Video of a mother with her baby on a leash sparks debate on parenting styles

Editor's note: This article was originally published on February 24, 2023. It has since been updated.

No matter how you decide to raise your children, you will always hear the buzz of some unsolicited parenting advice. Criticism regarding your parenting skills that comes from your family is hurtful enough, but when it is from a stranger, it hurts. Sometimes they're constructive or full of wisdom, but for the most part, they're just unsolicited parenting advice that nobody will utilize or pay attention to. The key to understanding and disregarding these parental opinions is to ask yourself what is right and wrong. No other parent understands your child as you do, so in a way, the mother knows best. Well, sometimes.

A TikTok user @jordanvarneau shared a video of a mother at a basketball game with her baby on a leash, which ignited a debate in the comments section about whether it’s ethical to put your baby on a leash to prevent them from running away. The video has received over 19.9 million views on TikTok and has over 5,000 comments, most of which saw nothing wrong with the idea. Honestly, the leash was pretty invisible, with some thinking that there was a "blip in the matrix." In the video, the mom engages in conversation with the people around her, but every once in a while she can be seen trying to reel back in her baby using a leash.

I mean, nothing to see here right? The people on the basketball court do look at the baby every now and then with mixed emotions as to why this lady has her baby leashed up like a dog. Although the baby tries his best to crawl away after being pulled back in several times, it is quite commendable to notice how well-behaved the baby is compared to the other kids on the court. Perhaps, babies on a leash will be the new 'in-thing' in 2023? On the brighter side, the mom is actually teaching her baby a very valuable lesson. The lesson is that life is an endless journey of ups and downs and the mere action of being pulled back multiple times makes you understand that you have to smile through even the most hopeless of situations. 

If you look closely, the baby is smiling every time he is being dragged back in. How cute is that? According to Good Housekeeping, "Data on the safety of kid leashes is scarce, and the chair of the injury prevention council at the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against using these types of items." The majority of comments backed the mom, although a few suggested that before passing judgment on another parent, consider having your own kid. Maybe you'll understand how difficult it may be at times. 

TikTok user @DirtyHemi.78 said, "He is laughing when you pull him back!!!. Just like us, who couldn't see the leash," @Nilla_cookies4me commented, "For a sec I thought there was a blip in the matrix the kid disappeared I was like where did the baby go." User @jordanvarneau, who posted the video replied, "I was at first then he straight up lost his sh#$ baby boy wanted more." User @Taylor, who definitely understood the assignment wrote, "I mean the alternative is chasing the kid everywhere. this is genius." @Shanni, who shared their own experience penned, "I was a leash-child lol. I don't remember it, all I know is it saved my parents a lot of grief & stress. I'm good with that."