Attention, parents: You are likely violating your infant children's "body autonomy" by changing their diapers without their express consent. At least, according to "experts."
"Experts."
The New York Post has additional details about how we've all been doing it incorrectly for all of human history:
Drenched diapers are no longer messes that need to be ripped off a baby's bottom posthaste, according to new advice by early childhood development researchers in Australia.
Instead, the experts encourage moms and dads to request an infant's consent — you read that correctly — before changing their diaper.
'At the start of a nappy change, ensure your child knows what is happening,' researchers from Deakin University wrote in a November 2025 guide. 'Get down to their level and say, "You need a nappy change," and then pause so they can take this in.'
And if consent isn't granted, what then?
Yes, leave it to the Aussies to educate the rest of humanity on the finer points of infant consent. I don't know if we should be taking cues — no matter how educated and researched — from a country that calls diapers "nappies." But anyway…
Lesley Koeppel, a NYC-based psychotherapist, agrees.
'Babies cannot verbally agree or disagree, but parents can still narrate what they are doing,' she told The Post. 'This builds a foundation for bodily autonomy long before a child has language.'
The internet, unsurprisingly, had opinions:
Any parent can tell you that if diaper changes don't happen unless the baby gives "consent," things would get real ugly, real quick.
Glad we've got these "experts" to show us the way!
Where would we be without them?
P.S. Now check out our latest video 👇
