Dangerous ‘natural parenting’ trend spruiked by celebs and WAGs is selfish

An unvaccinated baby who never wears a nappy. It’s a dangerous ‘natural parenting’ trend favoured by some WAGs and celebs and it’s a public health risk, says Susie O’Brien.

An unvaccinated nappy-free baby sounds to me like a germ-infested public health risk.

NRL WAG Shanelle Cartwright and her husband Bryce are putting the lives of their children at risk by refusing to vaccinate them.

Cartwright has said she will concentrate instead on “gut health” and breastfeeding.

But all the breast milk and good gut bacteria in the world won’t protect a child against deadly diseases like tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.

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Being an anti-vaxxer not only puts their own kids at risk, but endangers all of the kids around them.

Vaccination rates are lowest in some of the most affluent areas in Australia because they’re packed full of sanctimonious hippy parents who preach wacko natural parenting methods.

Shanelle Cartwright has also signalled she’ll practice “elimination communication” with her unborn second child.

This means forgoing nappies in favour of becoming attuned to a child’s innate patterns of urination and defecation. It’s bonkers and it doesn’t work. All that happens is that the baby spends all of its time weeing and pooing everywhere while the mother berates herself for missing the signs.

NRL WAG Shanelle Cartwright’s anti-vax posts on Instagram.

Bryce Cartwright with partner Shanelle and son Koa. Picture Glenn Hampson

It’s supposed to be about respecting the child’s wants, but it’s a sure pathway to raising a generation of indulged — and filthy — kids. Parents like this are not any better than normal parents who prefer the convenience of disposable nappies and clean floors.

It reminds me of the move to ask a baby’s permission before changing its nappy. A sexuality safety educator wanted to establish a “culture of consent” among parents and babies. What if a baby doesn’t consent — does this mean the dirty nappy stays on?

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It’s all part of a deadly trend towards natural parenting which involves mums and dads ignoring well-established medical and health advice because they think they know better. They think they’re on a high spiritual plane because they’re more connected to their kids, but they’re dangerous and deluded.

This sort of parenting is peddled by dozens of crackpot celebrities with books and products to sell.

There’s actor Alicia Silverstone, who set up a breast milk sharing service for vegan mums who (surprise, surprise) don’t have enough milk. Mayim Bialik, who doesn’t believe in nappies and model Jenny McCarthy who thinks vaccines caused her son’s autism.

They want to use ‘elimination communication’ instead of nappies. Picture: Instagram

Clueless star Alicia Silverstone’s wacky claims include branding dairy food ‘toxic sludge’. Picture: Dan Steinberg

In Silverstone’s eyes, tampons are making us infertile, cots are “barred-in boxes” that lead to child neglect, and children should be left to do their business “on the grass”.

Any woman who writes that dairy foods are “tracking toxic sludge through your baby house” should not be trusted with an Instagram account, let alone a book publishing deal.

As I see it, too many parents who want to let their kids go around without nappies, or who choose not to vaccinate their children, think more about their own needs than the health and safety of their kids.

Natural Parenting Melbourne talks about being a group that “nurtured the instinctive and yet individual way each family cared for their children”.

But being instinctive is not the same thing as being right or being safe.

Cartwright and mums like her should get a box of Huggies, an immunisation schedule, and a GP on speed dial.

Then they’ll have a much better chance of raising healthy kids.