Brad Pitt opens up about his family life

Brad Pitt is a superstar in every sense of the word – but away from the camera, he relishes in his family life.  He and partner Angelina Jolie have three children - Maddox, 5, Zahara, 1, and Shiloh, 3 months. 

In the new issue of Esquire, Brad lists "15 Things Everyone Should Know." Here are the child-related parts of his list (the interview was done in early July).

Adoption: There are ten million children who have lost their parents to AIDS. That number’s going to double by 2010. Now that I have two adopted kids, I cannot imagine life without them. They’re as much of my blood as any natural born, and I’m theirs. That’s all I can say about it. I can’t live without them. So: Anyone considering, that’s my vote.

Carol’s Daughter Hair Products: For white people who might be having a little trouble with black- person hair, Carol’s Daughter is a fantastic hair product. We got it for Z. Now her hair has this beautiful luster. And it smells nice, too. Click here to see their hair care line.

Three Things I’ve Learned About Parenting: I try not to stifle them in any way. If it’s not hurting anyone, I want them to be able to explore. Sometimes that means they’re quite rambunctious. At night, before they go to bed, I feel it’s really important to have that time to sit and talk to them. I really like that last minute before they fade off. And always give them a heads-up before you jerk them out of something. You need to tell them, like, "You have three more minutes." Someone told me that one. It’s essential.

The Ultimate Diaper-Rash Cream: Shiloh is six weeks old now. She’s got horrible diaper rash, poor thing. Same with Zahara when we picked her up in Ethiopia. She had such a bad rash, it looked almost disfiguring. We’ve tried everything—every cream, every salve, every natural product. We haven’t found the magic ointment. Yet.

Burping Your Baby: Getting a burp out of your little thing when she needs it is probably the greatest satisfaction I’ve come across at this point in my life. It is truly one of life’s most satisfying moments.

Source: Esquire

Comments

Sweet! I like him.

- yogadaisy on September 8th, 2006

Brad, you rock the daddy role very well. Props to you!

I would, however, like you to consider my invite to you for a positive adoption language tutorial. I throw in dinner!

The word “natural” to delineate between our children isn’t used. (I am aware of your intent, though. You get points for that).

Try using ‘biological child’ instead.

You are a good (and hot) egg, Brad.

- Principesa on September 8th, 2006

aww..that’s really nice. Angelina struck gold with Brad – is he still legally married to Jen or has their divorce been finalised?

- Heavenly_Hibiscus on September 8th, 2006

LOL Heavenly H.

Brad was made to be a father and I’m so happy that he’s finally got the chance to be one. For me the cutest quotes from the article are when he’s talking about Zahara’s hair (as a black woman I’ve wondered how they would learn to best take care of Zahara’s hair) and his attempt to find the perfect cream for diaper rash:

Carol’s Daughter Hair Products
For white people who might be having a little trouble with black-person hair, Carol’s Daughter is a fantastic hair product. We got it for Z. Now her hair has this beautiful luster. And it smells nice, too.

The Ultimate Diaper-Rash Cream
Shiloh is six weeks old now. She’s got horrible diaper rash, poor thing. Same with Zahara when we picked her up in Ethiopia. She had such a bad rash, it looked almost disfiguring. We’ve tried everything—every cream, every salve, every natural product. We haven’t found the magic ointment. Yet.

- funkyfeet on September 8th, 2006

So Brad’s kids are the ones that I get annoyed with in restaurants… ; )

- iheartme on September 9th, 2006

Funkyfeet–I would love to read the full esquire interview with Daddy Brad. Is there a URL on the web to this article? Thanks!

- kathyl on September 9th, 2006

Brad, you just won my heart yet again!

- tink1217 on September 9th, 2006

Here is the article:
http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2006/060906_mfe_October_06_No016.html

I have no doubt in my mind that the reason he is no longer with Jen is because she kept putting off having kids.

If you make promises and you keep putting them off, thats grounds for divorce. IMHO

- preesi on September 9th, 2006

I’ll be editing the post to reflect the entire interview when I get out of work this afternoon, thanks for the link!

