How to Stop a Toddler from Taking off Diaper at Naptime

Last updated on November 20, 2021

Easy trick to stop a toddler from taking their diaper off at nap time or night time.

If you’ve ever had a toddler who takes off their diaper after pooping at nap time or bedtime, you know how messy the results can be.

This simple solution is guaranteed to prevent toddlers from taking their diaper off when left alone in their crib at nap time. Bonus: No onesies or duct tape required.

No Duct Tape Necessary

You may have heard that wrapping duct tape around the waist of your child’s diaper a couple of times will prevent your toddler from getting at the tabs and removing their diaper, but who wants that hassle even time you put your child to bed?

I have an easier solution, and it’s pretty much fail-proof.

How do I stop my toddler from taking his diaper off?

What’s the easiest way to keep a child from being able to remove his or her diaper?

You’ll Need:

one diapered toddler
pair of footed pyjama sleepers
scissors
safety pin

Instructions:

Cut the feet off a pair of footed pyjama sleepers
Dress the child BACKWARDS in the sleeper
Fasten the zipper to the top of the sleeper at the back of your child’s neck with a safety pin.

Chances are your toddler will not be able to get out of the backward jammies no matter how hard she tries.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not implying you should leave your child trapped in a messy diaper if they DO poop. This is a solution for the child who habitually poops the moment he’s left alone in the crib and then removes his diaper.

As a parent, you know your child’s habits, and whether or not this is a chronic issue at your house. If it is, you’ll need to check on your child after a short period of time to see if their diaper needs changing.

Chances are, if your child was removing their poopy diaper, it’s because they don’t like to be in a soiled diaper, and once they realized they’re not able to remove their diaper anymore, they’ll stop saving their poop until nap time.

Your child may be ready to begin toilet training

Note: a child who strongly dislikes being in a soiled diaper may be ready to toilet train.

Try putting your child on the potty before naptime every day to help create a new habit for your child and to help his or her bowels develop a routine. In the beginning, your child may need a few minutes to relax before doing his business. After all, that’s what’s been happening in the crib. Give your child a book to look at, and stay close by. Depending on the age of your child, this strategy may or may not work for you, but it’s certainly worth a try.

If your child is pooping at naptime because they refuse to poop on the toilet, we have 10 solutions for that common challenge as well.