What to Do About Child Taking off Diaper

Updated on March 01, 2010
L.M. asks from Grandview, MO
35 answers

My 22 mo. old is taking off her diaper in her crib sometimes to potty all over everything and other times it is after pooping in her diaper with which she decides to paint her crib. I am not sure what disciplinary action is necessary and how to stop it. She knows how to take all of her pants and onesies off and I don't necessarily want to duct tape her diaper on:) She only does this in the middle or at the end of nap time or early morning when I don't know she's awake yet b/c that seems to be when she needs to poop right now. I'm working on changing her "pooping schedule"... and started potty training a couple weeks ago. I will try the backwards footed pjs at night but at nap it's a bit of a hastle getting her changed 2 extra times.

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C.P.

answers from Topeka on

My older sister was one of these "artist"! Her solution was to put her diaper on backwards. That way she couldn't just reach down and undo her diaper it is a challenge and sometimes harder to do.

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N.N.

answers from St. Louis on

My daughter did the same thing. I ended up getting the sleepers with the zipper and putting them on backwards. This worked WONDERFUL!!!! In the summer I cut the arms and legs so it wasn't so hot. I got tons of them at a resell it shop and it saved a lot of laundry and cleaning.

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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

My daughter is the same age and doing the same thing! We have been putting her zip up sleep outfits on backwards and she can't get into her diaper! It works! Good luck.

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G.W.

answers from Dallas on

do all 3 of these things:
put diaper on backwards
put child in a onesie
safety pin (use a diaper pin) a zip-up sleeper closed

if your daughter gets through all of these, enroll her in magician school.

1 mom found this helpful
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B.R.

answers from Wichita on

Gee, but this sure brings back memories. Not so pleasant ones either. Ha .... believe me, you probably will laugh about it later ~ much later.
My youngest son did this (I had 4 before him that didn't) and my oldest granddaughter that lived with me till she was two. What I found that finally worked was to make sure what they slept in at night had the opening in the back and I safety pinned it shut with a heavy duty safety pin. Also, there were no snaps between the legs ~ so it was impossible to get the clothes off.
During the day is a little harder, because so many of their clothes are not made that way. Till she stops, I'd have at least a few things that only had openings in the back and just keep using them. It is a very trying experience having to clean their (artwork) up over and over again. I remember one time when my granddaughter did this I called 3 of my kids that were home at the time (of course her Mom wasn't home) into her bedroom. I told them that one could have the bed, one the wall, one the floor and I would take her to the tub. You can only imagine all the things they had to say about their sister and that she sure 'owed' them!
You WILL survive this and there will be 'other' things to take its place to deal with, but believe me, these years are so precious and they grow so fast. You will look back some day and mostly just remember the good things and laugh about the not so good. Also, she will be potty trained before long.
Good luck.

B.

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K.Z.

answers from Topeka on

My sister's daughters were doing the same as your daughter. She put them in zip pj's but they were inside out and then she safty pinned the zipper to the inside of the pj's. I hope that helps.

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T.Z.

answers from Topeka on

I think it sounds like she knows when she needs to go and when she is dirty. Maybe she's ready to use a toilet instead of diapers.

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C.C.

answers from St. Louis on

L.,
It sounds like she doesn't like the feeling of being dirty at all. You might want to consider potty training.
C.

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M.W.

answers from Kansas City on

What you should do it get some footed pjs with the zipper. Cut off the feet and put them on backwards. She won't be able to get those off. I suggested that to a friend for her daughter that was doing the same thing and it worked like a charm! Good luck!

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G.N.

answers from St. Louis on

Put her in a onsie and then get a zipper or button up outfit and put it on backwards. I did that with my son as he wouldnt leave his clothes on during the day. I had the sleeper outfits with the feeties but u can try to find some without, be more comfortable while she naps or at bedtime.

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L.C.

answers from St. Louis on

I would potty train her. She's about the right age!

