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)
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