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Ice-T and Coco Austin's parenting decisions are theirs to make, but that isn't stopping the parenting police from weighing in online.
The couple is facing a backlash for pushing their six-year-old daughter, Chanel, in a stroller while on a recent holiday in the Caribbean.
The social media uproar began when Coco posted a selfie with her family during their trip. In the group picture, Chanel, who is in Grade 1, can be seen looking unamused while seated in a stroller.
"Chanel is so over it unless there's something cool to see. Her face transitions instantly," Coco wrote in the caption. In the next photo, the little girl is indeed all smiles as she stands in front of an ornate sculpture with her 43-year-old mom.
And while it seems the family was simply enjoying their time together, some netizens couldn't get over their parenting style.
“Isn’t she like 6 yrs old! She should be out of a stroller by now?!” wrote one in the comments, as another added: "I love you Coco but... a stroller..?"
Another chipped in with, “I know she may be your last baby but you have to let her grow up. If anything a wagon is more her age! I've a 6 year old smaller than her and she hasn’t been in a stroller in years. I would hate for your sweet baby to get bullied or something.”
Other users came to the couple's defence, with one writing, "Why are people complaining about the stroller? You going to pick her up when she gets tired? Its not like she has a bottle and a pacifier. Relax."
It's not the first-time Coco's been offered unsolicited parenting advice, and she was quick to point that out.
“Oh lord!! Really, people? The world loves to criticize [literally] everything I do!” she wrote.
The last time the couple caught the attention of social media’s parenting police was last year when Coco shared her plans to continue breastfeeding Chanel until the child no longer wanted to nurse.
“Chanel still likes my boobs,” she said of her then-five-year-old daughter. “It’s a big bonding moment for a mother and your child.”
Opinions also rolled in when Chanel’s parents let her get French-tipped acrylic nails ahead of her school's picture day last year.
“To [sic] young for nails!!!!!” one person commented, receiving nearly 1 000 likes.
“Tips for a 5 year old, but you still breastfeed her, come on …. just ridiculous,” another user argued.
Ice-T (64) has made it clear he supports his wife’s decisions when it comes to Chanel, saying that he just tunes out the trolls.
“Rule 1 on the internet: Do not pay attention to what anyone says,” the Law and Order: SVU star says. “Worry about the people that walk up to you and say things in your real life.”
“Those are the people you should be concerned with. The internet is the world. It’s the world talking, so I don’t pay attention.” The rapper said he recognises, though, that “everybody parents differently.”
“Like I said, every house has its own constitution,” he added. “We’re doing OK. Our baby’s OK.”
SOURCES: PAGESIX.COM, TODAY.COM, EONLINE.COM, CNN.COM, DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
