How to Keep a Baby Still While Changing Diaper

By Elizabeth Pantley
Author of Gentle Baby Care

Babies are little bundles of energy! They don't want to lie still to have their diapers inverse. They cry, fuss, or fifty-fifty crawl abroad. A simple issue can turn into a major tug-of-war between parent and infant.

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Diaper changing as a ritual   The position of parent and baby during a diaper change is perfect for creating a bonding feel between you. Y'all are leaning over your baby, and your face is at the perfect arms-length altitude for engaging eye contact and communication. What'due south more than, this golden opportunity presents itself many times during each day; no matter how busy y'all both get, you take a few moments of tranquillity connection. It's also valuable a ritual to treat information technology as simply maintenance.

Learning virtually your infant Diapering offers a perfect opportunity for you to truly blot your baby's cues and signals. Yous'll learn how his little trunk works, what tickles him, what causes those tiny goose bumps. As you lift, movement, and impact your baby, your hands will learn the map of his body and what's normal for him. This is important because information technology will enable you lot to hands decipher whatsoever physical changes that need attention.

Developing trust Regular diaper changes create rhythm in your infant's globe and afford the sense that the world is safe and undecayed. They are regular and consistent episodes in days that may not always be predictable. Your loving touches teach your babe that he is valued, and your gentle care teaches him that he is respected.

A learning experience for your baby Your infant does a lot of learning during diaper changes. It'south i of the few times that she actually sees her ain body without clothes, when she can feel her complete movements without a wad of diaper between her legs. Diaper-off time is a great risk for her to stretch her limbs and learn how they motion.   During changing time, your baby is also a convict audience to your voice, and so she can focus on what you are saying and how you are saying it — an important component of her language learning procedure. Likewise, for a precious few minutes, yous are her captive audition, so you lot can focus on what she's saying and how she is saying it — crucial to the growth of your relationship.

What your baby thinks and feels Many active babies could not care less if their diapers are clean. They're too busy to concern themselves with such little issues. It may exist important to you, but it'south not a priority for your kid.   Diaper rash or uncomfortable diapers (wrong size or bad fit) can make him dread diaper changes, so check these first. Once you're certain all the practical issues are covered, make a few adjustments in this unavoidable process to brand it more than enjoyable.

Take a deep breath Given the number of diapers you accept to modify, it'due south possible that what used to exist a pleasant experience for you has gotten to be routine, or fifty-fifty worse, a hassle. When parents approach diaper irresolute in a brisk, no-nonsense style, it isn't whatever fun for Baby. Try to reconnect with the bonding experience that diaper changing can be — a moment of calm in a busy mean solar day when y'all share one-on-one time with your baby.

Have some fun This is a keen time to sing songs, accident tummy raspberries, or exercise some tickle and play. A piffling fun might have the dread out of diaper changes for both of you. A game that stays fresh for a long time is "hide the diaper." Put a new diaper on your head, on your shoulder, or tucked in your shirt and ask, "Where's the diaper? I tin can't notice it!" A fun twist is to give the diaper a proper noun and a giddy voice and use it as a boob. Let the diaper call your child to the changing station and have information technology talk to him equally you lot modify it. (If you go tired of making Mister Diaper talk, only remember what it was like before you tried the idea.)

Use distraction Keep a flashlight with your changing supplies and permit your baby play with it while you alter him. Some kids' flashlights take a button to change the color of the light, or shape of the ray. Call this his "diaper flashlight" and put information technology away when the change is complete. Y'all may find a different blazon of special toy that appeals to your little one, or fifty-fifty a basket of small-scale interesting toys. If you reserve these merely for diaper fourth dimension, they tin retain their novelty for a long time.

Try a stand-up diaper If your babe'due south diaper is simply wet (not messy), try letting her stand up while you do a quick change. If you're using cloth diapers, have one leg pre-pinned so that you tin can slide it on like pants, or opt for pre-fitted diapers that don't require pins.

Fourth dimension to potty train?  If your child is former enough and seems set up for the next footstep, consider potty grooming.   This article is an excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Loma, 2003)

RELATED: Download Our Ages & Stages Nautical chart: Birth to v Years Old

How to Keep a Baby Still While Changing Diaper

Source: https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/ages-stages/baby-infant-development-parenting/diaper-changing/

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