When Nadia Bartel shared a photo cradling her gorgeous one-year-old son, Aston, it’s pretty clear she expected some nasty feedback.
The fashion blogger and founder of online boutique The Con-Nection actually pre-empted any judgmental comments, posting a cute photo of her little boy, donned in a striped long-sleeve top and sucking on a white dummy on her lap, with the caption:
“Last night with my tired boy on the way to dinner. Yep he still needs the dummy for sleep times or when he is super unsettled.”
But in a strange (yet admittedly welcome) twist of events, fellow mothers were all too understanding of the the 31 year old’s parenting decision.
“Don’t explain yourself,” one fan quickly commented. “I only just managed to get our almost four-year-old off the dummy and still have a three-year-old on one #mumlife.”
Plenty of others agreed.
“It’s sad that you have to justify him having his dummy. He’s only one! My daughter is three and I still haven’t found the courage to remove her dummy at sleep time,” wrote one mum.
“You have to do what’s right for you #nojudgment as long as they’re happy babies I say,” said another.
LISTEN: Nadia Bartel reveals how she really ‘does it all’. (Post continues…)
Another well-known Aussie parent, Sophie Cachia (AKA The Young Mummy), also leaped to the mum of one’s defence.
“Keep it for the terrible twos,” the 26-year-old parenting blogger commented. “I’ve just got Bobby’s off him now. Never have regretted him having one EVER… made life much easier really! Don’t feel like you have to defend your decisions babes.”
While experts do warn that dummy use past two years of age is linked to ear infections, they also say there is no set age that parents need to worry about. If your child is about to turn four and is reluctant to give up their pacifier, you can seek help and learn weaning techniques from a pediatrician.
Click through to see the best of Nadia Bartel’s Instagram…
Top Comments
How many times did I wish my babies would take a dummy. When I was exhausted and they wouldn't stop crying. My first would spit it out the second you let go of it, (I have memories of dear hubby holding it in his mouth for over an hour, trying to get him to settle so I could have a break. My second took his thumb, it is near impossible to wean a child off their thumb. My third just cries.
Wow, that really is awful she feels like she has to justify her decisions. WTF?! My two kids never used dummies but it would never have occurred to me to judge those who do! Actually, when my kids would be particularly upset I remember a few "helpful" comments on why don't I just give them one. Guess there's just no winning with others so do whatever works for you and your family!