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Should TomKat Still Be Giving Suri a Bottle?

Posted by Jen Chaney

The gossip magazines provide plenty of reasons to question TomKat's parenting skills. But is it fair to go after Mr. Cruise and Ms. Holmes for continuing to give their two-year-old daughter, Suri, a bottle?

The adorable little girl has frequently been photographed hitting the town with Mommy and Daddy while toting around a babby bottle, even though she turned two last month. (No one has inquired yet as to whether she still uses a bottle all jacked up with BPA. An investigation into this crucial issue will undoubtedly be launched by Us Weekly.)

Most parents start the process of weaning the kid off the 'ol faux nipple sometime shortly after baby's first birthday. One orthodontist even tells the New York Daily News that feeding Suri milk or juice via a bottle at this age could  be damaging her teeth, the last thing the Good Lord would want for the daughter of Capt. Smiley. So why hasn't the Cruise family kicked her of the habit?

It's unclear, although they were spotted over the weekend watching David Beckham play soccer, and Suri was notably bottle-less at the time. Still, here is the bigger question: Do we, the public at large, have a right to judge Tom and Katie for their bottle-serving habits? Does it make them bad parents?

It might, but I have to err on the side of we don't have a right to make the call, if only because it seems harshly judgmental to criticize their parenting skills when we are basing our information largely on photos and stories in not-always-reputable media outlets. Still, it definitely doesn't look good for Suri to have that bottle in her hand. And if Tom Cruise wants to continue bolstering his image as the Ultimate Movie Star Dad, then he would be smart to at least start slipping her a sippy cup.

It may be true that they are fostering a bad habit, which is clearly not wise. But they're not endangering her life by, say, driving around with her in their laps or something. Only someone with serious problems would do that. 

Photo: Famecrawler 


Comments

 

anonymous said:

"I shouldn't judge, but it looks bad."

Stop after the comma, eh? Unless you're willing to cop to every mistake you've made, every shortcut you take with your kid, every lousy thing you let them eat so you can get through dinnertime in peace, then what right do you have to judge them publicly? By all means think to yourself that CPS should be called, but before you hit that "Publish" button, ask yourself: Am I proud of what I've written?

Me, I have my own ideas about that bottle. But the fact is I'm not part of that family, I don't know what their deal is, and anything I - or you - say on the subject is useless speculation. And when it goes negative, I have to wonder what you have going on in your own life that gives you the time and energy to judge people in this way.

May 12, 2008 2:14 PM
 

anonymous2 said:

I agree that 2 is a bit old to be still drinking from a bottle, however I also don't think it's the end of the world and certainly doesn't make Tom and Katie "bad" parents.

May 12, 2008 2:44 PM
 

karrie said:

I agree with anon #2.  Not my choice, but not the end of the world. I've seen much older kids still using one.

May 12, 2008 7:34 PM
 

Sue said:

Suri had better get used to clutching a bottle.

May 12, 2008 9:32 PM
 

BBBGMOM said:

My friend's little sister used a bottle until she was past four.  Because her mom forgot!  My friend actually taught little sis to use a cup so she wouldn't be laughed out of kindergarten.  Granted she was youngest of three crazy girls and lived in a home with ten pets and an absentee dad, but... everyone has their quirks.  Now this baby sister is a wonderfully well adjusted 30-year-old new mother.  It worked out ok.

May 12, 2008 9:42 PM
 

Sheri said:

I've heard it could mess up her teeth, but so can thumb sucking or a paci (my youngest is a thumb sucker-at the tender age of 4).  Maybe it calms her down, maybe they make sure her teeth are brushed daily no.matter.what.  I dunno, I've got bigger fish to fry.  Like why some Strollerderby writers like the word "retarded".  And use it to describe someone who is mentally ill--two completely different problems.   But I digress.  

I wouldn't want anyone to judge my parenting according to pictures.  So I'll shut up now.

May 12, 2008 11:26 PM
 

Stef said:

We are not her parents, and we are not parents stalked by the paparazzi. Maybe it makes her feel more comfort when she is being stalked by the photogs, maybe she just likes it. We are not in their life, and don't know their baby. We should not care, or judge or post this crap.

May 20, 2008 1:51 PM

About Jen Chaney

Jen Chaney is the movies editor and a DVD columnist for washingtonpost.com. Her byline has appeared in The Washington Post, People magazine, USA Today and the Utne Reader as well as various other newspapers around the country. She is the mother of a one-year-old boy, who has not yet learned the word Xanadu. But he will. Trust us, he will.

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