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Stop
the Diaper Changing Battles
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
changed. They cry, fuss, or even crawl away. A simple issue
can turn into a major tug-of-war between parent and baby.
Diaper
changing as a ritual
The
position of parent and baby during a diaper change is
perfect for creating a bonding experience between you. You
are leaning over your baby, and your face is at the perfect
arms-length distance for engaging eye contact and
communication. What’s more, this golden opportunity
presents itself many times during each day; no matter how
busy you both get, you have a few moments of quiet
connection. It’s too valuable a ritual to treat it as
simply maintenance.
Learning
about your baby
Diapering
offers a perfect opportunity for you to truly absorb your
baby’s cues and signals. You’ll learn how his little
body works, what tickles him, what causes those tiny goose
bumps. As you lift, move, and touch your baby, your hands
will learn the map of his body and what’s normal for him.
This is important because it will enable you to easily
decipher any physical changes that need attention.
Developing
trust
Regular
diaper changes create rhythm in your baby’s world and
afford the sense that the world is safe and dependable. They
are regular and consistent episodes in days that may not
always be predictable. Your loving touches teach your baby
that he is valued, and your gentle care teaches him that he
is respected.
A
learning experience for your baby
Your
baby does a lot of learning during diaper changes. It’s
one of the few times that she actually sees her own body
without clothes, when she can feel her complete movements
without a wad of diaper between her legs. Diaper-off time is
a great chance for her to stretch her limbs and learn how
they move.
During
changing time, your baby is also a captive audience to your
voice, so she can focus on what you are saying and how you
are saying it — an important component of her language
learning process. Likewise, for a precious few minutes, you
are her captive audience, so you 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
trivial issues. It may be important to you, but it’s not a
priority for your child.
Diaper
rash or uncomfortable diapers (wrong size or bad fit) can
make him dread diaper changes, so check these first. Once
you’re sure all the practical issues are covered, make a
few adjustments in this unavoidable process to make it more
enjoyable.
Take
a deep breath
Given
the number of diapers you have to change, it’s possible
that what used to be a pleasant experience for you has
gotten to be routine, or even worse, a hassle. When parents
approach diaper changing in a brisk, no-nonsense way, it
isn’t any fun for Baby. Try to reconnect with the bonding
experience that diaper changing can be -- a moment of calm
in a busy day when you
share one-on-one time with your baby.
Have
some fun
This
is a great time to sing songs, blow tummy raspberries, or do
some tickle and play. A little fun might take 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 can’t find it!” A fun
twist is to give the diaper a name and a silly voice, and
use it as a puppet. Let the diaper call your child to the
changing station and have it talk to him as you change it.
(If you get tired of making Mister Diaper talk, just
remember what it was like before you tried the idea.)
Use
distraction
Keep
a flashlight with your changing supplies and let your baby
play with it while you change him. Some kids’ flashlights
have a button to change the color of the light, or shape of
the ray. Call this his “diaper flashlight” and put it
away when the change is complete. You may find a different
type of special toy that appeals to your little one, or even
a basket of small interesting toys. If you reserve these
only for diaper time, they can retain their novelty for a
long time.
Try
a stand-up diaper
If
your baby’s diaper is just 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 can slide
it on like pants, or opt for pre-fitted diapers that don’t
require pins.
Time
to potty train?
If
your child is old enough and seems ready for the next step,
consider potty training.
This
article is an excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth
Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)
You
are welcome to reprint this article on your website or in
your newsletter, provided that you reprint the entire
article, including the complete byline with author's name
and book title. Please also send a link or copy to
elizabeth@pantley.com. Thank you.
Website:
http://www.pantley.com/elizabeth
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