A step-by-step guide to stand-up diaper changes
If changing your toddler’s diaper is a struggle, you are not alone!
Many toddlers become wriggly little alligators when you go to lay them down to change their diaper. Once they hit that busy 12-18 month stage, laying down for changes is often the last thing they want to do.
That’s where stand-up diaper changes come in.
Shifting diaper changes to a standing position not only helps with your daily wrestling matches (if you know, you know), but also helps lay the foundation for potty training. Plus, it gives your toddler a chance to be more involved in the process, which is a win-win!
Here's why stand-up diaper changes work so well in the toddler years and a step-by-step guide to walk you through to add it into your daily routine.
Why Try Stand-Up Diaper Changes?
Making the switch to stand-up diaper changes has several benefits for both you and your toddler:
Moving diaper changes to the bathroom helps your toddler start connecting the dots between their body’s needs and the toilet. This helps lay the foundation for potty training later on.
Stand-up diaper changes let toddlers help pull their pants up or hold their shirt, building independence in self-care skills.
Adding something new to the diaper changing experience often leads to your toddler becoming less resistant and more excited about trying it.
How to do a Stand-Up Diaper Change
Here at the steps to try changing your toddler’s diaper while standing up:
1. Set the Stage
Give your child a heads-up:“In one minute, we’ll go to the bathroom to change your diaper.” This helps them prepare for what’s coming. If your toddler is hesitant, prepping them for what comes AFTER the diaper change can be helpful: “After we’re done, we can read a book together!.”
2. Get Them Involved
Let them grab the wipes or a new diaper to make them feel like part of the process.
3. Position Them
Have your toddler face away from you, holding onto the sink, toilet, or tub for balance. Encourage them to spread their feet slightly for stability.
4. Remove the Old Diaper
Pull their pants down and off with their help. Remove the diaper, rolling it up if not too soiled.
If there’s poop, dump it into the toilet, wave “bye-bye poop,” and flush (start with pee-only diapers if this feels overwhelming!).
Narrate as you wipe, saying: “I’m wiping your bottom now.”
5. Put on the New Diaper
Thread the new diaper through their legs and secure it while they hold their shirt up. Use your body to hold the back of the diaper in place if needed. Pull their pants back up together.
6. Finish with a Routine
Have them toss the old diaper in the trash, then wash hands together—maybe sing a quick song to make it fun! This preps them to wash their hands before they leave the bathroom (another important potty training skill)
If you’re still struggling to make it work, here are a few extra tips to try:
Make it a game! Toddlers are more willing to cooperate if something seems fun to them. Tell them to “freeze like a statue” or “turn their body into a bridge” (while holding onto the edge of the bath tub or toilet seat and looking down).
Stay patient. It may take a few tries for you and your toddler to both get the hang of it.
Choose one time per day, at first, to try a stand-up diaper change. Perhaps it’s the first thing in the morning, before your toddler’s nap time, or in the evening before bedtime - whichever works best in your routine.
Make it quick. Going through the process fast helps minimize resistance overall.
While changing your toddler’s diaper while standing up may seem daunting at first, it will get easier and easier the more you try it! If you’re just starting out, try it with pee-only diapers first to get more comfortable. Some parents choose to stick with pee diapers only, while others get more comfortable with poop diapers later on.
Implementing stand-up diaper changes is a GREAT way to help prepare your toddler for the potty training process later on. By building associations with the bathroom, helping your toddler develop independence, and creating a sense of routine inside the bathroom, you’re setting the stage for a smoother transition to the potty.
So, if your toddler has been putting up a fight during diaper changes, give stand-up diaper changes a try. Start small and stay consistent, and - like anything in parenting - strive for progress and not perfection.
If you’re thinking about potty training this winter, the next round of my 4-Week Potty Training Pod starts February 10th! I’ll guide you through exactly what you need to do to prepare for and embark on the potty training process, with a clear step-by-step plan, weekly LIVE Q+A’s to ask me any questions (with replays), and unlimited 24/7 messaging support to trouble-shoot anything that comes up along the way.
Registration opens January 29th - click HERE to join the waitlist to be the first to know!
Questions about stand-up diaper changes? Leave a comment below and I’ll help you out!