10 Best Household Items to Distract Your Kid During Diaper Changes

There is a lovely time in your young kid’s life where diaper changes become a throwdown. This typically occurs between the ages of 8 - 14 months and during this time, every time you lay your kid down for the diaper change, they squirm, roll, kick, and fight their way free.

I have a family of squirmers. My daughter (now 5) when she was in this stage, would contort her body in a twisted shape. My son (now almost 3) was a kicker. He would not let you hold his ankles and would frequently end up stepping in his own poodad. Now, my wife and I are on our third. This little guy (10 months) is a roller and a kicker. It is almost as if he channeled the powers of his older siblings and formed a super contorter. He will kick you in the forearms with one leg, while prying your grip off his body with the other leg. He will then roll away before you can get a firm grip to stabilize him.

This is clearly a problem. These are extreme times, my friends. Times where ordinary toys do not give you enough time to make a pit stop. You need to constantly change the game if you expect to stay one up on your opponent. Here are 10 household items that have worked to distract my kids enough to get a diaper change in. Hopefully, they can help you.

Keys
Yes, we have tried the plastic ones but they just don’t fool anyone. Your kids want real metal keys. Ones that jingle. And ones that make you nervous that they are going to lose them, get metal poisoning or choke on a piece. I use a set of old house keys on a single metal ring. I thoroughly washed them  in soap and water and have removed any other keychains or other things that may snap off. The fact that they are real seems to add to the appeal. Good thing I don’t need them anymore.

Cellphone
Put your lock feature on your cellphone and give it to the little one to play with. (in case you are wondering, I always give my little one my Q, not my iPhone). They will like the backlit screen and the buttons and they won’t be able to call Delilah at the 900 number.

Metal Whisk
The whisk is a fascinating thing. It is light, has no sharp edges, and has enough room for them to squeeze their hands or tongues into or out of easily.

Wooden Spoon
Another great choice from the kitchen. They can’t cut themselves or hurt themselves too bad with a light wooden spoon. Plus, you can just throw it in the sink to wash it.

Tupperware Lid
Don’t diss it until you try it. For some reason, babies love tupperware lids. Maybe its the edging or the translucent material. Then again, maybe it’s just because it is light to hold and they can smoosh their face into it.

Colander
Take a colander (preferably metal and round) and put it on your head like a helmet. Your kid will look at you like you are a fool. This is basically because you will look like one. But it will also help distract them long enough to get the deed done. Don’t strain yourself ha ha.

Baby Bottle with Uncooked Pasta
If you take a small baby bottle throw in some uncooked Macaroni pasta in and screw on the flat cap, you have yourself a rattle. And your kid has something to play with.

Bubble Wrap
Bubble wrap is cool for adults. Imagine what its like for kids! Warning: only use flat pieces of bubble wrap not the ones that form a pocket and thus a death balloon.

Kazoo
Ok, maybe this isn’t a common household item, but it is cheap and if you have older kids, the odds are they got on from a birthday party or something. Put one in your mouth and hum a tune while you change the diaper. Your kid will be mesmerized — and impressed by your rendition of “Sexy Back”.

Empty Shampoo Bottles
Take the cap off and wash out an empty shampoo bottle. Your kid will love sticking their fingers and tongue through the hole (who doesn’t like doing that?) and you will like that it cost you nothing.

Does anyone else have some examples of household items that work to distract kids during diaper changes?