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S.T.

answers from Chicago on

A friend recommended I try the Little Keeper Sleeper to solve this problem of taking off their diaper and clothes. I'm glad I did because this sleeper works GREAT. Their locking system and non-stretchable made sure my little Houdini could not get out and the long zipper in the back made changing a snap. This sleeper is a sanity saver. I got it from their website www.littlekeepersleeper.com

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R.P.

answers from St. Louis on

I think she is ready for potty training.

Another suggestion cut off the feet of onesies pajamas and put them on backwards at night. It is to hard for them to unsnap and pull off the diaper.

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S.L.

answers from Springfield on

My 17 month old was doing the same thing. I cut the tab off of the zipper on her Children's Place sleepers and that did the trick. She could no longer unzip them! I have a paper clip that I loop through to unzip them.

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S.J.

answers from St. Louis on

I would say it sounds like she might be ready to try potty training. With another baby coming in August this might be the perfect time to start trying.

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E.M.

answers from Kansas City on

She may be ready to potty train. But if you have another one on the way just be careful. Sometimes they will do really great with it and then as soon as the baby comes they regress for a little while. While she may not have the muscle control she obviously does know that she has gone to the bathroom. If she is only doing it at night maybe switching her to a toddler bed so that she can get out of bed and tell you she has gone might be an option. My son was out of his crib at 15 months and was just fine with it. Maybe put a kid gate up so that the only place she can get to is your room to keep her from wandering the rest of the house? Hope that helps. E.

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A.C.

answers from Wichita on

Perhaps she is ready to start potty training. These are very good indications that she is ready. You can try panties with rubber pants, these maybe a little harder to get off. Pull-up type diapers do not work, in my over 10 years experience in childcare. Also, look for patterns or times when she has a bm and is taking her diaper off. If you can anticipate these times, then maybe you can get her on the toilet before it occurs. I use cloth with my own children, so it has never been a problem, except with the velcro ones! I can't imagine having to clean poo off the crib like that! YIKES!
I hope this helps!
A.

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S.R.

answers from Columbia on

Yeah that's a normal stage. I've been there many times!
Onesies are the key here. Some kind of onepiece outfit she can't get out of. That's all. There's nothing you can do to get her to stop taking her diaper off. Padlocked (I'm joking) outfits is all you can do.

:)
S.

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A.P.

answers from St. Louis on

I can only tell you that you're not alone!! We struggled with this as well. But, your daughter DEFINITELY knows what she is doing. We began a chart. It sounds silly, but within a couple of weeks, after seeing a reminder of what she was doing, it stopped.

I used clip art to show her staying dressed, and when she did, she got a reward. Time also helps! It's a phase, so hang in there. I would not let it go unpunished, though. Natural curiosity is fine, but she needs to know what's wrong with it.

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E.O.

answers from St. Louis on

Hey my little girl did that!! My solution, DUCT TAPE, It's works wonderfully. At first I just tried putting the diaper on backwards but my kiddo figured out to reach around to pull it off within a week.
So, Duct tape makes a perfect diaper "belt" just make sure you put it on so that it's not tight, but firm! Also seal the tape in the back. Autumn eventually figured out how to open the tape when I sealed it in front.

Other than that, should work like a charm!

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A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

I know exactly what you're going through - my twin boys did that right at that same age (they're 3 1/2 now). they would purposely hold their poop and then do it at nap time, and "paint" the room, as you say. It was a nightmare, and I was at my wit's end. I remember crying because I didn't know what to do. Maybe your daughter is ready for potty training - only you know that. My boys were not quite ready at the time. So.........I had to do it - they had to be duck taped into their diapers - at nap and night. It was a royal pain in the rear, but it worked. We probably did that for two months. there were a couple of times that they managed to get the tape off!! but, for the most part, it worked until that phase passed. After a couple of months, they didn't try it again. then, we ended up potty training them at 2 1/2. We tried all the backwards clothes, but with two of them it didn't work, because they would undress each other! So, there are a couple options - hope you find one that works for you. good luck!!

