"Hey Everybody it's Animal Cracker Time!!"

I don't remember exactly when changing diapers became my living nightmare, but it slowly turned into a dreaded chore.  I had started dreading diaper changes because I knew it would entail me holding down a squirmy, screaming child while I attempted to change her diaper 1 handed.  Not fun.  I started giving Isla things to distract her, ie:  a thermometer, nail clipper, the tube of Butt Paste...weird stuff she never gets to touch otherwise.  That worked for a while, then she got bored.  Then I read an awesome suggestion in The Happiest Toddler on the Block...animal crackers.  Genius!

The book suggested giving kids an animal cracker when they laid down to get their diapers changed (I actually think they suggested half during the change, and half after...I stuck with giving her the whole cookie).  Holy miracle!  It has worked wonders.  When I tell Isla it's time for a diaper change, she no longer runs away from me, she actually holds my hand and we walk to her changing pad together!  The funny thing is, Isla doesn't eat the animal crackers!   She may nibble off a leg, but typically she carries it around like it's the greatest treasure she's ever received...then eventually she feeds it to Torii.  I no longer dread diaper changes, Isla gets a cookie, and Torii gets to eat it.  This my friends, is a win-win-win situation!