A recent snap of 3-year-old Harper Beckham sucking on a pacifier sparked a lively debate amongst the parenting community, dividing opinions on whether dummies do more harm than good.
Writing in The Sun, 39-year-old Katie made her stance clear, sniping:
‘Most three-year-olds can form complex sentences and dress themselves with ease.. but Harper is still sucking on a dummy and looking like the child you feel sorry for on the bus.’
The former Apprentice contestant continues:
“Used to soothe a baby to sleep, dummies can be for a baby’s benefit. Used to shut a baby up they are only for the benefit of the mum.
“Doctors say prolonged use of dummies can do far more harm than good. If baby Beckham ends up with wonky teeth it will come as no surprise.
“Worse still, disadvantaged children are a full year behind their peers because no one talks to them.”
Nicola, 33, takes a softer approach to parenting, arguing:
“We have a huge problem when it comes to parenting in the UK, and it’s known as ‘the fight to be first’.
“Who are we to judge the Beckhams?
“It isn’t doing Harper any harm- what does do a child harm is a stressed-out mum who is worried that others are judging her.
“To me, it would be bad parenting to parent every child in the same way.
“Stop judging the Beckhams concentrate on your own parenting skills.”
What do you think? Let us know in the comments box below.