The struggle, as they say, is real, and chances are it's getting realer every day with your baby. Diaper changes, toothbrushing, hair brushing, shampoos, with wiping off that sticky face after meals likely topping the list. Whatever it is you need your little one to sit still for is fair game for a fight.
Those grooming basics you've been crushing for months, no muss, minimal fuss, have become full on rodeo events, whether you're trying to wrestle a diaper on your little steer or trying to steer a toothbrush into his mouth.
While your baby hasn't officially entered toddler territory, you're likely getting a wriggling preview of "you can't make me." While older babies may be stubbornly squirmy and just plain stubborn, they're still relatively easy to distract. So send in the clowns, keep the sideshow coming and whatever you do, don't let your baby see you sweat as you approach her with that toothbrush. She can sense your stress.
Shampoo time doesn't float baby's boat? Improvise an extra silly bathtime song, blow bubbles for him to pop or let him dunk his dolly then suds him up. Hair brushing is always the battle after bath? Smooth that comb through while he's still in the bath, busy with his soap crayons.
Face wiping always signals a smack down? Swoop down as the cleanup monster who gobbles up jelly globs and is always hungry for more. Toothbrushing tussles? Pretend you're looking for lions in his mouth.
Your baby won't take diaper changes lying down? Bring out a light-up musical toy that's just for the changing table. Sing a song. Blow as many raspberries as you can without hyperventilating or gagging if it's a poopy diaper you're changing. A round of P-U stinky feet can stand in. It's always a baby crowd-pleaser.
If even the sight of the changing table starts her bucking, try a different location like the living room floor, protected of course. And since desperate times call for desperate measures, keep this in your back pocket: you can always change her standing up.
Get the right tools, too. A colorful character on the toothbrush's handle or toothbrush shaped like a banana may be appealing enough to avert a tussle. Ditto a comb or a brush with a super cute shape and, for comfort's sake, with teeth that don't scratch or rounded bristles that don't tug when they untangle. A shampoo that smells like a favorite fruit or a dolphin cup that can take distracting dives while rinsing. Make sure that washcloth you wipe his face with is soft and comfortably warm.
The very best source of distraction while you get the job done? Baby's mirror image. Brush her teeth and hair in front of the mirror, change her diaper in front of a mirror, and, if you can, strategically place a safe shower mirror in the bathtub where she can watch her mirror image get a shampoo.
Turn the tables, too. You can let your baby try to brush your teeth with your own toothbrush or comb your hair or give baby a doll to shampoo, or a long-haired stuffed animal to brush, or let him have the first go at brushing his teeth and hair, then finish up the job.
And choose your battles. Yes, already.
Does that light sprinkling of hair really need a daily shampoo or merit a battle with the hairbrush? Besides that head is underrated even for those with a full head of hair. And if you really think it's worth the struggle, work fast. This is no time to strive for perfection. Here's to cleaning up your babies act.
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