Simplifying the standing diaper change

Cathy, aka Mayberry Mom, makes good use of those onesie/bodysuit crotch snaps:

Here's something I figured out recently--can't believe it took me two kids and many years to do so. I've been doing stand-up diaper changes for a year now with my son, who much prefers looking out the window or standing in front of a chair flipping through a book while he's being changed. But the tails of his snap-crotch t-shirts were always in the way. I used to tuck them up into the collar of his shirt, but they didn't always stay there and the ones in the front can't reach that high. Finally it dawned on me to use the handy SNAPS to keep the tails in place. I now fasten one snap up over my son's shoulder. The tails stay out of the way and don't dip into anything...unsavory while I'm cleaning him up.

I never figured out how to do a standing diaper change. I always needed to lie them down for proper spread, if you know what I mean. How do you clean in the crevices? (Oh come on, you all want to know, too.)

Related:
A better way to lift your baby's legs during diaper changes
How to change diapers without getting cream on your hands
Clothespin keeps onesie flaps from dropping into the toilet

Comments

[Hugo]

Don't have solution (am interested too ;) )
Just want to say that I don't get the standing change either, my daughter's 1 and for at least the cleanup part she's got to lie down (both with mummy and me), after that she either continues lying down and gets the regular diapers or it's no use and she stands up and we use the pull up type.

[Kookaburra]

I've tried the stand up diaper changes (when I worked in daycare)and they didn't seem to work well for me. With my Baby Dear (almost 18 months) I've always done the diaper changes with her laying down. That's what works for us. I don't really see how you can properly clean the crevices with the stand-up technique.

[Quiddity]

We've done the standing diaper change since Baby could stand, and yes, those snaps come in handy. Now his shirts are a problem because they don't have snaps and the tails are long.

But anyway, I guess I just have a really tolerant kid as long as he's otherwise occupied (currently he likes to brush his teeth during each diaper change) and I can hold one leg up or otherwise manhandle him to get him squeaky clean.

[Kelly]

I'm glad you asked the question of "how does that work standing up?" because I was thinking the same thing! I am not coordinated enough for such a technique!!

[Cammy]

I've taught my daughter (she's over 2, maybe that makes all the difference) to either "spread 'em" or "squat." We seem to get all the crevices without too much of an issue...I guess. I'm also much less fastidious than I was with kid #2.

[Serene and Not Herd]

If I could get my toddler to do the squat, or leg lift, I can almost see this working. But seems like kiddo would have to still be on the changing table, or else the line of sight would make it quite difficult to ensure a clean heiny.
And standing up on the changing table just seems like a fall waiting to happen.

My knees are too old for changing on the floor.

[mayberry]

Yep -- like Quiddity, I do the leg-lift technique. It may take a little practice but it's far easier (for us) to keep the kid stationary if he's upright.

[Amie]

I can't believe this posted! I have been meaning to send in this hack for months. I was actually THIS CLOSE to writing it up this week.

I don't use it with diapering, but with little ones using the toilet. I love the cuteness of overalls, but they ALWAYS get in the way. So when my son is wearing the kind with leg snaps, I unsnap them all, then resnap opposite legs over one shoulder (just one snap). So, again, the legs are up out of the way.

I also keep a clothespin or binder clip in each bathroom as well as in my diaper bag to clip too-long shirts up out of the way.

[Paul]

I have never gotten comfortable with the stand-up change, while my wife is great at it. When I try, the new diaper doesn't seem to fit right.

[hedra]

We do the squat thing or other general yoga position changes, mainly. But I still found it much easier to do a good job on standing changes with the boys than with the girls... The girls, I don't trust that I got everything out of everywhere... sigh.

[Daddy Diaperhead]

My wife executes the standing diaper change extremely well. Occasionally a cheek sticks out or the flaps don't line up.

That said, I'm always in awe of the fact that she can pull it off 'cause I can't. She has the Kid lean in and hold on, so she can lift a leg at a time and wipe the tight spots.

As a hard-core layer-downer, I've learned to contend with the "alligator death roll", occasionally combined with "free peeing willy". Frustrating while it happens, but pretty damn funny overall.

[Alix]

I love the stand-up diaper change, especially as the kids get bigger and heavier. We just have our son touch his toes to wipe his bum. They do that at his daycare, and all kids do standup changes there starting at 1 year old. I still do that now that he's 2.5 and potty trained. After a poop he gets off and touches his toes to be wiped. Super easy to clean.

[Shama-Lama Mama]

We never did stand-up diapering, but this trick is also AWESOME when you are potty training while wearing onesies. Just snap it up on the shoulder while they sit on the john. That way, it doesn't fall down into the water!

[Kate]

Teddy does "yoga baby" (loosely speaking, downward-facing dog, an excellent position to get at nooks and crannies) or he has to lie down. For the latter, he doesn't like having his legs lifted up to scoot the diaper under him, so I tell him to "be a bridge" (arch his back) and "bridge collapse" (his invention) to lie back down.

[Sandy]

We started doing stand up changes when my kid was about 18 mo when we were flying across states quite a bit. Stand on the toilet seat cover, get diaper off, squat with bum hanging over toilet, clean with dry TP, then with wet wipe if handy or just wet the TP (dry and then wet TP helps get almost everything); then stand kid and turn him with his back to your chest, put the diaper between your chest and kid's back, flip front forward and tape sides.

In situations were we have had explosions, we have had to actually use the sink to wash him off... gross but no choice left.

We always took the handicap stalls in toilets and if there were no changing tables, there was sufficient room to do the stand-up changes.

Having had to change several kids during my babysitting years, I guess I was not as fastidious with my own kid.

[Parent Hacks Editor]

Dang, Sandy. You're a pro. I would love to see a video of that. Sort of.

[kittenpie]

When mine was in diapers (whoot!) she would bend over and put hands on the floor so I could get access for cleaning. She still does this after some bathroom visits, if she needs help.

But the real hack here is the putting on of the new one - I spread the diaper open on my leg, back towards me, front to my knee, then pick her up and sit her down on it, straddling my leg. Fold up the front and back, wrap the tabs around, and you're set.

[ashlye]

I can't believe there are parents out there (such as my own husband) who haven't conquered the "standing change." As far as reaching into the crevices... have your child face away from you and ask him/her to touch their toes. I have a girl, so I don't know if this works well with little boys, but I am able to completely wipe her hiney. Then I have her face forward. I taught her a ballet move - the plie, which is basically bending at the knees while keeping your upper body straight up and down. This allows me to clean her front side and she likes hearing a strange word and performing a new movement. Someday she'll appreciate the early training when she begins ballet lessons. There is also a Barney song that goes, "I exercise, it's good for me. It makes me strong, as you can see. I exercise, it's good for me. It makes me strong as you can see. I touch my knees, I touch my toes, I reach up high, and I will grow. I touch my knees, I touch my toes, I reach up high and I will grow." We almost always sing this while doing our #2 standing change. It works for us!