DEAR ABBY: I'm a dad whose children are growing up fast, and our second will soon be out of diapers. Before that happens, I need to get clarity on public diaper behavior.
Often I find myself at a restaurant when it smells like it's time to change the diaper. Instead of running to the bathroom for a false alarm, I (and most parents I know) pull back the back of the diaper to check while we're in the middle of the restaurant. Is this bad manners or considered to be practical behavior? -- ON THE SCENT OUT WEST
DEAR ON THE SCENT: Pulling back the diaper should not be necessary. Experienced parents know what a clean and empty diaper looks and feels like. Others just pick up their child to determine if he or she passes the "sniff" test. I suggest this is what you do until your child is out of diapers.