While countless celebrity mothers have experienced mom-shaming on social media, now Hollywood dads like John Stamos are being criticized for their parenting, too.
On Sunday, the 54-year-old Full House star was visiting New York when he enjoyed a walk around Times Square with his three-month-old son Billy, who was strapped to his chest in a baby carrier
The problem was that John positioned Billy to face outwards, instead of toward him — which is not how experts recommend a child his age sits. And commenters were sure to let him know what he was doing wrong.
Dad-shamed: John Stamos was criticized after posting this picture of himself with his son Billy in New York City
Turn around! Commenters called him out for positioning Billy the wrong way
In, please! They said that babies should not face outward in a baby carrier at such a young age
Get a grip: Some were quite hyperbolic, like this one who said her ‘heart hurts’
Their business? Most simply provided lectures for the correct way to parent
In the photo, John appears to be going unnoticed in the crowd in New York City. He wears sunglasses and has little Billy strapped into the carrier, his legs dangling.
‘The Stamos boys take Manhattan,’ he captioned the snap.
While most of the commenters chimed in to say how cute Billy is or how good-looking John is, some had words of criticism to share about how the baby was positioned.
‘Nononono… not that way around!!!! Aaahh… my heart hurts to see this… his spine is overstretched!!!’ wrote one.
‘He needs to be curled up, like in mommys belly, for his spine to develop correctly. Also, he can’t shut out the noise from the streets as easily as if he sat the other way around,’ wrote anoter.
Don’t mean to be rude, but… Some tempered their criticism by calling Billy cute
Yes… Jennifer Beall Saxton, founder and CEO of the baby gear services company The Tot Squad (comment not pictured), said it was true that babies should face in at that age
Safety: It’s best for development and safety for a baby to face in until at least six months, in most cases
Gonna live: However, the expert added that it was clear that Billy was in no immediate dangers
Chill: Several people also came to John’s defense and criticized ‘sanctimommies’ who always had someting to say about other people’s parenting
Telling them off: One commenter called out ‘judgy parents’ and told critics to back off and let John parent his own kid
‘He’s too young to comfortably and safely be worn forward facing! His little hips are not ready!’ added a third.
‘Make sure baby up high enough you can kiss the top of his head! That will make sure he’s in the proper position!’ advised yet another.
Some tempered their lectures with kind words.
‘Cute! But poor baby. It’s not good for him to face forward already. He needs to see his daddy… and not good for his crotch as well,’ one commented.
Added another: ‘He is absolutely adorable, but he is way too young/little to be forward facing in a baby carrier. You need one where baby’s tummy is against your tummy. My almost 10 month old is still in a baby carrier where his tummy against my tummy :)’
Jennifer Beall Saxton, founder and CEO of the baby gear services company The Tot Squad, explained the issue to Today.com.
First-time dad: John welcomed his first son on April 10
Family: He married model Caitlin McHugh, 32, in February of this year
Everywhere you look! Billy has already met some of his dad’s Full House and Fuller House co-stars
‘Billy is likely a little young to be forward facing in the carrier,’ she said, nothing that babies typically should be facing parents until they are at least months old and can better control their heads.
Despite this, however, Saxton notes that the photo shows clearly that ‘Billy is not at an immediate risk,’ and she called out John’s critics for being overzealous.
‘The ‘experts’ of the internet will nitpick people not knowing the comparative risks,’ she said. ‘The baby is clearly being properly taken care of and loved. There could be more tweaks that [he] would make for a more ideal situation — knowing that he is a high-profile example for other families as a celebrity.’
Others also came to John’s defense in the comments, telling naysayers to mind their own business and pointing out that the baby seemed to be doing OK.
‘Omg!! Don’t worry about which way HIS baby is facing!’ one wrote. ‘At least his baby is safe with him and doesn’t look in pain or crying. No need to tell someone how to hold their own baby. We were all babies at one time and survived a lot more than this. He’s a great dad and that’s all that matters. Let it go, all you judgy parents!’
Sweet trio: Chrissy Teigen posted this photo of herself with her two kids earlier this month and was mom-shamed as well
Sense of humor: She added a funny caption about deciding which version to post, based on her own photogenic qualities and what babies Luna and Miles were doing
Always criticism: One Instagrammer chimed in to chastise Chrissy for having Miles, who is seven weeks old, out in the sun — but she had a response ready
‘Ignore the santimommies,’ wrote another.
‘Oh for goodness’ sake….he. Is. Fine. Babies have been carried in snugglis for years and been fine,’ added one more.
Recently, Chrissy Teigen was criticized on Instagram for posting her own seemingly run-of-the-mill photo, in which she was seen holding her daughter Luna and son Miles outside by the beach.
‘He doesn’t look to happy with the sun in his little eyes,’ user @bhagg5768 wrote.
Chrissy, who by now is more than used to internet commenters finding fault in everything she does, wasn’t about to let the comment lie.
‘He told me he loves it,’ the snarky mom clapped back in her own comment.
Seriously? Another seemed to suggest that Chrissy should always include information about the sunscreen she uses on kids in her photo captions
Makeup mama: Chrissy also shared snaps from inside a Sephora, where she showed off her new collaboration with Becca Cosmetics
Another commenter also called Chrissy out, too, suggesting that Chrissy needs to explain in every photo caption which sunscreen she used on her child.
‘You forgot about the sun shining on his face and addressing if you used the proper SPF that’s safe if ingested by an infant,’ wrote the poster, seemingly assuming the worst.
While there always seem to be a few people who find something to criticize, most of the comments left of Chirssy’s photo were positive — including replies from Priyanka Chopra, Michelle Monaghan, Jenna Dewan, Katherine McPhee, Mario Lopez, Maria Menounos, Catt Sadler, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jesse Tyler Furguson.