03/24/2023
Self-care in the first year primarily includes dressing and diapering activities. Because your child relies on you for most self-care skills in the first year and these activities happen often, this daily routine is one that provides many opportunities for interaction and engagement with your child. As you and your child work together, your child is exposed to opportunities for growth in cognitive, adaptive, communication, social emotional, and physical skills.
Diaper changes are so much more than just a daily living task; when your baby is reaching for the wipes they're physically trying to roll over to get closer to the wipes, they're looking for a social reaction from you, they're communicating what they want, they're remembering where an item is when you try to hide it, and they're trying to exercise their independence.
Interested in more info on how to enrich your family's diaper changes and dressing routines? Reach out and book an educational visit with our SLP and/or PT to discuss your dressing/diapering routines. We'd love to share our full Developmental Milestones: Sleep, Dressing, Mealtime, and Playtime handouts which includes what to expect, how to enrich your routine, and when to refer for more support.
References:
CDC’s Developmental Milestones. (2022, December 29). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html
Child Development Guide & Milestones. (2021, May). Children’s Hospital of Orange County. https://www.choc.org/primary-care/ages-stages
Max Hirshkowitz 1, Kaitlyn Whiton 2, Steven M Albert 3, Cathy Alessi 4, Oliviero Bruni 5, Lydia DonCarlos 6, Nancy Hazen 7, John Herman 8, Paula J Adams Hillard 9, Eliot S Katz 10, Leila Kheirandish-Gozal 11, David N Neubauer 12, Anne E O’Donnell 13, Maurice Ohayon 14, John Peever 15, Robert Rawding 16, Ramesh C Sachdeva 17, Belinda Setters 18, Michael V Vitiello 19, J Catesby Ware 20. (2015). National Sleep Foundation’s Updated Sleep Duration Recommendations: Final Report. Elsevier Inc. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2015.10.004
