Dressing Fiasco - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Emmabean · 05-11-2006, 07:26 AM

Since my DD was tiny, she hasn't liked to get dressed. She has always cried when I put her onesie on. I tried to do it as clever as possible so it wouldn't bother her by scrunching up the sleeves, etc., but it was always the part of bathtime or diaper time that she hated. I usually distract her with her mobile or toys to hold and that seems to work ok. But she just hates to have clothes put on her!

Well, now that she is 6 mos. old, it's becoming a little more of a power struggle on the changing table. She cries and kicks. It takes forever to get her pants on because she is squirming and one foot comes out when the other one is going in. I still play the musical toys and distract her, but she is very upset and throws a fit every time. The only way she wouldn't is if I would dress her very, very slowly, distracting her the whole time.

DH thinks we should think about discipline for this. At 6 mos., I wouldn't even know what to do. Talking firmly does not work. The only things we can think of are:

1. say "no wiggle" and place her in her crib if she does it. But I'm not sure she would understand.

2. Give her one little spank and say "no wiggle," but I do NOT want to be the source of pain and I don't think I can bring myself to do it unless it is absloutely the right thing to do and will help her.

I feel like we need to nip this in the bud, but I don't know how!

JuniorsMommy929 · 05-11-2006, 07:31 AM

my 7 month old does this...idk what to do either,all i do is tell him no very seriously and give him a look

Laur77 · 05-11-2006, 08:33 AM

Babies are going to squirm when you change them. I don't think telling them no would do too much to stop this. My son is also a big wiggle worm. He hates to have his diaper changed or get dressed. As soon as I go to lay him on our bed (which is where I change/dress him) he starts to cry because he knows what's coming. I don't know if you bottle feed, but I find if I give my son a bottle as I am dressing him he is happy. Or I also have a toy that I save for changing only. This way he is always excited to see that toy and he is happy to lie there and chew on it. Now that he is able to stand, I often dress him standing. Sometimes just a change of scenery helps too...I'll dress him in the living room for a change. Then he doesn't know it's coming!
Anyway, just my opinion, but I think 6 months is a little young for the discipline you are talking about. I think distraction is more the key at this age

Good luck!

JuniorsMommy929 · 05-11-2006, 08:59 AM

ive tried giving my son everything, bottle, toy, a diaper to play with, wipes...something to make noise, nothing works, he dont cry, just flips right over or sticks his hands in a dirty diaper

Kiera1595 · 05-11-2006, 09:00 AM

Please don't swat your 6 month old. She wont understand that at all. You can tell her no wiggle, but it may be a little bit before she figures it all out. You're just going to have to deal with it a bit longer and allow extra time to get her dressed. Wait until you have to try diapering when she won't stay lying down anymore...that's really tricky. But at the same time...getting her dressed once she can really stand might be a bit easier for you. They also make diapers (I think they're called Crusiers) that are like mini pull ups for babies that won't hold still for a diaper change. Have you tried singing to her while changing her? That works well when my DD is out of control. How about putting on a funny hat, a sticker on your face, change her infront of the TV, the window that she could see out of, making different sounds with your voice...clicking, kissing, rasberries, sucking. You may sound like a crazy person, but it may work. Good luck!