Making diaper changing more enjoyable
Most parents do not look forward to changing diapers. It can be a messy business
for sure! Good parenting strategies can make diaper changing easier. This article
will suggest parenting techniques which can end the fighting and anger experienced
by parents, and even make diaper changing more enjoyable for them.
About six months after birth, a wrestling match between parent and child can
begin to take place at diaper changing time. As the child grows bigger, the
struggles that parents encounter often become annoying and frequently enraging.
When it is time to change diapers, the child wants to continue to play. Young
children do not like it when parents make them stop playing with toys to have
their diapers changed.
While this describes the reactions of many parents and children, other youngsters
and their parents do not mind – even enjoy – diaper changing. What
makes the difference?
When changing diapers, use a vinyl tub made for washing infants. It has an
oval shape and a flat center. It has a perimeter that, when inflated, becomes
an elevated, rounded tubular boundary. Most elevated diaper changing counters
are hard and flat. A squirming infant or toddler can easily roll off and fall
to the floor. A youngster can not as easily roll over the inflated and raised
perimeter of the baby tub. Nevertheless, young children have strength and should
never be left unattended. A young child will find the soft tub with its pillowy
headrest more comfortable than a flat changing table. An uncomfortable child
soon becomes a wriggling and resistant child. Changing diapers goes more smoothly
if a youngster feels comfortable.
Youngsters are normally curious and very interested in life. From a child’s
perspective, there is nothing to do during diaper changing time. They, therefore,
soon become bored and start to resist the parent and the process. Boredom is
a major cause of a child’s squirming and resistance to changing diapers.
When you approach your child to change diapers, pause for a moment. During
this pause, notice with what toys your child is playing. Like adults, children
dislike being abruptly interrupted. Say that it is time to change diapers. Ask
your youngster to choose one or two of the toys with which he/she has just been
playing to hold throughout diaper changing. It is best if your child chooses
from among toys that he/she can hold easily and which are non-breakable and
easily cleaned. A youngster who has a self-chosen toy to hold, look at and be
interested in during diaper changing will not get bored, start to resist and
squirm. An entertained child will be more cooperative and make diaper changing
easier for parents.
Make diaper changing entertaining for you both. Place a tape recorder with
selections of music that your child likes near the diaper changing area. Play
favorite songs during changing times. Sing to your child while you change diapers.
If you sing songs when you change diapers, your youngster will learn to enjoy
the music and even diaper changing.
Make interesting and funny faces both while you sing and at other times, too.
Play peek-a-boo, holding up a diaper before you reveal your funny face. Your
youngster will laugh. You both will find diaper changing more fun.
Talk and act in an animated way. Be sure to look into the eyes of your infant
or toddler when you sing or talk. Your animated face, head and body will attract
the interest of your child and make diaper changing easier and more enjoyable
for each of you.
Hang a mobile above your diaper changing area. Be sure that the attractive
surfaces of the mobile are positioned horizontally so your child will look up
and see the surfaces, not the edges. Also make sure that your child can’t
reach the mobile. Start the mobile moving when you lay your youngster on the
tub or when your child loses interest in the toy he/she is holding.
Try the above ideas. When parents make changing diapers entertaining for their
child, the process can become enjoyable for them, too.
