2 Year Old Won't Leave Diaper On

Updated on February 13, 2007
A.J. asks from Burtonsville, MD
21 answers

I am out of ideas, my son 2 and 1/2 has recently decided while in his room waiting to fall asleep for Nap time and/or bed time that he must take his diaper off. What ends up happening is, he has already pooped or ends up pooping while the diaper is off. Either way, it ends up in a huge mess. I've tried checking on him constantly, but somehow he manages to fit this activity in the second I walk out. I tried putting large onsies on him (thinking he wouldn't be able to get the snaps undone) I was wrong. I read to use baby safty pins, but I worry he will end up ruining all his clothes.
Someone Please help!

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So What Happened?

Well we have resulted to Duct Tape. It is working. My husband is still a little weary that we are doing something inhuman.....but I assured him the best of the best told me this is what to do. Hopefully after a week or so, I can try not using the tape, maybe by then he'll forgotten how much fun it was.
Thank you everyone for taking the time to help me out.

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A.S.

answers from Reading on

duct tape! And knowing he will outgrow it. my son used to actually rip the plastic apart and pull the stuffing out to get it off!

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M.C.

answers from Williamsport on

Hello. I read a few of the responses (and actually did the duct tape thing one time and it did work) -- yet i found that cutting the feet out of a sleeper..and then putting it on backwards worked. My son was still dressed while he was napping and nice and cozy, but he wasn't able to get his pj's off............good luck.

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M.P.

answers from Washington DC on

Have u perhaps tried the pull ups training pants, maybe that'll help. Also, he may be finding his current diaper a bit too small. U can also try putting waterproof pants over the diapers. Hope this helps.

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L.R.

answers from Reading on

it sounds like he is ready to start potty training. I would use a pull up .. they are harder to get off becuase you pull them up and down like underware.. They do tear but I myself thought that the sides were hard to tear when changing. Good LUck

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D.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi A.! I have a few suggestions but I am having the same problem with my son. LOL. I have put a zip up sleeper on him, the thinner ones, not heavy and then put a safety pin at the top of the zipper so he can't unzip it. Another thing, if he is doing this through the day then you can put a onesie on him and bibs (maybe it would be too much work for him to get them both off?). You can also try duct tape around the waist part of the diaper but I never did that, I figured he would tear the diaper to pieces if I did that. LOL. I have also tried layers, putting a onesie, shirt, pants, socks on him, it seems he gets tired out getting everything off that he doesn't bother too much with the diaper then.

Good Luck, I hope you find something for him.

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B.M.

answers from Scranton on

it sounds like its time to potty train, then you won't have diapers to worry about. Good luck!!!!!

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K.P.

answers from York on

I dont have much advise. Just wanted to let you know your not alone. My 2 1/2 yr old son does the same thing. I walk away for a minuite and come back and its like a poop bomb went off in my living room. I agree its a sign of the need to potty train and I have bought the potty and tried putting him on it after he does take his diaper off but he just hops off it and want to push it around the house. God help us! LOL Good luck!

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J.A.

answers from York on

I read in a baby magazine that if wearing a onesie doesn't work, duct tape the diaper on. My daughter (1 1/2 yrs old) does the same thing. Luckily the onesie has worked so far for her. I know it is a pain and messy =) Good luck. J.

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D.W.

answers from Charlottesville on

HI, had this same problem with my son when he was little, granted i used cloth diapers and rubber pants, but was having the same problem getting him to leave them on, I ended up putting the diaper on backwards with the pins in the back, little squirt couldn't reach the pins to undo them, worked like a charm.Try putting the diaper on backwards with the tabs to the back, you might even try going to the next size up so that the tabs are even further toward the middle of his back and buying some rubber pants to go over the diaper might deter him from taking the diaper off. Good luck. If its any consolation, he'll grow out of it.

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A.F.

answers from Scranton on

My sister-in-law had a similar problem with her twins. She ended up putting a piece of duct tape all the way around the diaper to hold the tabs down. It worked, although a pair of scissors was needed to take the diaper off after naps. Beats ruin clothes though! Good luck!

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J.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Have you tried putting the diaper on backwards? I also heard that duct tape around the diaper keeps them on. You might also try cutting the feet out of a sleeper and put it on him backwards.

These are all tips I have picked up talking to other moms with the same problem. I hope that helps.

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L.G.

answers from Philadelphia on

Maybe try having him fall asleep naturally while playing until he's exhausted then put him in the crib. He might be mad at you for putting him in the crib before he is ready, and this is his way of letting you know.

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M.L.

answers from Johnstown on

My son used to do the same thing and the only thing I found that worked was to put duck tape over the diaper tabs. You have to be very careful and put one strip directly over both tabs and not on the skin. My son could never get it off and eventually quit trying so I quit using the tape. Hope this helps.

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J.

answers from Pittsburgh on

we ahd to duck tape the diapers on my eldest - after about a week of not being able to get them off - he just stopped

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S.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Is your son potty training at all? Perhaps it's his first move toward not wanting to be in the diaper while he is pooping. It's probably getting uncomfortable so he just takes his diaper off. Try putting him in training underwear and before nap/bed times have him sit on the potty like a big boy. I hope this helps. He might not take to it immediately, but it sounds like he is very smart since he is waiting for you to leave before he takes "action".

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C.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

I dont know if this will help but....I have never had this problem with my own girls but a girl I babysat for did this all the time. At nap and bed time she would get a one piece outfit that zipped and we would put it on backwords. It looked odd but it did the trick. It seemed to work best with a blanket sleeper with the feet cut off. I hope that helps.

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M.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I had a son who would do the same thing. Since he was about to potty train I had bought him underwear. So I just started putting the underwear over the diaper and he could not get them off.. Give it a try because it also helped him get into the potty training stage, he was excited for "big boy pants".. Good luck M.

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H.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I've also heard the suggestion to put a zip-up sleeper on backwards works great - kind of weird, but it's supposed to be successful. Just cut the feet off so they fit.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Does he leave his diaper on during the rest of the day?? Try putting the diaper on backwards!! That one worked for a little while with my son.

Oh and then when nothing else worked we put a strip of packing tape around his waist. Start in the back and end in the back so its harder for him to reach the edges of it! I know it sounds cruel or odd and I'm sure someone will say something about it... But it worked and it didn't hurt him at all!!

Ohhh and remember he will grow out of it!!

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A.D.

answers from Washington DC on

A friend of mine had the same issues with her boy. She cut the feet off of his blanket sleepers and put them on backwards so he couldn't reach the zipper. It worked for her.

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C.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

try pull ups but you have to get the cheaper brand becasue the huggies brand and pampers brand have restickable sides like a diper..that might help or start potty training. and when he does do try not to give him any reaction/attention so he will stop doing it for that reason.

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