Stop the Diaper Changing Battles

Try a stand-up diaper

If your baby's diaper is just wet (not messy), try letting her stand up while you do a quick change. If you're using cloth diapers, have one leg pre-pinned so that you can slide it on like pants, or opt for pre-fitted diapers that don't require pins.

Time to potty train?

If your child is old enough and seems ready for the next step, consider potty training.

Elizabeth Pantley is a mom of four, a parenting expert, attachment parenting supporter and the writer of several parenting books, including The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night and The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschoolers. Elizabeth is a regular radio show guest and frequently quoted as a parenting expert in magazines such as Parents, Parenting, Working Mother, McCalls, Redbook and on over 50 parent-directed Web sites. She publishes a newsletter, Parent Tips, that's distributed in schools nationwide.

This article is an excerpt from Gentle Baby Care: No-cry, No-fuss, No-worry--Essential Tips for Raising Your Baby, by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)

Copyright © Elizabeth Pantley. Permission to republish granted to Pregnancy.org, LLC.