Earlier this week, Fuller House star John Stamos shared an Instagram photo of himself in Times Square with his infant son, 2-month-old Billy. No doubt expecting the likes and hearts and ‘you’re an amazing dad’ comments to roll in, Stamos instead got a lesson in parent shaming. Only thing, this time the parent shamers were right. Turns out, Stamos had strapped his son into the baby carrier facing forward, despite the infant’s young age ⏤ a potentially dangerous faux pas that fans and followers quickly pointed out on the post’s comment section.
“That baby should not be forward facing if he doesn’t have full head control,” one commenter said. Another posted, “He’s too young to comfortably and safely be forward facing!”
Not everyone who commented on the post, which shows young Billy’s head just slightly poking up out of the carrier, blasted Stamos, though. Some fans assumed the role of Stamos apologist and tried to rationalize the actor’s mistake. “At least his baby is safe with him and doesn’t look in pain or crying,” one comment read, “No need to tell someone how to hold their own baby.”
It was a sentiment Jennifer Beall Saxton, founder and CEO of baby gear company Tot Squad, echoed when she told Today that while “Billy is likely a little young to be forward facing in the carrier … it’s evident that the baby is clearly being properly taken care of and loved.”
Still, Saxton recommends that until babies are at least 6-months old, they should be strapped in facing the parent. That position protects the neck and allows parents to keep an eye on the baby’s mouth to ensure nothing is blocking their airway. While pointing out that Stamos has room to improve his baby carrying technique, Saxton did give Stamos points for being actively involved with his kid.
