Nappy-changers told to sing on the job

Bernice Mene

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Early childhood teachers should be singing to babies during nappy changes, government officials have decreed – they should also record details of every change, wear a fresh pair of gloves for each baby and keep the room warmer than 16C.

The instruction to sing came gurgling down from the Education Review Office (ERO) last month to a Rotorua childcare centre.

"Babies and toddlers need further support from adults during the nappy-changing process," the otherwise positive report tut-tutted. "This support includes interesting objects to handle... and singing to engage them while they are being changed. Attention to this area is likely to make the nappy-changing process a more positive learning experience for babies and toddlers."

The instructions were headed "area for further improvement" in the most recent report for Nga Tamariki o Te Waiariki Educare Whare Te Arawa, which has 37 children enrolled and is attached to the Waiariki Institute of Technology. Staff last week declined to comment for fear ERO's comment would worry parents.

But Sarah Farquhar, a researcher who heads the Early Childhood Council, said the report "would not be a concern to any parent". "I think maybe ERO's just taking it a little bit too far. They are being a bit pin-pricking."

Farquhar said she had never heard of nappy-changing being a "positive learning experience" for babies, although it was important they were comfortable during the change, and that staff kept the area clean. Teachers should be smiling and warm with the baby but there was no need to have a "focused conversation" with the baby, and giving the baby toys to play with during the change was not hygienic. "As long as there's that warm interaction going... You don't want to draw nappy-changing out."

Former Silver Fern captain and mother of two Bernice Mene said she sometimes sang songs while changing nappies. But there was a simple motive behind Mene's singing: "Not to teach them, no. Just to get through it, really. Anything to entertain them and try to distract them... They hate having it done, most of them."

Farquhar said that in early childhood centres there were lots of rules around nappy-changing, including strict hygiene requirements and the need to keep a record of every nappy-change.

She said there was little time for singing, but she was happy to back the Sunday Star-Times' suggestion of the Britney Spears' back catalogue.

What could be more appropriate, we thought, than "Baby One More Time", "I'm a Slave 4 U", or "Toxic"?