Baby is capable of making quite a lot of fuss for such a tiny person, and there are times – like, say, when you’re standing in line at the bank, or when you’re trying to make dinner, or at a really unfortunate moment during a wedding ceremony – when the kind of noise they can work themself up to just won’t fly. Whether you’ve tried all of the usual culprits – hunger, dirty diaper, gas – and still aren’t sure what the problem is or you already know Baby is a little too hot, or angling for a snack, or really not in the mood to get any more booster shots, but there just isn’t anything you can do about it at the moment, sometimes distracting them is the best way to avoid disaster.
- Baby’s favorite new toy, the salad spinner!
Sometimes the best way to convince Baby to settle down long enough for you to do whatever you need to, from popping something to eat into the microwave to changing their diaper, is to offer a little harmless bribery in the form of a new toy. This doesn’t mean you need to clean out Toys ‘R Us for a neverending stream of new playthings, though – you may have noticed by now that the things Baby is the most interested in are not for them at all. Offering them the chance to get their hands on their very own mixing spoon, say, or maybe your glasses case, or any other choking-hazard-free and non-toxic household item may buy you enough minutes of quiet distraction to do what you need to. - The same old song and dance
Baby loves to move around, and they love the sound of your voice. Bouncing them around can be a great way to soothe Baby, and so can music, so putting the two together is an automatic double-whammy. Sometimes you might not be in the right setting to take them on a nice, calming little waltz, though – behind the wheel of your the car, for example, would be a pretty inconvenient place to try that one out. That doesn’t mean you can’t sing Baby a song while you’re in transit, though. Something with silly words or sound effects is always good, and as Baby grows older, they will probably pick out some favorites. As they start recognizing their name, adding it into the lyrics of the song can be a great way to draw their attention. - Life’s a game
Making your errands and household activities into games is a technique that you’ll probably have an easier time with as Baby grows older, but it’s never too early to start. Just having your voice and focus on them as you explain that the pavement of the road is lava and you have to only step on the painted lines of the crosswalk can be enough to shift their focus away from their impending meltdown, especially if clearing the sections of the road that are lava involves hopping between the painted lines, say, or comes with a rhyming chant.
On the other hand, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel – Baby isn’t judging you on your originality, and old favorites like peek-a-boo can go a long way towards establishing some peace, too. - Be flexible
Baby is growing and changing every day, and it only makes sense that their moods will grow with them, so the distraction technique that worked yesterday may do nothing for Baby today, and be their favorite thing again by tomorrow – it’s impossible to say.
