Kim Kardashian was just mum-shamed about car seat safety

A picture that Kim Kardashian shared on social media has ignited an online debate about car seat safety.

Over the weekend, the reality TV star posted a sweet shot of her 18-month-old son, Saint, sitting in a car seat.

But while many were quick to comment about the cuteness of little Saint, others voiced concerns about the fact his car seat was forward-facing.

“[H]e is so cute let’s protect this handsome boy by making sure is rear facing,” one commenter wrote.

“He should really still be rear facing,” wrote another.

“It’s illegal to have a child facing forward in California that is less than 2 years old. Please turn his car seat around, it’s not too late!” another user penned.

But other Facebook users were quick to step in and defend Kim from the mum-shaming.

“Omg! Guys the world is gonna end! His car seat needs to be rear facing! Shut up! I got my son a car seat at one year old it wasn’t rear facing, he’s safe! Shut up and enjoy the picture!,” one woman wrote.

“We have the same car seat for our boys cute. My boy was forward facing from like 1, it’s in the instructions, if they meet the weight and height requirements. So get off all ya high an mighty horses,” another woman added.

Kim Kardashian isn’t the only celebrity to find herself on the receiving end of car-seat safety criticism. Last year, reality TV star Sam Faiers found herself being parent-shamed about her son’s car seat.

Uploading a short clip of her son, Paul, laughing in his swivel car seat, the 25-year-old mum quickly drew comments from some followers who assumed the car was moving and therefore claimed the position of the car seat wasn’t safe.

Even the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William aren’t exempt from getting criticised by the car seat police. When they brought their just born son Prince George home from the hospital, some expressed concerns that he wasn’t properly secured in his car seat.

While most parents wouldn’t dream of putting a baby, toddler or child in a car without some sort of car seat, there is confusion over the type of car seat that needs to be used for each specific age.

Recent research by consumer website Confused.com has revealed that 66% of parents don’t fully understand the right height, age and weight regulations when it comes to their children’s car seats.

“It is so important for parents and families to understand and stick to the official legislation on child seats as this will ultimately mean their child is in a car seat that offers the correct restraint system and protection,” explains Danielle Slater, Halfords’ car seat expert.

“Whilst most parents realise that they need a car seat that is right for their child, many might not understand that they also need to ensure the car seat is right for their car.”

There’s also some parenting confusion over whether to use a rear or forward facing car seat.

According to the government, height-based car seats (known as i-Size seats) must be rear-facing until your child is over 15 months old. After that time, a child can use a forward-facing child car seat.

The same car seat safety page also explains that for weight-based car seats, babies from 0kg to 13kg should be in a rear-facing baby carrier or baby seat using a harness, while from 9kg to 18kg, children can use a rear or forward-facing baby seat using a harness or safety shield.

Considering the confusion surrounding car seat safety laws and the fact that no body can accurately predict the exact height and weight of little Saint, perhaps we should all stop with the judgy judgy comments and just let Kim Kardashian get on with the parenting job at hand.

And if you can’t resist adding your voice there’s plenty of Saint cuteness to coo over. That sweet little face. Those curls. And don’t even get us started on his ‘Bob the Builder’ sippy cup!

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