16 Month Old Constantly Takes off Diaper

Updated on April 24, 2009
K.D. asks from Anaheim, CA
23 answers

Hi Moms. I know Im not the only one to deal with this but Ive been having a hard time with one of my twin boys. He constantly takes his diaper off. Mostly when hes left alone or when he knows he needs to go to the bathroom. The past couple mornings I find him in his crib with his diaper off and pee all over his bed. I have tried onsies, but hes talented and can get the diaper off and OUT of the onesie without unsnapping it. He takes shorts and pants off. I'm reluctant to use duct tape like some suggest. Ive hear about getting a zip up sleeper to put him in, but the problem is hes very tall and has a long torso so finding something that's going to fit him is impossible. Can anyone share with me your ideas that have worked?

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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I wonder if you used a a pull-up style diaper at night if he'd be able to rip that off with a onsie on? 2 of my boys did the same thing and I didn't think of that idea until they were past it, but maybe it would work.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi Kim. Try putting his diaper on backwards and putting on childrens underwear on top of the backwards diaper and under a onesie. It would probably work and save you a lot of mess.

1 mom found this helpful

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

it sounds like hes ready to potty train. if you se him figiting with his diaper take him to the potty and have him sit for a couple mins. i dont know what to tell you about keeping him from taking off the diaper other then maybe try a pull up or big boy pants. im a little shocked someone suggested duct tape! wow...

2 moms found this helpful
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A.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

do you think your boy ready for potty train? Maybe he doesn't like the feeling of diaper and prefer underwear? 'Cause like you said, he mostly does that when he knows he needs to to go the bathroom, he's probably ready for potty train and wearing cotton underwear. Try to teach him to tell you that he wants to go to potty and then he can wear underwear.

Best regards,

1 mom found this helpful
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J.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

My son who is now 24 years old did the same thing. He loved to parade around naked at that age. I really started working with him on potty training because he was ready. I had treats (not edible ones, but stickers and a sticker book) when he did what he was supposed to do. In the meantime, I just had to be patient. This too will pass.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.O.

answers from San Diego on

My son did the same thing at the exact same age. We just started potty training him and dealt with all the poopy art. After it went on for a couple of months we started spanking him for it. Then after another month, DH would give him a cold bath (for only a couple of seconds). A couple of cold baths and he quickly got the picture to not poop all over his crib and make art out of it.

I tried all the remedies that have already been mentioned here (except the duct tape) and my son was too strong and too smart and figured how to get out of his jammies, even if they were turned around backward within a couple of days.

So we just potty trained and dealt with the mess.

However, it took my son another year before he was fully potty trained during the day and another year before he was fully potty trained at night. He is now 4 and just has the occasional accident when he's sick or too distracted to go to the potty. I sure hope potty training my now 2 yo daughter will be a much easier and a much shorter process!

And I know it isn't funny now, but take pictures of the "art" and put it in the good old scrapbook for laughs later on. Or to show your sons girlfriends when he gets older :).

1 mom found this helpful
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L.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you tried pull ups?

1 mom found this helpful
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A.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Try putting the diaper on backwards :)

1 mom found this helpful
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V.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hah! I used masking tape when my daughter would do that. She got major heat rash so a blanket sleeper in the middle of summer was not an option. The masking tape is thinner than duct tape but is just as hard to get off especially if you tape it all the way around and tear it off around the back where he can't reach. I am beginning to have the same problem with my son now andI am going to Target today to buy some because...well, packaging tape just doesn't cut it ;)

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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F.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Dear Kim,

Although my children are now in their 30's, the one thing I used to do was to cut the footies of my girl's pjs and then turn the pj backward with the zipper facing back. Cutting the footies off under the elastic will still keep the pj on and works with babies with long torso. Works like a charm without it being uncomfortable for baby. There is no way your baby can take the pj off this way.

F.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

I have no extra tips-but your son has AMAZING fine motor skills. So, that is a plus.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.S.

answers from San Diego on

Hello, I hope your day is going well. I'd like to suggest putting the diaper on backwards. It works, soon he will get cleaver and more than likely figure it out. But who knows it could work for awhile! Take care, L..

