My 2 1/2 Year Old Won't Stop Stripping... Help!!

Updated on November 24, 2007
K.B. asks from Wyoming, MI
14 answers

My son has recently figured out how to take his clothes off - he can take off literally everything we put on him (shirts, pants (with or without buttons/zippers), socks, and last but not least, his diaper). It is mostly a problem when we lay him down for a nap or for bedtime because he strips down to nothing and then pees in his crib. We've cleaned his bedding so many times in the past week or so and it's just getting ridiculous! We've tried putting underwear on top of his clothes or pajamas as a stalling technique - that seemed to work for a little while until he figured it out. My husband went and bought him the full body pajamas that just zip up and we tried those last night - they worked at first but then this morning when I went to get him up, he was naked again! He is currently napping and I have him in his full body pajamas with a thin pajama t-shirt on top so that he is unable to undo the zipper. It seemed to work because after a few frustrated attempts to disrobe himself, he gave up and fell asleep but what happens when he figures that out? He does at times take his clothes off during the day as well and we just don't know what to do! Should we give time outs? Has anyone else had this problem before? I know it's probably just a stage that he will grow out of, but it is so frustrating! Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

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A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

Maybe set aside some time for him each day when he can run around naked if that's what he wants!!! Have a countdown or a little race to see how fast he can get his clothes off. Let him know that you are proud of his new skills. And then, after all that fun, lay down the law about keeping clothes and especially diapers on the rest of the time. At his age, he is old enough for a punishment if he does it when it's not allowed. Hopefully, by allowing him the freedom to do it at a certain time, he'll be less excited about doing it at bedtime!!!!!!!!!

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V.K.

answers from Saginaw on

I am SOOOO thankful to not have had this problem with my first (though I also now have a 7 month old so I'm probably doomed!). Anyway, this has been asked here many times and the overwhelming response and seemingly effective last resort is to thake the pj's that you mentioned (one piece with a full length zipper) and cut the feet off (or find some without feet) and put them on those little buggers backwards. Short of pins, duct tape, or a straight jacket, seems like this has worked for a lot of people. I have it tucked away in my "mommy files" just in case the next one is turns out to be an escape artist! Good luck to you!

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A.M.

answers from Denver on

my son does the exact same thing. Everytime I turn around he is in his room naked. I tried the zip up pajamas and they didn't work. The only thing I have found that works is putting on a onsie or bodysuit shirt that snaps in the croch. He has figured out how to take off everything else but those. I don't know if it is because he can't see the snaps or reach them, but whatever it is it works. I also found that during the day if I keep his shoes on him even during naps he leaves his clothes on.

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K.H.

answers from Omaha on

LOL, I dont mean to laugh but I have been going through that myself right now!!!!! Talk about frustrating. The only that worked for me was to put a diaper pin (large safety pin with protective ends, found in the baby section) and pin their clothes to their diaper. It is usually too hard for them to coorinate pinching it open and undoing their clothes. It is actually a huge relief when you actually beat them at their game:)

Here recently, my 2 yr old has finally outgrown the stripping mode and now I dont have to worry about that. Another strategy of them taking their diaper off is a sign of them wanting to potty train. But mine just does it out of spite b/c he knows that will get me in there at nap/bed time. So I dress him again and again without saying a word to him and quietly leave the room. Eventually he got the concept.

Well good luck with them and let me know if this works for not and I will try and think of something!!!!!!

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D.D.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Welcome to my world! My son Tommy is strip king. However he hasn't done it lately, because we have been keeping on top of it with him, and I also got the zip up fullbody pajamas, but he doesn't know how to unzip anything yet. So that's good! So, I guess what I just suggest is just to stay on top of it, and let him know that it's big trouble. However, you also don't want to discourage him because it would be a helpful tool in his potty training. He is showing interest, so it's a good sign, but you don't want him to pee and poop all over the place to. So it's kind of a double edge sord with that. Best of luck!

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A.S.

answers from Salt Lake City on

What I had to do with my son was put the sleeper PJ's on backwards so that the zipper was in the back. I did that for almost 1 full winter. He finally has gotten the idea that mommy does not want him to take off his clothes. He finally grew out of taking off his other clothes. Good luck

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C.L.

answers from Des Moines on

Hi K., my name is Chris and when my youngest daughter was two we had the same problem. What I did that seemed to work for awhile is I bought the blanket sleepers like what you are talking about and I cut the feet out of them and put them on backwards. She couldn't get to the zipper so she couldn't take her clothes off. I know it sounds silly, but it worked. Let me know if you try this and if it works.

Chris

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S.P.

answers from Great Falls on

You're right. It's a phase he'll grow out of. He's learning a new skill. Let him be. If he's peeing in his bed, it might be time to think of potty training. Try to look at it as a positive step forward. My youngest didn't dress, or undress himself until he was four. Good luck and Happy Holidays!!!

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J.V.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I don't have any suggestions regarding how to keep your son from taking his clothes off, but in regards to his diaper - have you tried putting it on backwards (so the tabs fasten in the back)? Just a thought . . . Good Luck!!!

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M.K.

answers from Duluth on

I've had a stripper or two with my kids. I cut the feet off one piece pajamas and turned them around backwards, used onsies (but she figured that one out eventually), and, yes, I duct taped her diaper...not TO her skin, don't flame me, but just around the diaper itself. Also, a diaper pin through the zipper pull pinned up at the top deters them, although their fingers are limber enough to maybe accidentally pop it open. There was a period where I took the one in public with backwards pajamas when she refused to keep dressed and I was in Grand Rapids at BK and all the kids came screaming from the ballpit "She's NAKED!!!!" and there was my little girl, wading through the balls, naked, with her clothes in the back part of the playland.... Try to laugh, although it's hard to when you're cleaning poop off the floor/bedding/clothing/toys. It doesn't last for long!

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P.G.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Maybe after the one piece sleeper gets zipped up you could put a pin in it at the top to keep him from unzipping it again and see if that works. One thing that has worked for me (my daughter didn't like it but it worked) is to take their blanket and pillow and whatever might make them comfortable into the bathroom and tell them that this behavior is not acceptable, but if they insist on doing it they can stay in the bathroom until they are ready to stay dressed or potty in the right place. This gives them a chance to do whatever they will behind closed doors, make it a lot easier to clean up afterward and the child doesn't get the same attention he did before. Later they can help you scrub down the bathroom. You can check on them so they don't feel alone. It's not to early to teach that to a 2 1/2year old how to behave. Early prevention is sometimes the best. Good luck-P.

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A.Q.

answers from Omaha on

If you could get some nice hand me down pajamas that zip, and alter the neck line, cut off the feet part and put them on him backwards. My daughter did that for the longest time and my mom told me to do that and it works because they cant reach the zipper. Good luck.
A.

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A.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Could he just be too warm and keeps going until he's cool enough? My kids ran warm and didn't like to wear too many clothes because of that.

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R.W.

answers from St. Cloud on

DUCT TAPE!

I am a daycare provider. It can be a pain to add to your routine, but it holds the diaper on. My son and a daycare kid both had that problem. My son actually smeared his poop all over himself during nap time once. Yuck!

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