In today’s world, opinions are a dime a dozen, and the internet has made it easier than ever to share them. But some opinions are so outrageous that they leave us scratching our heads. The latest example? A self-proclaimed expert who thinks parents should ask their babies for consent before changing their diapers.
Deanne Carson, a relationship and sexuality educator, believes that parents should check in with their babies before diving into diaper duty. Yes, you read that right – ask the baby for permission. While consent is an important topic, applying it to diaper changes seems absurd.
Changing diapers is a necessary but often thankless task that parents undertake multiple times a day. Adding the ritual of asking for consent seems like a recipe for disaster. Carson’s advice, which she shared on ABC in 2018, emphasizes starting consent education at a very young age. But how can babies, who can’t even verbalize their consent, possibly give their permission?
Carson argues that babies can give nonverbal signals, like eye contact, to show they’re on board. But what happens when the baby says no? Do parents just leave them in their dirty diaper until they’re “ready to consent”? The reactions to Carson’s advice have been priceless, with many people questioning the feasibility of her approach.
While the intent behind creating a culture of consent is noble, it’s clear that this approach falls short in practical execution. As one Twitter user joked, “Either she has never wrestled a toddler during a change or worse, she just left hers in a dirty diaper until it was ‘ready to consent’. OMFG.”
The diaper consent debate has left many parents wondering if the world has gone mad. Will we really start asking our babies for permission to change their diapers? Or will we just use our common sense and get on with the job? One thing’s for sure – this debate has given us all a good laugh.
