Dad Is Called 'Disgusting' For Changing Newborn Daughter's Diaper In Public Restroom

Aug 15, 2022 by apost team

Being a parent can be extremely hard at every age. However, caring for a newborn baby is definitely one of the more stressful experiences in parenthood. During this time, it’s especially important to watch their every move and tend to their every need, such as feeding them on time, changing their dirty diapers and providing them with a safe place to call home.

In 2017, a new father found himself in a frustrating situation. When his 7-week-old daughter, Harpah, needed her diaper changed, he went into the public restroom at the Caneland Central Shopping Center in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. Damien Leeson, the 24-year-old father, figured this would be fine as his baby needed to be tended to, and no baby deserves to have to sit in a dirty diaper.

However, one woman thought otherwise. A mother walked into the restroom with her own son and was completely repulsed by seeing Leeson in the parents’ room. The woman was sure to vocalize her thoughts on the matter to Leeson’s face, hurting the man’s feelings in the process.

Since then, Leeson has spoken out about his experience as a new father tending to his baby girl in a public changing area. While some people agreed with the woman’s statements, many people were on Leeson’s side and supported him in doing what was necessary — and completely valid — to take care of his child. It also brought up the conversation about why it was seen as wrong for a father to tend to his daughter in this way, but not if it was a mother caring for her child.

Speaking with the Daily Mail in February 2017, Leeson talked about the experience he had while changing his 7-week-old daughter’s diaper in a public restroom. A mother came in and was floored to see a grown man in the room with a tiny baby.

“She looked at me and starting laying into me saying that it was ‘disgusting to see a fully-grown man in a parents’ room with a little girl,’” Leeson said. “She kept saying I was a ‘dirty old man.’”

Leeson said that he and his wife were completely “in shock” following the encounter, and wondered, “How can someone say that to someone who is just looking after their kid?”

According to the Daily Mail, Leeson shared his experience in a Facebook post afterward and received plenty of comments, with some people even telling him that it was “normal” and that he should “get used to it.”

However, many people also understood where Leeson was coming from and sent him kind messages. According to the Courier Mail, both moms and dads have spoken out in support of Leeson’s decision.

“It’s called a parents’ room for a reason, it’s not a mum’s (sic) room, people need to wake up to themselves,” Amy Marks said. Joanne Barclay, another parent, said: “Shame on her, just because he’s a man doesn’t mean he has poor intentions. He’s a proud dad who is obviously thrilled about his new baby girl.”

Jeremy Phillips, a dad of two, had a similar experience to Leeson’s. He explained: “It’s awful but unfortunately not uncommon. I often get strange looks as if I’ve walked into the wrong toilet or something, it’s not a nice feeling when you know you have every right to be there too.”

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What would you do if you were in this father’s situation? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too.