Imagine yourself standing before the changing table. Your baby squirms and coos. It is a familiar routine for the both of you. You could probably change a diaper in your sleep; you’ve done it so many times. Now picture yourself standing in front of the same changing table. Your baby is now a toddler, squirming and threatening to grab his bottom, which is covered in the most putrid, foul smelling poop you have come across yet, thanks to his overindulgence in grapes yesterday. Cleaning him up is far from easy because he is determined to get up and run away. He tries to grab the wipes, he tries to pull out the clean diaper from underneath him, he screams when you tell him you’re not done yet, and then he won’t even let you apply rash cream. You have reached the point where potty training could not come soon enough, and yet it seems so far away. You begin to dread diaper changes.
But then you realize that your baby’s diaper days will come to an end, and likely sooner than you expect. You will get to that stage and realize your days of wiping bottoms are far from over. You’ll see a young boy or girl run off towards the bus and actually miss those diaper changes, just a little, because they meant your little one was tiny and needed you for everything.
So, when you feel like you just can’t stand to change one more diaper, try to remember that your diaper days are numbered, but so are your days of mothering a baby or a toddler. They grow up so fast and every stage of childhood has its own trials, surprises, and blessings. Take a breath, relax and develop your own tricks to make those toddler diaper changes go by faster and more smoothly. Make sure you kiss and hug your little one after every change. Enjoy their smallness, their helplessness and their cuteness.
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