A.

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J.C.

answers from Wichita on

time to potty train her.
and get her a bed she can get out of and go to the potty herself.
If she can get her clothes/diaper off herself, then she can get to the potty by herself when she wakes up and pull 'panties' down.
If a child is aware of a dirty diaper, and can control when they 'go', then they are in control enough to learn to get to the potty. and they are ready to learn to stay in a regular bed and get out of it when they need to.
instead of punishing and making what she's mentally ready to learn MORE difficult, just help her learn to progress on, and praise her for getting to the potty. if she doesn't, then get tissue or a paper towel and clean up some poop and take her and her poop to the potty and put it in there and tell her that shes big enough to go on the potty and get her poop where it belongs all by herself!!! do this WITHOUT acting disgusted. she sounds like a very smart little girl!

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S.P.

answers from St. Louis on

What's wrong with duct tape - it works wonders. LOL just kidding. How about bib overalls? They are hard to undo if you make it hard to slide out of them by making sure they are very high and secured?????? Best Wishes and Good luck with the little slippery seal!!!!

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C.B.

answers from Kansas City on

I agree with everyone elses comments...was wondering if you've thought about early potty training? Every kid is different...so obviously, she might not be ready, but that was one of my daughter's signs.

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M.W.

answers from Joplin on

Another Vote for Potty Training!

I think shes ready momma. No better sign that she herself is ready. should be a snap for you and with the help of older sis I bet everything will come naturally and easy.

Good luck
M.

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A.O.

answers from St. Louis on

Backward sleeper! Cut off the feet of a sleeper and put the zipper side in the back.

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W.B.

answers from Kansas City on

Hi L.,

You could go to pull ups sometimes they don't understand how to pull them up and down but she may tear them.

They other thing put her in 2 piece outfits but safety pin the bottom of the shirt to the top of the pants at the waist band and put them in the inside. I couldn't imagine her being able to get out of it then.

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A.R.

answers from St. Louis on

Cloth diapers and diaper pins or use diaper pins with the disposables

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S.S.

answers from Topeka on

When my daughter went through that (now 3 1/2) I dd use duct tape. Soon she figured out how to take the duct tape off, but it did help get through the problem. I got the bright pink duct tape (many colors to choose from. I got mine at Walmart) She thought it was a pretty belt and would actually ask for the duct tape.

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S.W.

answers from St. Louis on

It sounds like she is ready for potty training

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L.Y.

answers from Springfield on

L.,
Sounds like she is wanting to potty train! What better time to help than when she is already doing most of it!

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A.L.

answers from St. Louis on

my little sister boy did that tooo. they tryed putting it on backwards.he is old enough to listen and half way understand.the other thing that worked with putting him to bed with pants on.Best wishes :)

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C.S.

answers from St. Louis on

I used packing tape to keep my son's diaper on--I know it sounds extreme, but I only had to do it a few times before he lost interest.

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V.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Oh, mu gish, L.! This sounds like my little brother when he was a baby! He played Picasso with his diaper every day at nap time! To this day, I am glad I was too young to help clean it up! Unfortunatly, aside from duct tape, which was my first suggestion, have you tried putting her diaper on backwards? If she pulls hard enough on the front of it, she may still be able to get the tabs to pop, but it might slow her down long enough for you to catch her.

Also, when my girls turned 2 we put them into toddler beds. Could it be time for her to go to a big girl bed? Maybe being able to get up and intoducing the potty or another routine could help? Well, Hope this helped at least a little. Good luck, and I feel for you! So does my mother!

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J.W.

answers from Kansas City on

My twins did this and it was a nightmare. What we did was always put them to sleep in footy PJs...warmer for winter and the lighter ones for summer, but they have to be zipped up not buttons. Then you take a safety pin and pin them from the inside just under the zipper and it is impossible for them to get them off. I used the Baby Diaper Pins because my girls couldn't work them, but it got them to stop and was a life saver. Good Luck!

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