Keeping baby still during diaper change may not be that big a hassle at first, but the real challenge begins when your little one begins to roll over and crawl. But there are a few simple tips and tricks you can use to not only prevent your little one putting up any resistance, but in fact make him stay still and happy.
Let’s have a look at seven tips that will make the diaper changing task simple for you.
1. Keep the Baby Warm
Thanks to their experience in their tenure in the womb of their mothers, babies like to be kept warm. If the weather isn’t warm, make sure to do the diaper change in a warm area of your home.
There’s nothing more comforting for a baby than a warm chest. These may seem to be too subtle for attention, but once you look at it from a baby’s point of view, you’ll know what exactly to do.
2. Have Some Fun
Diaper change is a time that you get to spend one-on-one with your baby. You therefore can make the most of it by having a little bit of fun here and there.
Just tickle and play with him or blow on his tummy, which could make him laugh his heart out. These sweet nothings can keep your little one engaged and in the process help you complete your task.
3. Calm Down and Connect
As we all know, babies are not only gentle, they are also very sensitive. That’s one of the reasons why if you change diapers in a rush (which is harsh for him), he picks up on your anxiety and tries to resist the change.
The smart thing to do is to make use of this time to connect and bond with your little one. You may also choose to use the technique developed by Dr. Robert Hamilton called “The Hold”, which will keep him calm and still.
4. Tell What’s Coming
That’s right. You basically need to build trust with your toddler by actually talking to him and telling him what you are going to do. This may sound strange, but the fact is that though your child may not understand every single word you say, he is always picking cues based on your voice, your eye contact and your movements, and is busy making connections.
Telling him what’s coming not only helps him know what to expect from you even before you carry out the task, it also helps you avoid any potential power struggle between you and him and makes your task easy.
5. Use Distractions
No matter how many toys your baby has, he will always have a few of them which are special to him. Just pick of those special ones that appeal to him and keep them specifically for diaper change time.
Something that lights up or makes a sound usually works better and keeps him well engaged – with a little bit of your engagement, of course.
6. Set Up a View
This is possibly one of the best ways to make your baby be still, yet taken for granted by most parents. If the layout of your room permits, you should set up a lovely view that your baby can witness as you change the diaper.
It can be painting a mural on the wall, having colourful glass for the windows or just a view of the blue sky and the rustling of the trees. It is probably likely that at least one room in your home with a nice view of the outdoors.
7. Get Silly
It would be silly not to act silly with your baby, as it is a great way of having fun and bond with him. It’s possibly the best way to make him laugh out loud.
Just bring out the child in you. Make funny faces and sounds, do a jig or just laugh for no reason. In the meanwhile, you know what to do.
Conclusion
Keeping baby still during diaper change is something that should not be perceived as a stressful task, as it is not one actually. Instead, consciously take efforts to keep trying different methods discussed above, or some creative method you may develop yourself, until you discover one or two that works best for you and your child.
Related Article : 6 Common Reasons Why Babies Cry When They Wake Up from Sleep
Disclaimer: The content in this page and across this website are for informational and educational purposes only. In case of any concerns about your child’s growth and development, please contact your professional child healthcare provider.
