The changing table. An invention that probably dates back to the very first human civilizations, and was most likely created about one day after the first parents threw their backs out from changing their baby on the ground. It really hasn’t changed much in all of these years. Sure, it looks a little different and with more modern amenities, but it functions in the exact same way. One thing that also has been happening since the dawn of humankind is that babies tend to grow extremely dissatisfied with their changing tables after a while. We’re not sure why it happens, but there comes a time in just about every baby’s life that they end up absolutely hating the changing table.
In today’s article, we’re going to cover some ways that parents can help to cope with a baby that is throwing a tantrum or is severely agitated when on the changing table, because without it, we’re basically back in the stone age and who has time for that?
Tip #1: Distract Her With Toys And Interesting Objects
If your little bucking bronco is going wild on the changing table as of late, then you may want to help to draw their attention away from hating the changing table and on to other things like cool new toys or keys or other objects that they may be distracted by. Keep a box of “changing table only” toys and loud distracting objects by the table that you can deploy whenever you are changing a diaper or clothes (or both). Make sure to rotate the contents of the box regularly as they will lose their charm after a few sessions.
Here are some suggested objects to keep on hand:
- A spare set of keys (or anything that jingles)
- High contrast photos (for younger babies)
- A noise maker
- A crinkly book or cloth book that makes noise when held
- An old electric toothbrush or regular manual toothbrush
- An old cellphone (sometimes you can set one up so that it can play videos and use the internet)
- A cloth or small towel for playing peek-a-boo
Tip #2: Build A Mobile Above The Changing Area And/Or A Ceiling Projector
In addition to the distracting toys, you can use a simple device like a colorful and distracting mobile to hang above the baby as it’s on the changing table. We also like to use a ceiling projector on its own or in addition to the mobile as they can be relatively cheap to purchase and can offer many different modes that will help distract the child with light and noise.
Here are a few projectors to choose from:
Tip #3: Sing An Interactive Song And Make Faces
If the toys and the projectors aren’t doing the trick, you can always go old school: funny faces and silly songs. If you have a smart speaker like an Amazon Alexa or Google Home, you can ask it to play children’s songs or even silly songs in general and you will be pretty successful with what it comes up with. Try singing to your baby as you change them and make silly faces and noises while maintaining eye contact in order to distract them long enough to get them changed.
In Conclusion
Getting your child to not hate the changing table can seem like a lot to manage, but we are happy to help. We hope these tips have helped you along your journey. If you have any questions about helping your baby to sleep better, finding adequate and professional newborn care help, please reach out to us HERE. We are experts in all things baby and sleep and would love to help!
If you have questions about your child, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We would love to help. Please reach out to us here! We always look forward to hearing from you.
