Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Paige Freshwater

Mum rages at mother-in-law for 'invading baby's privacy' by changing dirty nappy

A mum claims her mother-in-law 'invaded her baby's privacy' by changing his dirty nappy. She believes only parents should change their child's nappies - and says her mother-in-law is being "overbearing" by trying to help in this way.

However, her perspective on parenting has been slammed online, as users urged her to take a 'long and hard look at herself'. Taking to Mumsnet, the mum-of-one said: "I'm very keen on consent and protecting my baby's privacy and prefer that only myself and my partner are the ones to change our son's nappy.

"Obviously, I understand if we're not available due to nursery eventually or if someone else is babysitting, then I'm happy for someone else to do it. However, this has not yet been the case." She went on to explain how her mother-in-law changed her son's soiled nappy in front of her - not allowing her the opportunity to do it herself.

The mother-in-law was just trying to help (stock photo) (Getty Images)

"My baby started crying and rather than just give him back, [she] decided to take it upon herself to change him - I was standing right there, " she added.

"He continued crying throughout the change and she gave him back straight after but it annoyed me as it wasn’t her place to change him.

"I didn’t say anything at the time - I was trying to be nice and friendly but I'm starting to find her more overbearing and I’m getting close to drawing a line."

She has taken to Mumsnet to ask users whether she's being 'unreasonable' by wanting her mother-in-law to take a back seat when it comes to changing her baby.

In response, one user said: "If you don’t trust grandparents to change baby’s nappy they shouldn’t be seeing baby. If you do, no issue. Babies don’t need consent no matter how keen you are on it."

Another user added: "This is something you seriously need to address with yourself.

"First of all, all my family members have offered to change nappies, and 9/10 it's because they're being helpful and just giving me a tiny break. It's a lovely thing for them to do.

"I really don't understand why you feel the way you do. But it does seem like you have your own underlining problem.

"If you can't trust immediate family to change a nappy then, well, your child is going to grow up with you literally obsessing over 'privacy' for them."

A third user said: "So nursery workers or babysitters can change your child but their grandparent can’t?

"I suspect this is more about your feelings towards your mother-in-law than anything to do with privacy and consent.

"Consent is a ridiculous concept for a small baby who has no capacity to give informed consent at that age."

Do you have a story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.