It seems like the work of a baby's parents are never done, especially in the diaper department - new babies oftentimes need to be changed ten or more times a day! However, I encourage you to look on the bright side. Diaper changing time is a great time to bond with your baby.

Okay, I know what you're thinking - when you're dealing with a major blowout, all bets are off. But otherwise, when the opportunity arises to change a less-mess diaper, it's also a time when you are easily able to focus on just the baby and interact with her - time that can be hard to come by in a home with older siblings or even just on a busy day. During most diaper changes, you and your baby can enjoy the benefits of easy eye contact and a relaxing environment.

So, what can you do with this time when you and your baby are focused on each other? Here are a few ideas:

Talk! Have a conversation with your baby. You can encourage baby to speak up by giving her time to speak and commenting back to her after she babbles by either babbling back or using your own words. "Really?! I didn't know that!" "What an interesting story!" "Can you tell me more?" "Ga ga goo!" All of these are great places to start.

Touch! For new babies, touch is essential to their development. Sneak in a few minutes of loving that baby-soft skin while you have it exposed for the diaper change. You could even use some baby oil or lotion and turn it into a mini-massage.

Giggle! Try to discover new ways to get your baby to giggle. This is my favorite because nothing brightens my day like a baby laugh. Some of my son's favorite reasons to giggle are tickled feet and belly kisses.

Sing! Singing a song is a great way to connect with your baby, both during and after the actual diaper change. You can stick with old favorites like "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "Mary Had a Little Lamb," or you could branch out and teach baby some of your favorites, anything from Simon and Garfunkel to Beyonce to Bon Jovi. What baby doesn't want to hear there parents belt out the words to "Livin' on a Prayer?!" As long as you are singing with enthusiasm, your baby will eat it up. - Sara I.