Caring for life: A postdevelopment politics of infant hygiene.

The article is a book review of "Caring for life: A postdevelopment politics of infant hygiene" by Kelly Dombroski. The book explores how ordinary people contribute to social change in local spaces, focusing on the topic of infant hygiene practices in Asia-Pacific. Dombroski conducted ethnographic research in China, Australia, and New Zealand, examining the practice of baniao, which involves holding out babies to urinate instead of using diapers. She argues that this practice promotes social and environmental change by reducing waste from Western hygiene practices. The book also discusses the political nature of hygiene change and emphasizes the importance of feminist and decolonial approaches in research. Overall, "Caring for life" offers insights into the potential for positive economic and environmental futures through alternative infant hygiene practices. [Extracted from the article]