Overview
- On November 17, 2025, Deakin University lecturers Nicole Downs and Katherine Bussey published guidance advising parents to use diaper changes to introduce consent concepts.
- The steps include telling babies what will happen, pausing to let them register it, offering simple choices, observing body language, involving them verbally, and avoiding distractions during changes.
- The researchers recommend using correct anatomical terms such as penis, vulva and anus to promote body awareness and enable clearer reporting if concerns arise later.
- Experts quoted in coverage, including NYU Langone clinical psychologist Yamalis Diaz and psychotherapist Lesley Koeppel, say the approach builds comfort with boundaries even though infants cannot verbally consent.
- The authors note the added workload and advise applying the habits when feasible, as news outlets also revisit earlier criticism that similar advice is impractical.