"Real Men Change Diapers"

auntniece · Senior member **Joined:** 18 Jun 2007 **Posts:** 2070

My hubby was telling me a story that happened @ work.
He works w/2 women who are around 20 and have babies. One of them whose daughter is 1, was upset b/c her dad called complaining about changing a dirty diaper - he actually asked her how much longer she would be at work, thinking he could leave the baby dirty Rolling Eyes

! The other said her boyfriend hadn't changed one diaper yet and her baby is 2 months old! My husband looked @ both of them & said they surround themselves with whimpy men b/c a real man changes a diaper. He said it bonds you w/your baby and gives a man some sense of being able to nurture the child since he cannot breast feed. I agree, both do make poor choices in men!

Hedwig · Senior member **Joined:** 12 Feb 2007 **Posts:** 694

A man not changing a diaper doesn't make him any less a man, or a father for that matter. I grew up with my dad not even knowing how a diaper works, whereas my mom did all the diaper changing. The boyfriend of a friend of mine who recently gave birth hasn't changed a diaper in the child's entire three months of life because he gags whenever he sees it/smells it. It's not a big deal, IMO.

Moose Crossing · Full member **Joined:** 03 Jul 2007 **Posts:** 376

My views are never the most popular Very Happy

but I think it is very selfish of the guy not to ever change a diaper. Thankfully my husband and dad do not mind though!

bellan · Senior member **Joined:** 17 Oct 2004 **Posts:** 1055

Good for your husband! Even if its only as small task, it means he wants to take care out his child and be in a part of there life. Maybe your husband can help persuade these two women that men can (and should) should diapers too.
He sounds like a great guy.

silver · Senior member **Joined:** 06 Jul 2005 **Posts:** 1998

While I would never say that a man who won't change a diaper is of low character or a "poor choice" in men (there are other characteristics that would qualify!), I do think it's wonderful that your hubby does and definitely love that my hubby does.

Emily · Moderator **Joined:** 23 Jun 2004 **Posts:** 5617

I agree that a dad who doesn't change diapers isn't necessarily a bad father, but it's a strike against him unless he has a really freaking good excuse, IMO. A friend of mine's husband refused to change poopy diapers and they ended up divorcing. Obviously there were many more issues there, but it was a symptom of his generally self-absorbed, lazy attitude.

astepcloser24 · Senior member **Joined:** 04 Sep 2005 **Posts:** 5749

I think it's in poor taste for a man of today's generation not to change diapers. It seems as if they're stuck in some old fashioned time frame or something. Changing diapers, feeding children bottles, etc., is all part of the bonding with the child experience even if it can be "disgusting" or "surprising" at times.

silver · Senior member **Joined:** 06 Jul 2005 **Posts:** 1998

Another thought for some of the pp's:

All marraiges/partnerships have a general way of working, so it's not necessarily true that men who don't change diapers are displaying laziness, oldfashioned-ness, etc. Perhaps there is an agreement in that relationship and things work out great the way they are--just like I don't expect DH to wash dishes and he doesn't expect me to take out garbage. Old-fashioned? Probably; but it works for us! Same with diapers. He does change them, but he probably changes one a day to my 7 or more. In return, I've hated feeding Alex since he first started solids (I know, that's awful of me, but it really is my LEAST favorite task!) and DH has been in charge of that since then. So I change the diapers, he feeds the baby! It works Smile

And of course, there are lazy men who don't change diapers because they don't want to Smile

umfpt · Senior member **Joined:** 17 May 2005 **Posts:** 3268

Kannon99 · Senior member **Joined:** 12 Oct 2004 **Posts:** 11240

My mom told me "don't marry a man who won't change diapers or wash dishes."

DH changes plenty of diapers and even helps with washing them.