…for you to do WHAT?!” For all the horrible newborn diapers and runny messes you cleaned up over time, seeing your child’s smiling, sweet, at times even giggling face made it a little easier. But, suddenly a diaper change has our daughter’s eyes wide, thinking in a Blanche DuBois accent, “What ARE you DOING down there?! How DARE you wipe my private bits??” Seriously, child? It has to be done. Neither of us wants to be here right now.
– Your odds are 8 in 10 that the experience will not be fun. Did I say “not be fun”? I meant horrible. It’ll be horrible. It’s not the diaper’s fault; it’s just the precious kiddo of yours. It is what it is. I find myself dreading diaper changes and super relieved when she actually lays happily and lets me change her. Because it’s simply not the norm.
– Get ready for the alligator death roll. This is the #1 thing I dread most about a diaper change. When I’ve taken her away from her happy playtime (or, more appropriately, her “test big brother’s patience” time), you’d think I was a murderer the way she shouts and carries on. But then put her on her back to clean up whatever situation she’s left me? Psht. Time for the dreaded alligator death roll, with thrashing and pushing and shouting galore. No matter how I hold her down, it just doesn’t do. Accept and do your best – quickly.
– No distraction is distraction enough. A favorite book? Another clean, bright diaper? A noisy toy? Tickling toes? Nope. Nothing is interesting enough to hold her interest. Only the aforementioned belly roll will do. Homey ain’t got time for these diapers, Mama.
– God forbid there’s poop. Thrashing + rolling + grabbing “down there” + poop = not a fun equation. Ugh. Ick.
– You start to curse choosing snaps over hook and loop. This is a huge choice in preference for parents, but I still remember when we first experienced this with our son and we tried to snap our cloth diapers…in the middle of one of his thrashing moments. We chose snaps for longevity and I still haven’t decided to switch out our entire stash to hook and loop (I love my stash as it is!)…but at times like these, I reeeaaaaally consider it.
– You ultimately resort to the “vertical change.” This has been my go-to change lately. I tend to know Harper’s “schedule” so I know what kind of diaper to expect, so I’ll have her stand up and have a quick change while I bear hug her from behind. It’s not ideal (and doesn’t account for #2) and is HARD with snaps, but it’s become the norm, unfortunately.
Have you mastered the art of toddler diapering? Do you have any tips for those in the thick of it?
The one solace that I try to remember is the fact that our son, Hadley, outgrew it in time. Did you hear that, Harper?? Anytime now would be great!
Oh what I have to look forward to lol…
The changing pad I chose cost 3x what the regular ones cost but I think it will be money well spend. It has about a 4″ wide soft strap with massive killer velcro. It’s called the PooPoose & I found it on Amazon & I’m surprised I haven’t seen it at any diaper shops yet. It’s amazing! At 5 mos. old my grandson is already trying to roll during diaper changes, but the strap holds him still…but not necessarily happy…lol.. I don’t know if it will handle a toddler, but maybe it will help for a while!
So excited for my second boy. Yay lol I really am but just nervous about how this baby will be. My first seemed to be SO easy. I’m scared the second will not be such a breeze especially the diapering/potty training part.Fingers crossed!
Oh my goodness, great post!! I remember cloth diapering my son when he was a toddler and I thought ” whose brilliant idea was it to cloth diaper?!” Now cd #3 and she’s 1 and mobile but hasn’t really started fighting the diaper change…..yet!
Ha!! My 6 month old already started with the alligator death roll! I am a little scared for what’s coming my way with SERIOUS poops! lol thank goodness his booty looks so cute in his cloth diapers!
Oh my gosh. I could not stop laughing. This is us to a T. Vertical change or diaper on a thigh and change in short sitting position– all day everyday– because apparently any position is better than the oh so devastating convenient for mama (and devastating inconvenient for toddler) position of lying down
I’m due in October, but already dreading the toddler poops! Looking forward to trying your clothes diapers
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