How can you stop baby crying when you change his diaper?

In collaboration with Rokiyah Hosen

Does your baby start crying and wriggling around when it's time to change him or her? This is a common situation for many parents, but one that can sbe very stressful. Here's our advice on how to make changing your baby a pleasant experience.

Why does baby cry during diaper changes?

According to scientists, the first three months of a baby's life are when he cries the most, and when his cries are the most intense. Your little one may cry when you change his diaper.

During the first few months of life, baby's cries follow a pattern of curves:

• It is around 2 to 3 weeks that the baby's cries begin to s'intensify and cry more and more;
• Crying peaks between 6 and 8 weeks of age;
• Then, until the infant is 12 weeks old, crying diminishes.

On average, a baby cries for two hours a day. Some babies cry more often, depending on the season and their temperament.

During the first three months, the baby will often cry and then s'stop suddenly, without really understanding why. This happens particularly in the afternoon or early evening l. Your child may also cry at night. Sometimes parents can't understand why their baby reacts like this. On average, attacks last 45 minutes, but can last up to two hours. There's no need to feel guilty if this happens to your child: crying is normal and not your fault.

According to some studies, babies use crying to express their various needs , whether hunger, discomfort, boredom, pain , etc... 

Although other scientists disagree with this view, babies can express different needs through crying, such as:

• Pain;
• Hunger;
• Discomfort, such as needing to be changed, or feeling hot or cold;
• Fatigue;
• The need for stimulation;
• Or the need to be close to your parent.

Babies can also cry when they're sick, s've got a fever, a stuffy nose, or when their first teeth appear.

Finally, some scientists say that the intensity of crying indicates the intensity of the need, rather than the need itself. But this view is not universally accepted.

How to prevent baby crying during diaper changes?

Although crying during nappy-changing is a common occurrence, there are some simple tricks you can use to limit it.

Choose the best time to change your baby

If you pay attention to your baby's behavior, you'll realize when is the best time to change him. Indeed, to avoid tears, it's (logically) best to choose a time when your baby is calm.

Control room temperature

When changing your baby, check that the room temperature is appropriate. Once your baby is undressed, his body temperature drops very quickly, which can cause him to cry. It's best to keep the room temperature at around 24 degrees.

Choose a comfortable diaper adapted to your child's size

Sometimes your baby may cry because his diaper no longer fits. You should choose a diaper diaper size adapted to his age and weight.

The same applies if you change diaper brands or models and the diapers are not comfortable enough.

Have fun during diaper change and listen to her emotions

To make changing time more pleasant, it's ideal to have toys on hand to distract him. Some babies also find it easier to change when a third party is present.

Put her in clothes that aren't too tight

If you give your baby clothes that are too tight, he or she may find it difficult to put them on and take them off. It's best to choose loose-fitting clothes that s'open at the front to give your baby more headroom.

What to do if baby still cries?

If the methods we've just outlined still don't work, here are some other tips you can implement:

• Talk to your baby in a reassuring way;
• Take your child in your arms and rock him;
• Give him a bath;
• Touch his belly;
• Provide a calm environment by reducing ambient sounds and dimming lights;
• If you are breastfeeding your baby, you can give him the breast;
• Skin-to-skin with your baby;
• Go for a walk, in a baby carrier or stroller;
• Swaddle him;
• Lay your child on his stomach and on your forearm;
• Stay calm: if you yourself are stressed, your baby can feel it and this can make the situation worse;

By the way, if you feel you're losing your patience and your anger is rising, ask your partner or another person to take your baby. If you're alone, put your baby down in his crib and move to another room to try and calm down. Go back from time to time to check that he's safe and that everything's okay, but it's better to let your baby cry on his own than to lose patience and shake him.

Never shake your baby. The damage this can cause is serious, irreversible, can affect your child's development and can even kill your baby. Wait until you're completely calm before going back to see your baby.

If you run into difficulties, don't hesitate to ask specialists for advice, and in case of crisis, call numbers like LigneParents, available 24/7, or ask for help from l.

FAQs to stop baby crying during diaper changes

Why does baby cry when you lay him on the changing table?

Why does baby cry when I put his clothes on?