John Legend has joined hands with Pampers to help install thousands of changing tables in men’s restrooms so they can easily change their kids’ diapers.
The 40-year-old shares 3-year-old daughter Luna and 13-month-old son Miles with wife Chrissy Teigen. And being a working father, he probably knows how difficult it’s to change a kid’s diapers in public places.
That’s why the singer will be installing 5,000 diaper changing tables in public restrooms across the US and Canada.
In an interview with PEOPLE, Legend revealed how his decision was a total no-brainer and came about naturally to him.
He explained: “It all started from an organic situation which was that Chrissy and I both shared diaper-changing duties with Luna.”
“We really started getting behind the idea of dads having diaper duty and that being a part of co-parenting,” said Legend, who previously teamed up with Pampers earlier this year for a Super Bowl advert about dads who carry out diaper duties for their kids.
He continued: “Then Pampers and Koala Kare came together to say, ‘You know what?
“We’re encouraging dads to change diapers and be active parts of the parenting duties, but a lot of times, the facilities aren’t built for that to happen.’”
Legend himself had his share of diaper duties but the musician feels surprised at how long it took for men to join this conversation.
“It didn’t occur to me that [including dads in advertising around diapers] hadn’t happened yet … but I’m glad that we’re highlighting this issue,” Legend said.
“Overall, it’s part of a movement that we recognize [the] duties of parenting and running the house should be shared more equally between partners.”
“We want to make sure that we do our part to make that message heard,” he continued. “I think making the changing stations available is gonna make a difference for a lot of people.”
The father-of-two said dads often have to change their kids’ diapers at odd places so they’re forced to “improvise.”
“[For me], sometimes it’s on airplanes. A lot of times, they’re not built for it,” he said. “You just find a spot and you want the kid to be comfortable because some of these spots are hard and uncomfortable, and they’re freaking out.
“You just wanna get it done in any way possible, by any means necessary.”
In addition to his diaper duty, the “All of Me” singer also plays his part in raising his children with Teigen, 33.
Their daughter, in particular, gives them a hard time as she is already figuring out how to outsmart her parents and get away with it.
“It’s about setting boundaries … and saying there are trade-offs in life,” Legend said.
“Obviously, Luna has become good at negotiating already, we want to let her know that when you make this choice, this is what the consequence is going to be.
“I think we try to stay on the same team, so she doesn’t play us against each other.”
The Love Me Now singer said Luna has started understanding much more after they came back from a recent tour to Europe.
“She was really aware of what was going on and able to take it in more and truly enjoy it. It was a new milestone in our vacationing,” he explained.
“She was really aware that we were in a new place and enjoying the culture. She’s just much more smarter and able to enjoy the trip more than she ever had before.”
Meanwhile, young Miles will soon be walking around to contribute his share of mischief.
“He’s already talking a little bit,” Legend said. “He’s so close, he’s grabbing everything. He’s been half-crawl, half-walking … but I think the walking will come soon.”
Overall, the singer is doing great as a dad and is proud of being one. “I’m proud of who we are as parents and I’m proud of our kids,” he said.
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