An Australian educator, Deanne Carson, has sparked debate by suggesting parents ask a baby’s consent before changing their diaper. While the idea may seem impractical—since infants can’t verbally respond—Carson’s goal isn’t literal approval, but rather promoting respect and personal boundaries from birth.
Her approach involves speaking to the baby, saying things like, “I’m going to change your diaper now, is that okay?” and observing their body language. This, she argues, helps introduce the concept of bodily autonomy early on.