Welcome back to some important information on babysitting a baby. Last week I covered the topics of safety, reading and education, and eating. Let's start with the least fun part:
CHANGING A DIAPER
It had been over thirty years since I changed a diaper and I understood the basics: cover the front and the back. I'm not a very technical or a handy person and I do have a habit of doing things upside down. I watched my wife change a diaper and then when no one was around, I did it all by myself. Fortunately, it was not a dirty diaper, but I managed to get it on and it appeared tight. I haven't had a poopy diaper yet, my advice is to wait until someone else is around.
This is where all the action is-putting on a diaper that is NOT great, but good enough.
You should not be the only one getting exercise. Wear the baby out and put them to sleep easier. In Colorado, they start babies young doing outdoor stuff. My grandchild gets her reps in by pushing this pool forward and pulling it back. Five to ten reps are usually a good amount especially if you can keep everything inside the pool.
Climbing is also important for a baby and with all the mountains we have here. There is no doubt this one will be hiking and climbing. She likes to climb up and down the couch and also stand on top of a chair looking out the window, with me holding her of course.
PLAYING WITH TRADITONAL AND NON TRADITIONAL TOYS
The more toys, the more things we can play with. Pictured below is a kitchen with all kinds of food. A teddy bear is a very traditional toy which goes back to President "Teddy" Roosevelt. She loves this bear and loves to put a hat on it. It's surprising that the bear went to Lehigh University just like her dad.
Playing with a baby gives you the opportunity to forget you're an adult and just wing it. Whatever comes to mind can work. With this multi-use toy below, I was piling things on top and teaching her the "A,B,C,'s" too. I was singing, ( "A, B, C," it's as easy as, "1, 2, 3, " baby you and me.") I never realized the Jackson Five were actually talking about babies. Babies love music, any kind of music. She's been dancing and bopping to a bunch of songs. In the second picture, take a look at the audience we have to play that funky music!
Put stuff on your head and catch it when it falls, four or five times in a row and the baby will be smiling or going the other way. This little ones loves hats and she gave me three to put on top of each other. It's amazing what you can teach a baby while you're playing. For more non-traditional fun, try a bunch of paint brushes, without the paint. I kid you not, she takes them out and I put them back in the container. We did that for twenty minutes at least. What about ice cream? Take it and put it on the toe and she loves it. It's cheaper than buying it!
SLEEPING
She loves having the pacifier and her blanket, but when she's exhausted you need all the energy you have left to make this happen, or you get rescued by her mom. Once asleep, she can be out for thirty minutes or two hours. This is the time that you too can nap, but make sure you are still holding the baby.
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