Model mom to critics: Parenting is not a democracy

by

Sara McGinnis

posted in Celebrities

Coco Rocha recently said something mid-vent that I think might just be genius. The model mom, who is raising 6-month-old daughter Ioni with husband James Conran, got to a point I believe we all need to keep in mind after being criticized for feeding her baby girl formula.

It all started when the world traveler posted an Instagram photo promoting GoButler. Along with an image of her texting to request formula be delivered to her hotel she wrote, "New York...Vancouver B.C...Turtle Bay Oahu and next stop, Sydney Australia! My secret travel weapon is @GoButler helping me get anything I need, where ever and when ever I need it. LOVE THIS SERVICE!! Text GO to 25400 for your own personal butler."

As far as promo posts go there wasn't much notable, but some keen-eyed critics took issue with the included photo of baby Ioni bottle-feeding.

After getting an earful, Coco Rocha posted a larger image of Ioni drinking from her bottle with this message:

"Getting a lot of unwanted advice based on my last post. Not that this is anyone's business - I loved breastfeeding Ioni for the first 5 months of her life and then one day my milk went dry. It happens to every mom at different times.

She's been on formula for a few weeks now and seems to be doing just fine. In the last 4 weeks she gained another 2 pounds, grew another inch and is in the 90th percentile for her age. Anyone who has a negative comment to make on the way I raise my baby will be blocked. This is not a democracy, everyone doesn't get a say."

Doesn't that last sentence say it all?

I'll go ahead and assume those who commented about the formula had the best of intentions, and were only trying to spread information about the benefits of breastfeeding, but there has to be a line where parents are left to make their own decisions.

You see, there seems to be this thing that happens with people when they first have children. They care so much, want so badly for every baby to have the best of everything, but in their fervor they sometimes forget to leave space for it to be acceptable for there to be more than one way to go about things. Ultimately, it's up to each and every parent to decide how to care for their child.

Have you felt criticized for any of your parenting decisions? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below!

Photo: PR Photos