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Baby dresses alone
” Me all alone ! »: Around the age of two, these three little words come back more and more often in your child’s mouth and say a lot about his desire for autonomy … So it’s the perfect time to start teaching him to dress, even if this learning requires a little time and patience on your part. Sure, you will go faster by continuing to do it yourself, but your child needs you to let him act alone to gain self-confidence. So remember to initiate it as soon as possible.
Around one year, your baby begins to cooperate during the dressing sessions: he stretches his feet so that we put his socks on him, or his leg so that his pants are put on… As Stéphane Barbas and Madeleine Deny indicate. in the book “My child’s guide to everyday life”, ” it is important to name the parts of your child’s body when you dress them, wash them while asking them to participate ”. Also be cunning by improvising little games “hello hand, and here comes the foot …”. According to the two authors, “around 18 months, your child will know how to lower elasticated panties, then will learn to undress and put on his pajamas”. At first he will be a little clumsy and will certainly be annoyed that he hasn’t done it on his own yet, but cheer him on. In addition, your little one being in full period of imitation, give him real infant clothes to dress his big bear or his doll. This will help him to progress in the control of his gestures. Around 2 years old, his efforts begin to be rewarded, even if the hat is still askew and the T-shirt inside out… All of his progress deserves warm encouragement. “Instead of telling him you dressed well, take the time to tell him: the sweater is right side up, the pants are buttoned…”, Stéphane Barbas and Madeleine Deny explain in their guide. At around two and a half years old, undressing has no secrets for your child: it is always easier to take off than to put on clothes…. At this point, he will certainly be able to put on his socks. At 3 years old, if he has been encouraged to fend for himself, he will almost know how to dress himself without your help, even if everything is not perfect the first time. For the coat, he should also be able to unbutton it without tearing off the buttons. On the other hand, to close it, it will take a little longer.
Learning how to dress: make it easier for him
First of all, opt for clothes that are easy to put on: wide necklines and sleeves, snap closures, skirts or pants with an elastic waist. They are also much faster to slide in an emergency, during toilet training … It It is also essential not to rush your little one even if the morning it is often the race at home! But, your child needs time. Try to organize yourself to be 15 minutes early in the morning and let him deal with his clothes. Arrange the day before his outfit on a chair, in the order in which he should put them: the panties, then the T-shirt before the sweater, finally the socks and pants. And don’t forget to undo or unbutton everything to make it easier to put on. To help him put on his coat on his own and in the right direction… place it on the floor, the collar facing the child, who only has to slip both arms at the same time into the sleeves. In addition, always teach him to start the buttoning from the bottom to go upwards: this way, he will be able to see what he is doing. If there is a zipper, slip a ring or small ribbon through the zipper slider, his little fingers will catch it more easily.
Learn to put on your shoes on your own
When the walk is well acquired, opt for shoes with scratch rather than laces. To make them easier to put on, have them sit on the last step of the stairs or on a small chair. Help him by pushing his feet into it. Moreover, as we know, putting your shoes on the right side is not always easy for the youngest either. To help him differentiate the right shoe from the left, show him a particular detail located on the outside that he will take as a reference: the brand’s logo, a bow, a color … If your child’s shoes have no distinctive element, you can always put a small sticker that will protrude slightly from the sole.
As for the lacing, it will remain your responsibility for some time. Your child will not know how to tie their laces until around five or six years old …