{"id":15206,"date":"2026-06-09T19:58:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T19:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thetwistzone.com\/?p=15206"},"modified":"2026-06-09T19:58:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T19:58:43","slug":"debate-asking-babies-for-consent-before-changing-their-diapers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thetwistzone.com\/?p=15206","title":{"rendered":"Debate: Asking Babies for Consent Before Changing Their Diapers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Diaper changing has never sparked much debate. While it can be unpleasant\u00a0<\/span>at times<\/span>\u00a0(<\/span>okay<\/span>, most of the time),\u00a0<\/span>it\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0generally considered a routine part of parenting with little political weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

That changed recently when a sexuality educator suggested parents ask their babies for consent before changing their diapers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Photo by\u00a0Laura Ohlman<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In an interview with\u00a0<\/span>Australia\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0ABC News<\/span><\/a>\u00a0on May 8, Deanne Carson shared that she works with parents, teaching them to establish a<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>culture of consent<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>from birth. She encourages parents to speak to their newborns, saying\u00a0<\/span>things like<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>I\u2019m<\/span>\u00a0going to change your diaper now, is that\u00a0<\/span>OK<\/span>?\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u201cOf course, a baby won\u2019t respond by saying, \u2018Yes, mom, that\u2019s great, I\u2019d love my diaper changed!\u2019 But if you pause, look for body language, and wait for eye contact, you\u2019re showing that their response matters,\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>Deanne explained.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Babies<\/p>\n

Since the interview,\u00a0<\/span>Deanne\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0views have\u00a0<\/span>been widely mocked<\/span>\u00a0online.\u00a0<\/span>However, Deanne told\u00a0<\/span>BBC Three<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that her message had\u00a0<\/span>been misunderstood<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

She clarifies that parents should communicate with their babies during diaper changes to help them learn\u00a0<\/span>early<\/span>\u00a0on that they have control over their bodies, even if they\u00a0<\/span>can\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cW<\/strong><\/span>e read to young children without expecting them to read back or fully understand the story,\u201d\u00a0<\/strong>Deanne says.<\/span>\u00a0\u201cWhat we\u2019re doing is building the foundations for literacy. Similarly, when we practice consent with babies, we\u2019re laying the groundwork for understanding consent.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n