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‘Only moms should change nappies!’

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I often get calls as editor of Parent24 inviting me to attend product launches. This one was different. A certain nappy brand wanted to tell me about their latest product:

“Yes, I am the editor here”

“Is there not a woman working there that we can speak to?”

It gets worse...

Anyone may attend... just not YOU.

The same company phones to ask “We’re having a launch of XXX nappies. Do you have a partner or a colleague who would like to attend ?” Not “Would YOU...”

Then they send me endless emails addressing their “community of moms” website, and other PR pieces saying things like:

“How many moms chase their babies around the house trying to convince them to get their nappy changed?”

Secret society of male nappy changers

Well, nappy company, I’m not sure about the answer to that question, but I do know that dads are just as likely to get their hands dirty. I have seen it. Heck, I’ve even done it with my own three children. In fact, some of the nappies I changed in the middle of the night, or in crowded shopping centre baby rooms, or on the beach with sand getting everywhere or on the back seat of the car were your brand. Promise.

I’m not special, either. Dads do change nappies. They don’t brag about it around braais, and they find it just as tedious and gross as moms, but they do it. Some dads even take on the role of nappy-changer entirely, a kind of sharing of tasks with a mom who is breastfeeding, for example- we can’t breastfeed, but we can wipe  a baby’s bum.

So, dear nappy company, please stop addressing all of your advertising, communication, launches and imagery to moms. Who knows, maybe your sales will shoot up.

Who changes the nappies in your house?

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