A new mom caught the wrath of the internet when she posted a picture of herself and her infant to one of her social media accounts. Laura Anderson, known for her appearance on the British reality show, Love Island UK in 2019, posed with her 2-month-old daughter on vacation in Dubai.
What should have been a sweet shot with a brand-new baby, turned into a debate in the comments section about what she should have done as a parent.
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It was Laura's daughter's attire that caused the issue.
Laura recently traveled to Dubai with her 2-month-old daughter she shares with ex-boyfriend Gary Lucy. While in Dubai, Laura shared a picture of her daughter Bonnie on the beach. While Laura wore a cut-out monokini and a sun visor, her daughter sported her diaper, some sunglasses, and a sun hat. It was Bonnie’s attire and appearance that were cause for concern.
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'Your baby looks sunburnt,' one user wrote.
Several commenters claimed that Bonnie was red from sun exposure. They stated that she had gotten sunburn in the desert sun. Laura deleted the comments under her Instagram post but that didn’t keep them from showing up elsewhere online.
“Face looks red on baby but nice shot enjoy,” someone wrote, according to The Sun.
“Your baby looks sunburnt,” another read.
The FDA has specific recommendations for sun protection for infants.
Some even suggested she was endangering her child having her out in the sun, some presumed, without any protection at all. Sunscreen is not recommended for babies under 6 months old. According to the Food and Drug Administration, infants are more susceptible than adults to the side effects of sunscreen, including rashes.
Instead, the FDA recommends that babies be kept out of direct sunlight altogether and stay in the shade, either natural shade like under a tree or with an umbrella, tent, or stroller canopy. It also advises dressing children in lightweight layers.
Later, Laura shared other images where Bonnie was dressed differently.
In addition to the criticism, many of Laura’s followers did come to her defense, calling the nasty comments uncalled for.
“Give this beautiful lady a break guys she knows what she doing so please stop with the nasty comments and be nice,” one user wrote. Another simply instructed people to mind their business.
The internet users certainly could have delivered this message in a kinder, more helpful way. Most new mothers make mistakes. They just might not post it on social media and don’t have the fame to warrant so many eyes. In later posts, Laura did show Bonnie in layers and under a canopy.
