What is the practice?
This practice involves using a routine daily activity to build a child’s skill at listening and interacting with adults—important skills for communication. This is done by playing simple word-and-movement games as part of diaper changing. The games are best played when the child seems content to be lying on her back and having her diaper changed. It won’t take long for the child to look forward to what you will do next by vocalizing and showing excitement.
What does the practice look like?
Diapering games use diaper changing as a way to involve a child in sound and movement play depending on her interest. It can be something as simple as describing what you are doing and responding to your child’s vocalizations, or by turning diapering into a “sing-along.”
How do you do the practice?
Here are some ideas you can try or encourage parents to use while changing a baby’s diaper to make diapering a fun activity.
How do you know the practice worked?
- Does the child get excited or brighteyed?
- Does the child anticipate being kissed or touched?
- Does the child vocalize as part of playing the game?
- Make unusual sounds to get the child’s attention (e.g., “Phew!”). Try saying something like, “Did you smell that? What do you think?” Repeat any sounds the child makes and be responsive to and encourage her to vocalize and get excited (but not too excited!).
- Describe what you are doing in a playful manner. “Baby’s got a dirty diaper. What should we do? Clean it up; clean it up for [Mommy] and you.”
- Touch games often work well. As you are changing the infant’s diaper, repeat phrases like “I’m gonna get you” while moving your face closer and closer to your child’s face, kissing her on the forehead while saying “[Child’s name] gets a kiss!”
- Pay attention to what the child seems to like to do while having her diaper changed. Find ways of being responsive to the child’s sounds and movements to make diaper changing fun.
- Encourage the child to vocalize as much as you can. You want to have a conversation (of sorts) with the child.
Take a look at more fun with diaper-changing games
Talking Match
The diaper-changing table in Grace’s classroom has a favorite mobile hanging from the ceiling that the infants in her care get to play with while being changed. Grace positions 6-month-old Helen so that she can easily reach and swipe at the mobile while her diaper is being changed. Grace interjects into Helen’s play the different sounds that the mobile seems to make. She repeats these sounds many times during almost every diaper changing routine. The more Helen hears the sounds, the more she tries to repeat or say them. Playing with the mobile has turned into a fun-filled talking match!
“This Is Fun!”
Fourteen-month-old Keenan especially likes to have his diaper changed while lying on the changing table and having his mother lean over him so that he can look at her face. Mom invented a Poopy Diaper Game that makes this not-so-fun activity a bit more enjoyable both for her and her son. The game includes a madeup song (Diaper change. Diaper change. Keenan needs a diaper change. Off with the old; on with the new. Keenan no longer smells pee-you!) while tickling Keenan’s tummy at the end of each statement. Keenan has started smiling and vocalizing at his Mom to get her to play their diaper-changing game.
“I See You!”
Nine-month-old Sammy has some motor delays, but his early interventionist Evan noticed how excited Sammy gets when interacting with people. Evan helped Sammy’s mother develop a quick, simple game that uses his love of face-to-face contact to help build his motor skills. Sammy’s mother engages him in a simple game of Peek-a-Boo while changing his diaper. She places a small towel over his face and says repeatedly “Where is Sammy? Where is Sammy?” Sammy pulls off the towel—first with help, then on his own—and his mother says “Peek-a-Boo! I see you!” She repeats this three or four times while changing Sammy’s diaper. The game ends by blowing raspberries on his tummy, which has Sammy laughing out loud.
