Every mom and dad out there has different ideas about what the right way to parent their kids is — and yes, that includes celebrity parents. Though most of us cobble together our own parenting methods in relative privacy (save a raised eyebrow here and there from the in-laws), it doesn’t quite work that way for celebs who have kids. Instead, they’re out there making the decisions in the public eye, and sometimes they get so caught up in it all that they end up offering their own advice at the same time.
Some parenting advice has really stood the test of time, like taking a deep breath and walking away when a tantrum becomes too much. And while we can see tips like that working in our favorite stars’ lives, we also see the backlash they get when they suggest anything that’s a bit too out-there.
From the Duggars’ unconventional parenting beliefs to the off-the-wall things Kristen Bell has said about raising her children, here are some of the most controversial parenting tips that celebrities have shared.
Blanket Training
One of the biggest parenting advice controversies in the celeb world relates back to the way Michelle Duggar raised her children, as we saw on 19 Kids and Counting. She followed a method called “blanket training,” where she would set her young babies on a blanket, put a toy just out of their reach off the blanket, and then punish them if they left the blanket to get the toy. Oh, brother.
The Obedience Game
While we’re talking about the Duggars, fans might remember a hot tip Jill Duggar shared on Instagram in 2021 when it came to teaching her children to listen to her directions. It’s called “the Obedience Game,” and she uses it to give her kids a series of simple commands to follow to practice being obedient.
Elimination Communication
Alicia Silverstone has been outspoken about using the controversial potty training method to start getting her babies to ditch the diaper well before they turn a year old. In fact, as she told People, she used elimination communication to train her son at just 6 months old.
“They give you cues, but we’re ignoring those cues,” she told the outlet. “If you pay attention, they actually have a pause button and will give you enough time to get to a place that makes it comfortable for them to go. It’s amazing. That all aside, when I got into it, I was so excited because it was another way to communicate. The joy he experienced in being heard and the teamwork, it was amazing.”
Using a Stroller
Ice-T and Coco Austin have received a lot of flak for using a stroller to push their 6-year-old daughter, Chanel, around on vacation, but they don’t mind. They just choose to ignore the haters and do their own thing, and everyone in the family seems pretty happy about it, though some would say that Chanel is “too old” to be in a stroller.
Locking Kids in Their Rooms
In a 2018 interview with Parents, Kristen Bell revealed that she locked her daughter Delta in her room after bedtime by turning the doorknob around so it locks from the outside.
“I know that’s controversial, but we lock it when she gets in there, and we stand outside and say, ‘We love you, we will talk to you in the morning, but now it’s time for sleep,'” Kristen explained. “And after about 10 minutes, she’ll wind herself down. And then, before we go to bed, obviously, we unlock it.”
Pre-Chewing Food
She’s not just stirring up controversy over potty training! Going all the way back to 2012, Alicia Silverstone also ended up in hot water when she shared a video of herself pre-chewing her son’s food before transferring it from her mouth to his. (Ya know, like a mother bird does.)
Later, Alicia defended her choice, saying in a Q&A (via the Daily Mail):
“People have been feeding their kids that way for thousands for years. It’s a weaning process.”
No Phones or Social Media
While plenty of parents can get onboard with limits on technology, Penélope Cruz has forbidden phones and social media in her house until her children are 16.
“I feel really bad for the ones who are teenagers now,” she told CBS Sunday Morning. “It’s almost [as] if the world was doing some kind of experiment on them. ‘Oh, let’s see what happens if you expose a 12-year-old to that much technology. [My kids] can [only] watch movies sometimes or some cartoons. How can I not let them watch movies? [Those have] been some incredible moments of happiness since I was a little girl … [but no phones] until they are much older. And no social media until at least 16.”
Naked Sundays
In 2010, Christina Aguilera said that she walked around nude for “Naked Sundays” around her then-toddler son.
“I think it’s important that he sees mommy not be ashamed about her sexuality,” she told an Atlanta radio show, via Us Weekly. “I mean, he’s 2. We’re art collectors, there are a lot of female nudes around the house. Max will be growing up in a house where it’s just the norm. It’s only weird when you shame it.”
Bottles Past Three
Leah Remini made headlines when she admitted that her almost 4-year-old daughter (at the time) was still drinking bottles, including more than one bottle of milk during the night.
“The problem I’m having with bottle feeding is basically that Sofia drinks six or more bottles a night,” she once said on the Rachael Ray Show. “We’re hearing it’s not good for her.”
Not Using Medication
In an excerpt of her book, Beyond the Sling, Mayim Bialik revealed that she has never given her children any over-the-counter medicine or antibiotics.
“Between our two boys, ages 6 and and 3, we have dealt with just about every ailment, sickness, and flu out there,” she wrote. “However, neither of our sons has ever been on antibiotics, nor do we give them Tylenol, Motrin, antihistamines, or cough syrup.” She suggested parents try rest, ice packs, and diet changes instead.
No Christmas Gifts
As Mila Kunis told Entertainment Tonight in 2017, she and husband Ashton Kutcher don’t give their children gifts for Christmas, focusing on other traditions instead.
“So far, our tradition is no presents for the kids,” she said. “We’re instituting it this year because when the kids are [younger than] 1, it doesn’t really matter. Last year when we celebrated Christmas, Wyatt was 2 and it was too much. We didn’t give her anything — it was the grandparents. The kid no longer appreciates the one gift. They don’t even know what they’re expecting; they’re just expecting stuff.”
Don't Keep Secrets
When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were still married and raising their children together under one roof, Brad told Extra (via People) that they went by an honesty policy.
“We have a policy in our family, no secrets,” he said at the time. “I mean, there’s an age of understanding, so you’ve got to present it in a way that is age-appropriate, but we know our children very well. We want everything to be on the table and any questions they have, for them to ask.”
'Hot-Saucing'
Facts of Life star Lisa Whelchel has been an outspoken advocate of the idea of putting hot sauce on a child’s tongue as a way to disclipline them — and it’s something she’s used with her own kids.
“It does sting and the memory stays with them so that the next time they may actually have some self-control and stop before they lie or bite or something like that,” she said during an appearance on Good Morning America.
Only Watch TV in a Foreign Language
Many parents have guidelines around screen time, but Gwyneth Paltrow took it to another level: If cartoons were on for her kids, they had to be in either Spanish or French.
“Apple was cross, as I only let them watch TV in French or Spanish. When I’m in France, I go to Boulevard Beaumarchais and buy all their cartoons,” she told NDTV, via Inquisitr.
Take Away Clothes
While living under Madonna’s roof, Lourdes Leon had to make sure she cleaned up all of her clothes on the floor, or her mom would take them away from her — and make her earn them back. She once told USA Today that until she did, Lourdes would have to wear “the same outfit every day to school until she learns her lesson.”
