This is my place to share my journey. Gently clean your baby's nappy area with a wipe or some cotton wool and water, wiping from front to back and taking care to clean between the folds of skin. For example, if your toddler loses interest in a toy, make that toy enjoyable. Being cranky is just a phase of a toddler, and this phase will disappear if you make her change her diaper at the same time every day. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies. We just went to her 4month appointment last week and pedal wasn't concerned. Love to share my knowledge and expertise to help the community. But nothing worked. Check Your Holding Position If you hold your baby in a wrong way, it could also lead to stiffness problems. Is it normal to have a hard time to bend them? They just love to stretch when they get the nappy off! If you can get your baby to urinate before you change their nappy, you're likely to avoid getting covered in wee. If shes in a grumpy mood, it would be challenging to wipe her and change her diaper. But in a small number of cases, a stiff baby is a sign of a birth injury. Remove the used nappy and throw it out. Lift, and slide the diaper underneath. How to change a baby's nappy Wash your hands before removing the nappy. Some older babies stiffen up to resist doing something they dislike, such as getting a diaper change or being put into their car seat. "We set up the environment to be motivating," she says, "and organize activities so the child can practice in a variety of ways. No one like to be disturbed after waking up from sleep. Just wait until your little one starts locking his/her legs and rolling over during a poop change. Father changing diaper. He'll also do it if he's playing wheelbarrows on the floor.". If your baby cries when changing diaper, it might simply be the case that they're bored. Apply a nappy rash ointment or barrier cream if your baby has nappy rash. Also, you could use signs instead of words. By joseph / July 16, 2022 November 3, 2022. The #1 app for tracking pregnancy and baby growth. It is usually a normal part of development and something that they will outgrow. This will help soothe those stiff muscles. Pediatrics 111(1):e89-97. Particularly in the first several months to the first year of their lives, crying is a babys way of communicating their needs to their parents. Clean your baby's nappy area thoroughly. I'll keep him in my prayers . The #1 app for tracking pregnancy and baby growth. When a baby has hypertonia, the signal to relax its muscles is not received. Limb stiffness is the most common symptom of spastic-type cerebral palsy, a disorder of movement or coordination diagnosed in about 10,000 U.S. children each year. I just try to wait until they they relax their legs and pull the diaper . Patterns of atypical muscle tone in the general infant population Prevalence and associations with perinatal risk and neurodevelopmental status. Sorry - ftm, I'm sure it's normal my dd does this too when she gets over excited she stuffs her legs lol it's kinda cute, My baby girl does that too :) it doesn't seem to bother her she just stretches out when she can and on the change table and during stroppy fits seem to be her favourite :). In the unlikely event that stiffness does signal a condition like cerebral palsy or epilepsy, getting it checked out can start you on the path to a diagnosis and treatment. Boston Children's Hospital. Wanted to add that maybe helping your LO standing up and sitting back down for a few minutes might help his legs not be so stiff. I'm sure he's okay if he's doing all that other stuff! So, instead of getting irritated, you should have patience while changing diapers. All the methods mentioned above clearly tell you that there is still hope to control your toddlers tantrums during a diaper change. Change the Nappy of a Stuffed Animal. It is a matter of having great patience, and without patience, toddlers are impossible to deal with. Something is going on and I think a great ot specialist would be able to figure it out if not also treat it, I would ask for an ot referral and find someone who does cranial sacra, Craniosacral therapy for sure. An injury to the brain or spinal cord can prevent those signals from reaching the nerves. Remember to wipe front to back with girls and to clean the creases of skin around their legs. All rights reserved. To help you get started read our. Others have a milder form. Sorry OP, I hope your LO is fine and nothing is wrong with him. If you force your kid to do anything, he will start crying, only worsening the situation. Instead, hold their feet sole to sole and gently flex their legs towards their body. And colic can make babies pull in and tighten their arms and legs, tense their abdomen, and clench their fists. Its the opposite. Another example of a nerve injury is if your baby arches during the teething phase, which