Model Sparks Debate About How To Hold A Baby
Fitspo star Chontel Duncan has been criticised by some over the way she held her baby in this shot [Photo: Instagram/chontelduncan]
She’s documented her entire pregnancy with bathroom bumpies and now that her baby has arrived Chontel Duncan has been keeping her 478,000 Instagram followers updated with her post-birth fitness. But when the super-fit model shared a selfie of her post-baby body as she cradled her newborn son in one arm, she was surprised that it wasn’t comments about the way she looked that she had to field, but criticism about the way she was holding her baby.
The snap showed the fitspo star holding 13-day-old son Jeremiah in one hand, as she took the selfie with her phone in the other. Jeremiah, or ‘Miah’, who was swaddled in a soft, blue blanket, had his head lifted off Chontel’s chest, which is what prompted criticism from some commentators.
“Omg that babys poor neck. Hold ur child properly! More important than a selfie,” one commented.
“I’m concerned on how you’re holding the baby,” added another.
The criticism prompted Chontel to repost the shot alongside another taken a second afterwards [Photo: Instagram/chontelduncan]
The response prompted Chontel to take to Instagram to defend herself. Re-posting the shot alongside a similar picture taken seconds later with her baby resting his head on her chest, she captioned the new image:
“Reposting this due to the number of dumb dumbs ripping on my first image,” Chontel wrote.
“Sorry but I’m not going to be nice about what I think about your belittling attempts to educate me on the safety or better yet my intentions as a new mum.”
“ As explained earlier Miah lifted his head up an for that second that he did so, I just happened to have caught it on camera, before he then laid his head back down on my chest. Newborns can lift their own heads up its not me standing there with his head flicked back shooting away… So have faith people and if you honestly don’t like my page just CLICK UNFOLLOW!!!!!”
“As I’ve always said, any negative comments will be deleted and I will block you!”
Aww! The new mum is loving her new role [Photos: Instagram/chontelduncan]
And Chontel’s fans were also quick to defend the fitness star.
“How she is holding him is perfectly fine,” wrote one supporter. “Supporting the babies head is a myth, my doctor and nurses supported not holding like a crazy person and I’m so glad I didn’t my daughter was stronger than ever so so quickly.”
“Newborns are able to lift their head from birth. I have had four babies, I should know. So many losers out there,” wrote another.
“Why are people being so rude? Did you ever wonder maybe the baby lifted his head up? Babies do that. She is a new mom this is wrong for people just jumping on her. If you want give her advice but no need for hate!” added another supporter.
Chontel hasn’t let the criticism getting on with life as a new mum [Photo: Instagram/chontelduncan]
Chontel certainly isn’t the only one to be on the receiving end of criticism over how she holds her baby. Last year, Ryan Reynolds shared a sweet snap of him with his then six-month-old daughter, James in a baby carrier. But the star received a slew of negative comments saying he was holding the baby in a position that could potentially harm the child.
Ryan Reynolds received negative comments about the position of his baby daughter in this baby carrier [Photo: Instagram/blakelively]
And still on the celebrity dad theme, Jamie Oliver was also slammed for the way he held his youngest son, Buddy Bear just after he was born. Despite the baby looking enormously content resting on the crook of his left arm, some fans were unhappy with the way Buddy’s head was flopping back slightly.
Even the Duchess of Cambridge hasn’t escaped criticism over the way she held new baby Charlotte when leaving the hospital [Photo: Rex Features]
Heck even royalty can’t avoid the baby holding bashers with the Duchess of Cambridge also receiving negative comments about the way she held Princess Charlotte when she left hospital with her newborn in her arms.
For anyone unsure, the NHS has released a video explaining some of the best ways to hold a newborn baby.
“One of the most important things when you are holding your baby is that you’re comfortable, also that the head’s supported,” explains midwife Tracey Owen who stars in the video. “The head’s quite heavy for a baby and they have no control over it so leaning it into your arm or your body is the best way to hold your baby.”
But the midwife also goes on to say that often it is a parent who will know best how to hold their little one. “At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong the way you hold your baby. Your baby certainly hasn’t read the book so what you need to do is find out what’s comfortable for you, what’s comfortable for your baby and enjoy that time together.”
What do you think? Let us know @YahooStyleUK
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