It looks like a helpful book about healthy babies. It’s not.
Miranda Kerr likes to do things the “natural” way.
She is a long-time advocate of raw, clean and organic eating, has her own range of organic skin products, and has spoken openly about her natural, “drug-free” childbirth.
“I had made a decision that I wanted to do it (naturally). I had been watching all these baby-bonding videos, and (without epidural) when the baby comes out it goes straight onto the breast,” she said in a Harper’s Bazaar interview after the 2011 birth of her son, Flynn.”Then they showed ones right after the epidural, and that didn’t happen. The baby was a little bit drugged up, and I was like ‘Well, I don’t want that.’ I wanted to give him the best possible start in life I could.”
Miranda’s opinions on childbirth are irritating for anyone who didn’t have a “natural” birth. Some would argue that they are judgemental. But dangerous? No.
But Miranda Kerr’s new baby-care recommendation is dangerous. So dangerous that it could cost lives.
Related: The most popular anti-vaxxer hot spots in Australia. Do you live in one?
Kerr is now promoting the “holistic parenting” guidebook Well Adjusted Babies, by author and influential chiropractor Dr Jennifer Barham-Floreani.
Her association with Dr Barham-Floreani goes back. On her website, the Doctor interviews Miranda for a natural health publication, and she says she has been close to the Kerr family for several years, through Miranda’s mother Therese, a wellness advocate who describes herself as an author, speaker and visionary.
The problem is not in the Dr’s encouragement of an organic diet, detoxes or parents being involved in building a “health culture”, but in her views on vaccination.
Miranda Kerr’s life is gloriously, influentially glossy. Post continues after gallery:
Miranda Kerr's life.
Dr Barham-Floreani insists that her position on vaccination is “pro-choice” rather than anti-vaxx. But the vaccination chapter in her book Well-Adjusted Babies (with which Miranda Kerr is apparently so enamoured) is heavy on anti-vaccination content, including:
– She talks about the fact that she decided not to vaccinate her own children, and that when her son got whooping cough, she treated him with homeopathic remedies and increased her own immunity.
– Throughout the chapter she includes quotes from other authors that say things like: “There is no need to protect children from contracting the infectious diseases of childhood”; “If I was to follow my deepest convictions, I would urge you to reject all inoculations for your child”; and “The only safe vaccine is the one that is never used”.
– She implies links between SIDS and vaccinations, quoting a “medical historian” who says, “there is absolutely no way a pathologist can tell the difference between crib death and death caused by vaccination.”
– She includes case studies of parents who vaccinated their children and believe that resulted in developmental delays and dangerous allergies.
– She alludes to a relationship between autism and vaccination, and suggests that one day vaccination will be considered unsafe in the same way as cigarette smoking, thalidomide and asbestos are now considered unsafe.
– She suggests that children are being treated as “innocent guinea pigs” and that there is “ongoing debate about whether vaccines are safe, scientific or even rational”.
We contacted Dr Barham-Floreani for clarification on her stance on vaccination for this story and she provided us with a statement about her position, but did not allow us to quote her unless she was able to review our entire article before publication, something that we do not allow anyone to do.
Top Comments
Anyone taking health or parenting advice from Miranda Kerr is an even bigger air head than she is (if that’s even possible).
im horrified at the scale of ignorance displayed by many here.
There is a reason why diseases such as smallpox and polio have been eradicated, and it isn't by eating organic veggies. How completely selfish and irresponsible can you be.