Gwen has developed an interesting new habit. Now, each and every time we go anywhere in the car, she poops. And she doesn't just poop once. If we get in and out of the car a couple of times, she will poop each trip.
This has created some difficult diaper changes. This was particularly difficult last week: while moving, we decided to forego cloth diapering for disposables. Washing cloth diapers would have been too cumbersome during the 2 weeks that we were "homeless." I, however, misjudged our diapering needs when I made the disposable diaper and wipe purchase. For a few days we were low on diapers and out of wipes. Thankfully, I had hand and face wipes in the diaper bag, and did my best to clean her bum with these small, thin wipes. I am now quite adept at changing her diaper in the back of our car (I am thankful, for this reason, that we purchased a hatchback).
Another problem that this has created is that, while she is happy sitting in a poopy diaper all day long if she is comfortable in all other ways, she is cranky sitting in a poopy diaper if she is experiencing any other discomforts. This is a new character trait. She used to never mind sitting in a poopy diaper. I don't know if that was a blessing or a curse when she was only a few months old; while it did contribute to her nearly 4 months of continuous diaper rash, it would have been miserable for her to get cranky 12 times a day (this is about how many times she used to poop in a day). Now, however, if she has pooped and is overheated she gets cranky. If she poops and is bored she gets cranky. If she poops and is sleepy she gets really cranky. This has taken some getting used to. When we were driving from Ohio to Pennsylvania during our move, I put her in the car nice and sleepy. I had been rewarded during several car rides over the previous couple of weeks with a happy, napping baby, and was sure that this trip would provide the same. About 15 minutes into the drive, however, Gwen got mad. She got super mad. She wouldn't sleep and I had no idea why. That is, until we got to our temporary apartment, I took her out of her car seat, and I managed to stick my hand in the poop that had squished out of her diaper and onto her leg. Learning from this experience, I knew when I heard her grunting in her car seat before we left for a party (for which we hoped she would sleep during the trip there to give us maximum party attending time) that a diaper change was in order. I felt proud of myself for correctly interpreting her signals. We hopped into the car and were on our way. That is, until 3 minutes later when we heard Gwen grunting again. Apparently we had jumped the gun on the diaper change. We had to pull over for diaper change number 2, but when we got back on the road she was out like a light.
I'm not sure why she has created an association between pooping and riding in the car. I have, however, chosen to look at this cloud's silver lining. 1.) if she ever becomes constipated, I just have to take her for a quick ride in the car. 2.) Potty training made easy: just put the potty in the back of the car and drive slowly around an empty parking lot.
This has created some difficult diaper changes. This was particularly difficult last week: while moving, we decided to forego cloth diapering for disposables. Washing cloth diapers would have been too cumbersome during the 2 weeks that we were "homeless." I, however, misjudged our diapering needs when I made the disposable diaper and wipe purchase. For a few days we were low on diapers and out of wipes. Thankfully, I had hand and face wipes in the diaper bag, and did my best to clean her bum with these small, thin wipes. I am now quite adept at changing her diaper in the back of our car (I am thankful, for this reason, that we purchased a hatchback).
Another problem that this has created is that, while she is happy sitting in a poopy diaper all day long if she is comfortable in all other ways, she is cranky sitting in a poopy diaper if she is experiencing any other discomforts. This is a new character trait. She used to never mind sitting in a poopy diaper. I don't know if that was a blessing or a curse when she was only a few months old; while it did contribute to her nearly 4 months of continuous diaper rash, it would have been miserable for her to get cranky 12 times a day (this is about how many times she used to poop in a day). Now, however, if she has pooped and is overheated she gets cranky. If she poops and is bored she gets cranky. If she poops and is sleepy she gets really cranky. This has taken some getting used to. When we were driving from Ohio to Pennsylvania during our move, I put her in the car nice and sleepy. I had been rewarded during several car rides over the previous couple of weeks with a happy, napping baby, and was sure that this trip would provide the same. About 15 minutes into the drive, however, Gwen got mad. She got super mad. She wouldn't sleep and I had no idea why. That is, until we got to our temporary apartment, I took her out of her car seat, and I managed to stick my hand in the poop that had squished out of her diaper and onto her leg. Learning from this experience, I knew when I heard her grunting in her car seat before we left for a party (for which we hoped she would sleep during the trip there to give us maximum party attending time) that a diaper change was in order. I felt proud of myself for correctly interpreting her signals. We hopped into the car and were on our way. That is, until 3 minutes later when we heard Gwen grunting again. Apparently we had jumped the gun on the diaper change. We had to pull over for diaper change number 2, but when we got back on the road she was out like a light.
I'm not sure why she has created an association between pooping and riding in the car. I have, however, chosen to look at this cloud's silver lining. 1.) if she ever becomes constipated, I just have to take her for a quick ride in the car. 2.) Potty training made easy: just put the potty in the back of the car and drive slowly around an empty parking lot.
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