In a recent interview on The Ellen Fischer Podcast, actress Alicia Silverstone dropped somewhat of a bombshell about her unique method of "alternative parenting" that has caused division amongst her supporters. The woman best known for her iconic leading role in the classic 90s film "Clueless" casually revealed that she still sleeps with her 11-year-old son, as a form of natural parenting. The 45-year-old actress has been very upfront about her unorthodox approach to motherhood in the past. So, when the host broached the topic of child-raising, Silverstone happily explained her viewpoint regarding her kid.
"I just do what's natural. I'm a natural mama, and I'm a loving mama, and I believe in love, and I believe in nature," explained Silverstone. "Our society is scared of nature and scared of love...it's okay for women to be naked on the beach...with a string up their bum as a bathing suit. That's okay! But a woman can't breastfeed..."
She continued, "The things I'm doing, I'm not inventing...it's just me following nature. Yeah, sleeping with your children...if you were in any wild setting where there's animals if you put a baby over there [she points to the other side of the room], your baby's going to get eaten. So it's not ideal for the baby to be over there."
After the host shared her thoughts on attachment parenting and co-sleeping, that's when Silverstone made her shocking revelation.
"Bear, and I still sleep together," said Silverstone.
"Wow," responded the host.
"And I'll be in trouble for saying that, but I don't really care..."
The interview from Silverstone has garnered responses from many of her supporters, as well as those who happen to disagree with co-sleeping when it involves a pre-teen. For example, a pediatrician recently stated that Silverstone is not wrong in this case because parents can sleep with their children until puberty hits. On the flip side, a child psychologist named Reena B. Patel recently called Silverstone's parenting methods into question by challenging her viewpoint on co-sleeping.
"When a child begins to question the difference in genders, hits puberty, and or starts to show discomfort, is when to stop. It can be as early as five years of age," Patel said. "'It's important to clarify how one would sleep when at other houses and how to rewind and provide affection to others when at school and visiting extended family, or when mom isn't around to bond with."'
To hear Alicia Silverstone's revelation about parenting and co-sleeping, scroll up and skip ahead to the 48:44 mark.
Source: Yahoo! News