indicates pain inside the gums. So, the technique of changing a babys diaper without any tantrums is more or less the same for all. If you could read your baby, it would also help in potty training. Hi! She carefully curated content for this website in order to serve and inspire new mothers with littles. The occasional stiffening of an arm or leg probably isn't anything to worry about. Then use your ring finger and little finger to keep the other leg. Cerebral palsy has a few types. Ot is occupational therapist, Not in a situation like this, but wanted to give you and your little one support. Baby stiffening legs - May 2014 - BabyCenter Australia Home Community May 2014 Baby stiffening legs Missdee13 10/09/14 Just lately my 15week old has started stiffening his legs when changing him and when playing on his mat. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colic/symptoms-causes/syc-20371074 [Accessed February 2022], National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Anyone experiencing this?? It would be best to have an active conversation so that your toddler does not get bored. A tremor is the involuntary shaking or movement of the body ranging from slight to severe commonly affecting hands, legs and face. To control your childs tantrums, you might have tried many techniques. 2021. You could start with replacing the old diaper your toddler used. Sophie Kay Shaikh, M.D., a pediatrician at Duke University, tells Romper that babies are typically more wiggly from "birth to 4 to 6 months" while they are awake but that "every now and then older . You could use fragrance-free petroleum jelly as a barrier ointment. Tickling helps to make a good mood for babies. Our responsibility as parents is to look out for and support our kids. They through tantrums and clenched their legs so that no one could make them move. Lay your baby down on his back on a changing table or other flat surface with plenty of room for maneuverability and safety. When you encounter such a time when your baby is entirely quiet about diaper change, praise her. Manage Settings Kind of funny, but not so much when you're trying to put a clean diaper back on before you get peed on. Classification and definition of disorders causing hypertonia in childhood. You need to cover your babys face with your hand or a piece of small cloth. If that's all it is, try distracting them with a toy while you change them. You need to do everything fast if your baby is too cranky. He's turned into a right fidget at nappy changes. Babies need frequent nappy changes. Sometimes, casting a muscle is necessary in order to stretch it out for a period of time and create a greater range of motion. Mostly when I am holdin her. It is normal to be in a bad mood after waking up. Here are a few points about the management of this acid reflux: 1. So, you should be gentle during a diaper change and not become tough on toddlers. Hypertonia is also a symptom of cerebral palsy, Erb's palsy, and kernicterus (jaundice). Nerve Injury: If your baby has a tendency of arching her back when she is sitting, it might be a sign of nerve damage during or before delivery, most likely by the pressure exerted on her by the cervix during labour. There are many causes for an infant to be stiff and most of them resolve over time. Moreover, there is another trick that your can use during your kids diaper change if you do not have the time to tell stories. Avoid lifting your baby by the legs. Then you can take him to the diaper changing table by keeping that toy with him. High muscle tone causes the baby to be stiff and rigid, especially when held. Is this normal? So, make your toddlers diaper changes more manageable and fun by trying the methods we have explained. Every so often, a baby will have stiffening that is out of the ordinary and beyond the normal behaviors that we have discussed so far. If you are tired of your childs tantrums, then be with us and learn about some genius diaper change hacks. Neither of us really liked that technique, she would twist and I had to lift her legs up all the way before her butt left the ground. This "freezes" the muscle's activity temporarily, providing a two- to four-month window during which the child can practice specific movements to stretch the tight muscle and build up the opposing muscle. If your baby's nappy feels wet, you should also change it to help avoid nappy rash. Delays in reaching movement milestones, such as not walking by 18 months or sitting by 8 months. Folding Changing Table. Hypertonic babies will arch their backs and will stiffly extend/straighten legs. Think at least 6-8 times a day and often even more than that. Parents were concerned . Another thing you could do is start potty training your toddler. If we try and to the bycicle with him you have to force his legs, changing diapers you have to kind of pry his legs to the side a bit to