Kourtney Kardashian Barker is facing parenting criticism after sharing a family moment that sparked safety concerns online. On August 8, the 46-year-old reality star posted a series of photos from a family vacation, one of which showed her 21-month-old son, Rocky Thirteen, on a boat without a life jacket.
The photo, where Kardashian is seen holding Rocky, dressed in a black sweater, on her lap aboard the moving vessel, quickly drew backlash from fans who were alarmed by the absence of any visible safety gear.
“Great photo except for the fact the child has no life jacket on,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “You gotta make sure the kids are wearing life vests at all times! Just like you wouldn’t drive them around without a seatbelt/car seat. Water is so unpredictable and can be devastatingly dangerous.”
“Protects her son’s face from the internet but doesn’t protect him from possibly drowning….. priorities,” another user criticized. Others shared similar concerns: “Rocky should be wearing a life jacket. Such dangerous neglect,” one wrote. Another observed, “Kids on boats should always be wearing appropriate life vests, and it looks like it’s sitting in the seat right next to them.”
© KourtneyKardashian/InstagramThe U.S. Coast Guard recommends that children under 13 wear a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket on moving vessels, a rule also declared by Idaho state law, where the family appeared to be vacationing. The law requires that any child 14 years and under must wear a life vest when on a boat.
© KourtneyKardashian/InstagramOne user questioned, “What no life vests? Isn’t that against the law…???” while another added, “You can make those kinds of decisions for yourself. But don’t make a decision like that for your child. PLEASE.”
© KourtneyKardashian/InstagramA day after the post, Kourtney addressed the criticism in an Instagram Story, posting a screenshot of an infant-sized life vest and writing: “Update: bought a life vest that fits! Good looking out. Honestly didn’t think about some of the dangers. Thank you for making me aware and hopefully this helps make other mommies aware of the dangers of certain types of boating without a life vest.”
© KourtneyKardashian/InstagramThe original post had been captioned “Food for the soul,” and included more than just the controversial boat image. Other photos showed views of nature, a mirror selfie of Kardashian in a bodysuit, and meals enjoyed during the trip. But it was the image of Rocky without safety gear that captured the most attention and criticism.
Despite the backlash, she used the moment as a learning experience. “Thank you for making me aware,” she wrote in another post. “Hopefully this helps make other mommies aware of the dangers.”
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