Sexuality educator Deanne Carson said parents should ask a baby’s permission before changing their diaper.

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What’s True

Sexuality educator Deanne Carson said parents could ask children if it is okay to change their diapers to teach them “their response matters,” noting that it is not actually possible for babies to consent to a diaper change.

What’s False

Carson did not say infants were able to, or parents were required to, receive consent for diaper changes, nor did she say that infants who refused consent should remain in dirty diapers.

In May 2018 tweets and blog posts about a then-recent television appearance by sexuality educator Deanne Carson went viral on social media, and users railed against her purported advice that parents ask babies for consent before changing their diapers (or nappies).

When an off-screen interviewer asked about lessons about consent and bodily autonomy “from birth,” Carson responded:

Yes, just about how to set up a culture of consent in their homes so “I’m going to change your nappy now, is that OK?” Of course a baby is not going to respond “yes, mum, that’s awesome, I’d love to have my nappy changed.”

But if you leave a space and wait for body language and wait to make eye contact then you’re letting that child know that their response matters.

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