David Beckham lashes out at preschooler pacifier critics

by

Carolyn Robertson

posted in Celebrities

Do not mess with Harper Beckham's daddy.

Former footballer and dad-of-four David Beckham proved this week that he can be pretty fierce off the pitch as well, especially when it comes to standing up for his children and his parenting decisions. The 40-year-old took to Instagram to lash out against critics who recently spotted 4-year-old Harper Beckham out with a pacifier in her mouth. "Why does Harper, four, still use a dummy?" asked one Daily Mail headline. "Experts warn David and Victoria Beckham's little girl may end up with 'speech or dental issues' if she continues to use one."

(See the paci photos here.)

"Why do people feel they have the right to criticize a parent about their own children without having any facts??" David wrote. "Everybody who has children knows that when they aren't feeling well or have a fever you do what comforts them best and most of the time it's a pacifier so those who criticize think twice about what you say about other people's children because actually you have no right to criticize me as a parent..."

The Daily Mail story that David drew particular attention to did go to great lengths to note the severity of the Beckhams' child-rearing faux pas, quoting a parenting expert who points out that "After about three months, most babies should not need a comforter." She goes on to remark, "I can't believe she is still using a dummy. If she has a dummy in their mouth at this age, at four, it really can damage her teeth and it is very likely to hinder speech development.... David and Victoria seem wonderful parents and I'm sure they give Harper lots of attention but, like it or not, they are role models and lots of people will see this and think that having a dummy at this age is normal when it is not."

David Beckham on daddy duty...

Now, let's be honest: It's likely not a great idea to look to celebrities to guide our parenting choices, but when it comes to famous role models we could probably do worse than David Beckham. After all, he's undeniably a hands-on dad, never shying away from being physically affectionate with his kids in public; he donated his $1 million/month salary to children's charities; he's even spoken out in support of breastfeeding mothers.

But back to the issue at hand: Would I give my 4-year-old a pacifier? No, not even if she was feeling under the weather. The thing is, though, Harper Beckham is not my kid. She has parents of her own - parents who by all accounts seem very devoted to and involved with Harper and her brothers Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz - who are responsible for making these sorts of decisions.

I may not be guilty of committing this particular parenting sin, but there's no doubt a long list of other ones that I've committed. Who among us hasn't veered from the non-existent guidebook every once in a while?

As long as we're not endangering our children - and despite the dire warnings I doubt Harper will be seriously damaged by occasionally using a paci - it doesn't seem fair to have our supposed shortcomings thrown in our faces.

What do you think of the pacifier criticism?

Been there, done that. Real parents confess their own parenting "fails:"

Photos: INFPhoto.com, PR Photos, REX USA