Why Would a Baby Crying After Feeding and Diaper Change
Frustrated when your baby cries during diaper change and rolls over? Learn simple ways to make diaper changes easy and fun once again. This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Wriggler. All content and opinions expressed are my own.
Changing your baby's diaper change as a newborn was hard enough, what with the shrill and piercing cries. But now that he's an "older" infant heading into toddlerhood, diaper changes have become all but impossible.
For one thing, he cries nearly all the time, wailing the minute he suspects his diaper needs to get changed. Dressing before and after don't help, especially when he squirms and rolls over. Forget about public restrooms—he freaks out if you so much as carry him into one.
But of course, he's happy as can be once you've taken him off his back and finished changing him.
Will he ever outgrow this stage? Why does he suddenly hate diaper changes? And how do you stop him from crying all the while?
When your baby cries during diaper change
Diaper changes become a challenge for many parents once babies learn to roll, flip over, and crawl. We celebrate these milestones, but not when it's time to change them out of dirty diapers.
I've certainly had my challenges with diaper changes, caught off guard when my babies would fight them. Sometimes they'd squirm and roll over so much, my husband and I needed to tag team just to hold them down. And diaper changes were especially hard when they've pooped and made a mess.
Rest assured, you can find ways to cope when your baby cries during diaper change:
1. Put your baby on his back throughout the day
One reason your baby cries during diaper change is because he's not used to being on his back. Maybe he's used to sitting on your lap or in a stroller, or being carried around. So much so that lying down for a diaper change feels strange.
That's why, several times a day, place him on his back for a couple of minutes. And don't just leave him to his own devices—make funny faces, play peek-a-boo, sing songs… anything positive to associate being on his back.
2. Change your baby's diaper on the floor
With your baby so mobile—and crying at that—using a changing table can be difficult. The last thing you need is for your baby to fuss so much that you're now worried for his safety.
A quick fix? Change his diaper on the floor. This will ensure that, should he squirm and move around, you avoid the risk of him falling and getting injured.
That said, with his newfound freedom, it can often take two hands to keep him still, leaving you with none left to change the diaper.
The Wriggler—the award-winning diaper changing pad—solves this problem with its unique design:
Imagine being able to keep your normally fussy baby in a safe position, allowing you to focus on changing his diaper.
With the bears' arms giving him a gentle bear hug, no longer will he flip over. The attached knee pads not only provide support for your knees, but anchors both the pad and your baby in place.
And because the Wriggler is portable, you can change him anywhere, stress-free. Once finished, fold it up into a compact pad that fits in your diaper bag.
3. Talk to your baby through the process
Can you imagine getting swept away from something you were doing to do something else? That's what happens when we scoop our babies and suddenly begin changing their diapers. Not exactly a fun welcome into a new activity.
Instead, turn diaper changes into a positive experience.
First, create anticipation. Making eye contact and let him know it's time to get cleaned and change his diapers. Tell him you're going to pick him up to get changed, and make it fun by counting down and "blasting" off to the changing pad like a rocket.
Then, describe what you're doing as you go through the motions. For instance, talk about grabbing the wet wipes, getting the clean diaper ready, and opening his current one. And stay calm as you describe the process, even if he's still crying through diaper changes.
4. Give your baby something he usually doesn't get to hold
Baby toys can only work so much during diaper changes, especially toys your baby usually gets to play with. The alternative? Give him something that's usually off-limits.
For instance, hand him your old phone, a hair brush, a flip mirror, or even a clean diaper. Or perhaps limit toys to those he only gets to play with while he's getting his diaper changed.
These items will not only keep his interest, but tie diaper changes to something positive, rather than a drag to deal with.
5. Praise your baby for "helping"
Turn diaper changes into a fun, engaging experience through praise. Particularly, by making a big deal when your baby "helps."
For instance, have him pull wipes out of the container or hold onto the diaper cream while you clean him up. Acknowledge how helpful he is for pushing his arms through the shirt or pushing his toes through the pants.
Not only does he feel like he's interacting with you, he also sees himself as a helper, a "big kid" capable of contributing to his daily routines.
6. Make diaper changes easier on you
Dealing with a baby crying during a diaper change wouldn't be so bad if we only had to do this once or twice a day. But we change our babies an average of six times a day (or a whopping 6,500 times until they're potty trained).
It's no surprise that up to 40% of parents experience stress, frustration, and a feeling of being burdened during diaper changes.
Aileen, a psychologist and mom two, could certainly understand. She wanted to turn diaper changing back to the calm, bonding experience it had once been. With her husband James, she created the Wriggler, a multi-award winning changing pad to do just that.
The Wriggler ensures that your baby doesn't roll over during diaper changes, allowing you to focus on cleaning him up. Designed with "deep touch pressure" in mind (similar to weighted blankets), the Wriggler also offers a calming effect on babies.
Take a look at the video below to see the Wriggler in action:
Conclusion
As if diaper changes weren't bad enough, you now have to deal with a baby crying and wriggling the whole time. Thankfully, you now have several tips and actionable steps to turn it around.
Start by putting your baby on his back more often throughout the day, even minutes at a time, to get him used to this position. Change his diaper on the floor more often, especially with the help of the Wriggler—no more rolling over or painful knees!
Talk to him through the whole process, from letting him know it's time to change to describing what you're doing. You can also give him something to hold during these changes, something he doesn't usually get to hold. Praise him for "helping"—this will help him feel more engaged and part of the process.
And finally, make diaper changes easier for you. Changing diapers shouldn't be a source of stress, especially for something that happens six times a day.
Join other parents who have gotten the Wriggler and make diaper changes convenient and headache-free. Grab your Wriggler right here:
Get the Wriggler
Source: https://sleepingshouldbeeasy.com/baby-cries-during-diaper-change/
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