Your child might cry, kick, hit to get away from changing diapers or twists and turns during diaper changes, no matter how messy and in need of a change he is. In this article, I will be sharing suggestions to cope when your child fights diaper change.
Suggestions
1. Have everything ready to go.
Open the diaper flat, placing it below the dirty diaper so it is ready to fasten once you are done wiping.
Grab several wipes out of the container so you don’t have to fumble by pulling them out one at a time.
Arrange clothes right side out and nearby for easy dressing.
This helps to change diapers quickly.
2. Make diaper changes fun.
Fun diaper changes make him more likely to associate them with enjoyable memories, rather than something that triggers a power struggle between you two.
3 - 2 - 1 liftoff
Pretend your child is a rocket ready to blast off into space! Say, “Ready for liftoff?”, hold him in your arms, and countdown to lift off. As you do, zoom him up into the air and land him onto the changing pad.
Play Peekaboo.
Spend a few moments playing peekaboo, covering your child’s face with a burp cloth and smiling as you unveil it.
Blow raspberries on your child’s belly.
Your child will love getting his belly kissed after you have gotten him all cleaned.
Sing songs.
Sing specific songs for diaper changes, or favourite ones your child loves, so he can enjoy the moment rather than fight it.
Tickle your child gently.
Play with your child’s feet and tickle him to get him to laugh.
Laughing and crying both release energy, so laughter can effectively replace tantrums.
Your child will be more likely to want to do them again next time.
3. Pick a good time.
Avoid the times when your child is in the middle of an activity he loves, or when he is feeling grumpy or upset, and instead wait for a better time to bring up the diaper change.
Give your child’s a head’s up.
If your child is in the middle of activity but you still need to change his diaper, let him know you will take a quick break in 10 minutes.
Count down. Five more minutes and I will change your diaper so he isn’t caught by surprise.
4. Have a consistent daily routine.
When your child knows what to expect, he will often do it automatically.
Change your child’s diaper before or after the same activities every day.
For example,
Change your child’s diaper first thing after waking up in the morning or from a nap.
Change your child’s diaper before bedtime.
Change diapers in the same place.
A regular place to change diapers helps make the activity a normal part of the day.
Use the same words when signaling a diaper change.
When you say, “It’s time to change your diaper” can trigger an automatic behaviour.
Baby sign language is a fantastic way to communicate with him.
When starting the diaper change, sign “diaper change,” then once all is done, sign “Done”.
5. Offer the right “distractions”.
Combine items your child genuinely likes with your attention.
Talk about the item, ask him how it works, and use the opportunity to engage with him.
Have your child hold a toy he is already playing with and interested in before the diaper change.
When your child is playing with a toy, allow him to hold a few in his hands while you transition him to the changing table.
6. Praise your child’s cooperation.
When there are moments your child doesn’t hate diaper changes, praise and thank him for a fantastic diaper change.
Let your child know how helpful or cooperative he was, how quickly the change happened, and how much you appreciate his behaviour.
Praise your child for coming right away to the changing table or grabbing a diaper.
7. Try something different.
Replace diapers with pull-ups.
Pull-ups tend to be easier to change into and out of.
Your child’s resistance to diaper changes could be a sign he is ready to potty train.
I hope all these suggestions will help you to cope when your child fights diaper change.
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NURTURE INFANT HOUSE (Tampines)
Nurture Infant House, a leading infant care in Tampines, provides an infant care programme for infants aged 2 months to 18 months old. Teachers from our infant care Tampines or infant care at Tampines are trained, qualified, respectful, responsive to the infants. They are flexible with their approach to learning and can interchange their teaching method to accommodate your infant’s preferred method.
The infant's daily routines in our Tampines infant care include a good mix of structured activities such as introducing infants to a variety of colours, textures, and sounds etc, eat time, play time and rest.
We have over 30 years of experience in nurturing thousands of infants, toddlers and preschoolers so you are looking for Tampines infant care, Tampines preschool or Tampines childcare, do consider Nurture Infant House.
Located beside our Tampines infant care is our Genesis Childcare 1989.
If you are looking for a Tampines preschool or childcare Tampines for playgroup, nursery or kindergarten, you can consider enrolling your child in Genesis Childcare 1989. Our Tampines childcare is one of Singapore's leading childcare services. Visit our childcare at Tampines and Tampines preschool to learn more about our curriculum and how we ensure a holistic development for your child.
Lastly, would you like to visit our Nurture Infant House to find out more about our environment and setup as well as understand our operations by talking to our teachers and supervisor?
Nurture Infant House (2 to 18 months Infants)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-61 Singapore 520433
Genesis Childcare 1989 (Playgroup to Kindergarten 2)
Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 #01-63/65 Singapore 520433
Opening hours: Monday to Friday (7am to 7pm) & Saturday (7am to 2pm)
Public Bus services: 8 / 21 / 28 / 29 / 293
Tel: 96664141