An influencer has faced the wrath of the internet after a "dangerous" detail in a photo of her newborn child sparked outrage among her fans and followers.
Content creator Trisha Paytas has a reputation for courting controversy on social media with her outlandish personality and somewhat contentious views - you may remember a certain video that broke the internet in 2013 titled, 'Do Dogs Even Have Brains?'
Last month, the 34-year-old YouTuber announced she'd given birth to her first child and in true Trisha fashion, had named her daughter Malibu Barbie. And yes, Twitter had a meltdown.
Weeks after the initial frenzy, Paytas has once again raised a furore online after sharing a snap last week of her baby daughter placed in an armchair, alongside the tongue-in-cheek caption, "Introducing my new podcast host."
The pic showed Malibu Barbie dressed in a pink, heart-printed onesie with her tongue poking out, while the microphone is positioned in front of her face.
However, one detail had fans in an uproar, with many warning Paytas that her daughter's propped-up position could be incredibly dangerous.
"How could you prop her up like this! Are you out of your mind? Her neck needs support at all times," one person declared on Instagram, with a second adding: "Putting your newborn in this sitting position is extremely dangerous."
"You should be ashamed of yourself that you do this to her over and over again even though you've been told multiple times that this is dangerous. You do not deserve this innocent child," a third weighed in, with a fourth agreeing: "She cannot be positioned like that! No one is being snarky or hateful, just concerned for the sweet girl."
"Please Trisha, trust [that you] MUST support her head and neck, ALWAYS! I've raised two of my own; we are aware this is your first baby and are trying to correct you but you aren't listening," another said.
"She should not be sitting up like that without support at two-weeks-old," a sixth wrote.
According to childcare educator Janet Lansbury, when an infant is placed in an upright position before they are able to attain it independently, it means they are at risk of falling unless the parent is supporting their body. Babies typically learn to sit up by themselves at around four to six months of age, and can sit up unassisted between four and nine months. Frequently propping or sitting an infant up can also restrict their movement and may lead to development delays.
Additionally, online parenting company BabyCenter warns an infant's head requires support during the first few months until their neck muscles strengthen. After one or two months, a baby is likely to be strong enough to hold their own head up in a carrier or sling. An infant will likely be able to hold their head up steadily without any support at about four months or older.
But Malibu Barbie's propped-up position wasn't the only detail fans took issue with. Others all pointed out that her white tongue may indicate thrush, a common mouth infection in infants caused by an overgrowth of yeast.
"She obviously has thrush. Get her in to her doctor ASAP," one wrote.
Addressing the outpouring of anger, Paytas responded in a comment on her Instagram that thanked her fans for their messages, but urged people who weren't paediatricians or experts to avoid sharing medical advice.
"Hey everyone. Thanks for all the sweet comments. I love showing Malibu and what we are doing throughout the day," she wrote. "I just ask if you're not her paediatrician, to not comment or speculate on medical conditions.
"She has a paediatrician she sees every two weeks in this newborn stage and everything is fine. She drinks formula and that's why she's got white on her tongue. I know y'all are probably trying to help, but medical speculation spreads a lot of false information online.
"Feel free to leave other new mummy tips and advice, non-medical related. I always love that."
Paytas is one of the earliest examples of a person who made a career out of YouTube, launching her channel 'blndsundoll4mj' in 2007. She has since accumulated more than five million subscribers on the platform and more than seven million on TikTok. Her channel consists of a wide variety of content including lifestyle-oriented vlogs and mukbangs, where she eats and chats in front of the camera.
Throughout her career Paytas has also dabbled in reality TV and music, enjoying stints as a singer and starring on the 2017 season of Celebrity Big Brother 20. She has also been credited for appearances in music videos for Eminem and Amy Winehouse.
She married Moses Hacmon, an Israeli photographer, in 2021.