1 mom found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Los Angeles on

Bless you with your twins! WOW. Anyhow, I would see if he responds to low key potty training. If you have time during the day, let him run around naked and try to potty on the potty. When my little guy started ripping off the diapers, we bought undies and he never went back. It did create a lot of extra messes for several months because he was young too. It totally depends on your patience level. You definitely need pictures and video (if possible) of this for later in life! If we can't laugh we get too many wrinkles and that sour lady look.... :) Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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W.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

I had to put my childrens diapers on backwards when they did that. Eventually, they figure it out, but it gives you some time for them to not care about removing it anymore!! You can buy feeties and cut off the feet, I had to do that with my oldest as she has always been very tall too!

Good luck ;D

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Looks like you have a true nudist in the making.

1 mom found this helpful
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V.C.

answers from San Diego on

I haven't read all the posts, so this maybe be a repeat, but I'd start potty training him. He ISN'T too young to learn....one of my girls started potty training herself right about the same age, I kept INSISTING she wear a diaper, but she hated them & wanted to use the potty, just like her sisters & since she didn't wet at night, she was trained by 2. Good Luck.

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J.T.

answers from San Diego on

Hello,
You said that he does it sometimes when he needs to go to the potty. Well maybe he is telling you he is ready to be potty trained. Good luck

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B.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

My first thought was, if he is really taking off his diaper because he feels that he is ready to pee, by all means, oblige him and get him out of diapers. It is pretty young, especially for a boy, but not unheard of. If he is as brignt as you say, be may be able to do it. I like the book by Foxx and Azrin, Toilet Training in Less than a Day. You can order it from Barnes and Noble, if they don't have it on hand. He may not be ready to do all the steps independently, but if he can get a daiper out of a onsie, he has good fine motor skills and may be a little ahead of the average bear. Get a little potty seat that fits him well, and explain it to him. One of the reasons I like this method is, it teaches the child to use the potty independently, you don't have to wait until he can tell you that he needs to go. He may do it for a few days, and decide it's a drag, and because he is so young, I would let him go back to a diaper, but explain that it's either one or the other, you either keep the diaper on, or give up the diaper and use the potty like a big boy all the time. During the summer you might let the kids go bare butt in the backyard, with a little potty outside, and see what develops. This is cute when they are in their second summer, not so much when they are 2 and a half or closer to three. (The bare butt). But my second thought was, nah, 16 months is way too young. For night time try footie pajamas with the feet cut off, and put them on backwards so the zipper is in back. And get the kind with that little snap thingy on top of the zipper. For nap time, use overalls with the funky clasp thingy, and put those on backwards too. Make sure you get the kind without snaps on the bottom. Or a button, most kids that age could not undo a button in the back. These are all the types of clothing I tell parents (I am a preschool teacher) to get rid of when they are ready to potty train, so the child CAN do it themselves. Good luck.

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D.V.

answers from Las Vegas on

Hi Kim, I have 4 children, and I'd say that is a "sign" that your little one is ready to be potty trained. Take advantage of this, it is time consuming, but well worth it.

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M.P.

answers from Las Vegas on

kim,
have you tried putting on diapers backwards? we will often do this when our toddlers try escaping from their diapers. it seems to work. good luck!
Val

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J.W.

answers from Los Angeles on

They make the zip up sleepers in big sizes, you may have to buy big and take them in. I was going to suggest duct tape, that is the only thing I have seen parents use when they have this issue. They say just to put a piece in the front over the fasteners. Good luck.

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K.M.

answers from Reno on

Kim D

You son sounds like he is a quick learner. Begin potty training your son, he sounds like he is ready for the process. Duck take is good, however, it is a bigger pain to take off when you have to change the diaper. Save the pull-ups for the night time when your son is asleep. Good Luck!

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E.N.

answers from San Diego on

What about using the onsie with a pull up? He might master that as well...........

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