Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

DD is almost 9 months, and for the last month or so we've been having this issue with her. As soon as you lay her down for a diaper change and take off her pants, she throws her hands into her diaper area and just grabs and grabs. When you take off the diaper, her hands are in her 'area', just grabbing chunks of skin & whatever else she can grab...it really doesn't seem like just exploring, she's doing it with a purpose and has a fit when you grab her hands to stop.

It's so strange, she doesn't stop until you put her diaper & pants back on. It's almost as though something is irritating her, but it's not red or anything, and she isn't scratching or bothering that area any other time.

Has this happened to anyone else?

ETA: We haven't done anything new in the last month or so since it started happening-- no new diapers, wipes, soap, nothing new.

Message edited 3/25/2008 12:09:56 PM.

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

Yes my DD does that too and so does my friend's DD , I heard that you shouldn't stop them when they grab down there boy or girl, don't really know why , but that's what I was told by my mom, MIL, grandma and many others. I guess it's just something some babies do.
she is 7 months

Message edited 3/25/2008 12:14:35 PM.

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

She's doing it because it's new to her and it's always covered. She only gets a chance to "get down there" during a diaper change. My DD started that at 7 months old and still does it at 15 months.

It's not good to tell them "no" when they do it, it will make them feel uncomfortable and ashamed of themselves when they get older. Let them do it until it's time to put the diaper back on. When they get older and understand more, you have to explain to them that it's okay if they want to do that in private, at home. It's not something they can do in public and it's not okay for someone else to touch them like that.

When DD does it I let her go for it until I'm ready to put her new diaper on, then I tell her "excuse your hands" and she moves them out of the way.

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

She is just exploring her parts. Both of my DDs did the same thing, and now my DS reaches for his penis at every opportunity.

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

So it's normal? I mean, like I said, she's not just touching, she's grabbing big handfuls of rolls of skin and twisting them, etc. It looks painful what she's doing, if I let her do it for a bit it gets all red.

I won't stop her from now on then, it's not like I think it's 'naughty' or anything, it's just for the hygiene factor (she does it when she's wet & has poop too ), but like I said it looks uncomfortable how she grabs & twists the skin.

Thanks for the advice

ETA: So how do you clean their hands afterwards? Just wipes? Obviously I won't let her get poop on them, but she's wet when I take the diaper off sometimes, KWIM?

Message edited 3/25/2008 12:25:29 PM.

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

i just wash her hands

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

I use wipes, if I already wiped her (I try to do it quick).

If not, I use the wipes and then take her into the bathroom to wash with soap and water.

ETA: If she's making herself red tell her to "take it easy" or "do nice" they'll learn what you meant faster than you can imagine. If it looks irritated (she's probably grabbing cause she's excited that the diaper is off) then put a little powder on after she's done, or some vasoline.

Message edited 3/25/2008 12:33:39 PM.

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

Yup...she's been a grabbin'! I just wipe her hands off with a wipe after.

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

DD started doing this around 5.5 months and I thought something was wrong so I asked the ped at her 7 month visit and she said it completely normal, she is just exploring. The ped did check her out first. DD is now 8.5 months old and stopped so I guess it was just a phase.

Re: Moms of infant girls-- diaper changing question

funny I just noticed my dd doing this. Shes just turned 6m old, and starting puttin her hands there only when im changing her. I give her a toy that way her hands are busy, and not in the diaper area.