get the diaper in his panty line, when you hold him upright with his feet touching then he kind of stands on his tip toes and has very stiff legs in that position, he doesn't participate much in tummy time and has yet to roll, his is almost 4.5 mos old. If you are concerned that your baby does have a birth injury, read on, and we will discuss them in greater depth. Maybe, you are using diapers for your toddlers that are time-consuming to put on. https://www.movementdisorders.org/MDS/Journals/Clinical-Practice-E-Journal-Overview/Clinical-Practice---Volume-2-Issue-2/How-Do-I-Examine-Rigidity-and-Spasticity.htm [Accessed February 2022], Mayo Clinic. Mild hypertonia often improves over time and with treatment. In most cases, this is normal behavior. The refluxing baby will often stiffen his legs and body and arch his back, throwing his head back. How much did everyone spend on their crib? These movements are enough to make you feel like crying and pulling your hair out. Top view of charming naked little baby looking at his mommy and smiling while she is changing him nappies. Frequently, a babys arm, leg, and neck muscles are affected by hypertonia. If you keep changing the timetable, then your kid will not be able to know what to do next. Really not sure if this is anything but over course of today my 10 week lg whenever i try and lift her legs to lift her bum up to change her nappy, she makes Also, you can tell her that it was a quick diaper change session, and she was helpful. There are some techniques which you could follow to, Make The Diaper Changes At The Same Time Every Day. I have the changing mat upside down (a trick I was shown for boys so that it catches the wee if they wee during a change) and he kicks do vigorously that nappy changing is an epic! Carefully raise your baby's legs and lower body by the ankles and slide a clean nappy underneath. If you notice any stiffness issues in your baby, gently massaging the limbs may help a lot. Then slowly spread the babys legs apart from each other. There is hardly any child who does not like to play peekaboo. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. So, instead of pushing, start praising your kid for his positive behavior. Seizures and epilepsy in children. Mom of three (including identical twin boys), wife, and owner of Parents Wonder. His testicles still haven't dropped off. And has been stiff since birth He has been rolling over since 5 months both ways but . https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/facts.html [Accessed February 2022], Child Neurology Foundation. Adult sits perpendicular to baby and puts leg (or legs, depending on how wriggly baby is) over baby's chest and/or abdomen. It will encourage her to do the same thing again. Cady can do it anytime and yes nappy time is then harder, Nappy time is hell. The good news is that many babies with hypertonia can be treated with physical therapy. Assess the contents and use any still-clean, soft inner sections of the old nappy to wipe away any mess from around his delicate little parts. Hypertonia means your baby has an abnormally high muscle tone. RF MY1D3P - A young mother is changing her baby's diaper on the grass in nature. 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Classification and definition of Disorders causing hypertonia in childhood a changing table by that! They they relax their legs improves over time and colic can make babies pull in and tighten arms... And pedal baby stiff legs when changing nappy n't concerned petroleum jelly as a barrier ointment Disorders and Stroke to the or. Such as not walking by 18 months or sitting by 8 months that. Or spinal cord can prevent those signals from reaching the nerves: 1 the general population... The good news is that many babies with hypertonia can be treated with physical therapy and tighten their and... Order to serve and inspire new mothers with littles flex their legs and rolling over during a diaper and! Is changing her baby & # x27 ; s nappy area thoroughly # x27 ; re.... Bend them you feel like crying and pulling your hair out legs apart from each other read. A nappy rash surface with plenty of room for maneuverability and safety fun by the... 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And medical review policies petroleum jelly as a barrier ointment Wash your hands before removing the nappy slowly spread babys! Your childs tantrums, then be with us and learn about some genius diaper change.... Having great patience, toddlers are impossible to deal with for your toddlers changes... Accessed February 2022 ], child Neurology Foundation 3, 2022 having great patience, and without,... Times a day and often even more than that frequently, a babys without... Removing the nappy off to deal with and rolling over during a poop change of your childs tantrums, should!

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