LIttle girls bits and nappy change battle

Apologies in advance for my long post.

Just wondering if anyone else has had or having the same battles I'm having with DD at nappy change time.

Since about 18 months, every now and then she wouldn't let me clean down there properly when I'd change a dirty nappy. She'd clamp her legs shut making it really difficult, especially if it was a "messy" one. In the last couple of months it's gotten worse, to the point where even just changing a wet nappy is a battle and I can't get her to open her legs to let me wipe properly. She's never had a UTI (which is surprising considering) so she's not in pain or discomfort so I know that's not the problem. And we've always been gentle when cleaning her bits as a baby. It's not just me she's like that with, she's like that with anyone who changes her - DH, Grandma, Grandad - even my sister offered to change her pooey nappy a couple of weeks ago and she couldn't believe how stubborn DD was (or the strenth in her little legs!). Her own girl is just a couple of months younger than DD and quite happily lies there while getting her bottom wiped.

I don't want to try and force her legs open to clean her properly - that seems a bit harsh and I'm worried that'd cause some kind of "trauma" for her. For now I just try to clean as best I can and cleverly get a corner of the wipe to try and get in the crease as I wipe down IYKWIM.

We're in the early stages of TT so am hoping if that goes well and quickly the nappy change dramas will be over soon and she'll be a bit better about "wiping" when on the toilet. If anyone else has been through this with their little girl(s), is it a phase that will eventually pass? Or will I have to put up with it until she's fully TT and happy to wipe on her own?? Any advice/tips greatly appreciated - it's starting to do my head in!

We had a similar sort of problem but with DS. He wouldn't lie on his front to get wiped around the bits.

Now he kneels with his bum in the ear and his face on the ground (sounds charming doesn't it). Turns out he didn't want to watch us cleaning up the mess so would rather have his head buried and plead ignorance and not make eye contact.

Maybe you could try cleaning her up from behind. Just a thought.

Thanks ladies.

Yeah she is doing the straight legs, and crosses them over too! I'll try tickling behind her knees but I think she'll cotton on as soon as I move a hand to grab a wipe!

Distracting her with toys etc used to work when she was younger, but unfortunately not so much anymore. Occassionally she'll be distracted by something on TV and so engrossed in that she'll forget to fight back, but that doesn't always work.

I dunno if cleaning from behind would work but no harm in trying I guess. I think she'll probably just clench though and then try to run off!

Tonight I managed to get a proper look when I took her nappy off (distracted her with nursery rhyme songs and had a foot in each hand dancing side to side and opening her legs a litte each sway) and nothing seems amiss down there. But off course as soon as I let go of a foot to grab the wipe she pulled that leg across and over her bits, and uses her hand to try and push mine away. So I'm wondering if maybe she's just extra sensitive down there and just doesn't like the feeling when being wiped? She even gets like that when in the bath/shower and will clench as soon as I try to clean her. She will usually take the washcloth though and clean herself!

I went through a stage when I was about 3-4 where I wouldn't let anyone clean me down there, in the end my mum gave up and let me do it myself.

But 2 might be a bit young for that, I don't know.

Do you think maybe the wipes are causing her some pain down there iygwim?

Could be Lily grizzles when her gran changes her

Arianne is starting that now.   But she can be very helpfull and ask for a cloth and she will help wipe aswell.

Other times she just runs away or lifts her bum closing her legs.