- Sarah CBB News Editor on September 9th, 2006

Thanks for posting the link to the article, preesi. But I fell in love with Brad all over again when he talked about his children. Even in words you can tell how much he loves them, thinks the world of them.

He made me laugh and smile when he said he and Angie would marry when everyone could marry. I love when I see others saying that. I do think everyone has a right to get married, regardless of their orientation.

I hope to find someone like Brad when I’m ready to settle down and have some little ones of my own. ♥

- FC on September 9th, 2006

P.S.- Brad watches Run’s House, that’s cool. I love that show. And I don’t see anything wrong in him finding that he can stand behind Run’s patriarch role of his house. It’s not a bad one.

- FC on September 9th, 2006

I’m sure I read somewhere that if Brad and Ange split up, he doesn’t get access to Maddox and Zahara??? That would be so sad, especially for M and Z because they’re growing up with the same “dad” as Shiloh, and it’ll be horrible that she’ll see him and they won’t.
I could be wrong here though, does anyone know if this is true?

- alex on September 9th, 2006

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste is the only cream I’ll use for diaper rash!

and as an adoptive mom, “natural” is our word of choice too

- Me on September 9th, 2006

Say what you will about how Brad and Angelina’s relationship came about, but you cannot deny that these two people put all their love and energy into these three very lucky and loved children.

- Marie on September 9th, 2006

so brad and angelina were already together when they get Z ?

- Nina on September 9th, 2006

Aww! Brad is such a great daddy. How lucky are Maddox, Zahara and Shiloh? Brad just oozes his love for his three adorable children!

- Jess on September 9th, 2006

Castor oil and Zinc cream is the best for babies bots!Most midwives and hospitals in Australia swear by it!!

- michelle on September 9th, 2006

I use Ungvita for my 4 month old’s bottom as soon as I spot the slightest rash, but by far the best solution is air and daylight on the area, so let your tot kick around without her nappy on a couple of times a day, they love the freedom of it rash or no rash.

- Leishk on September 9th, 2006

Nina,

Yes, Brad and Angie were together when she adopted Zahara in July 2005.

Alex,
Brad has adopted both Maddox and Zahara thus has the same parental rights as Angelina. Adoption procedures began in December 2005 and can take 6-9 months. The July 10, 2006 Newsweek reads:

Not long before Shiloh was born, Pitt adopted Jolie’s son, Maddox, who she originally adopted from Cambodia, and her daughter Zahara, who she adopted last summer from Ethiopia.

- funkyfeet on September 9th, 2006

Alex? you really cannot believe that nonsense can you?

There has been nothing but lies written daily about these two in the tabs…

Angie would never bar Mad and Z from their father if they split up. That rumor makes NO sense.

BTW- if Brads reading this, bathe the kids with diaper rash twice a day and immediately put lavish (TONS!) amounts of A&D, Desitin or Boudreauxs on their butts. DONT rub it in. Put a diaper on them. EVERYTIME you change them use tons of wipes (or if its too uncomfortable for them, rinse them off under a hand shower and dry) and again a new lavish coat of cream. Keep this up!
In three days no more rash! You MUST keep the acidic urine and bacteria off the skin and break the cycle enough for it to heal and alotta baths and alotta butt cream does the trick. Plain water will not make it worse acidic urine will and baby wipes arent adequate.
The cream might get on the couch but a happy baby is worth more then a couch!
So tell Angie and Holly…

- preesi on September 9th, 2006

My 2 little ones had HORRIBLE diaper rash when they were teething…my ped told me to use Lotrimin (yes, as in the stuff you use for athlete’s feet) with zinc cream or desitin on top of it. I rememberthe first time I went to buy it, I asked the pharmacist and they said absolutely, the combo would take care of the diaper rash in less than 3 days because diaper rash is fungal. It cleared it up in 1 day !

- Sydtrick on September 9th, 2006

For baby Shihloh’s rash, they should try Metanium Nappy Cream (from the UK, it’s a lifesaver)

- Deb on September 9th, 2006

Yes, Brad and Angie were together when Ang got Z. He went with her to Ethiopia.

- Finn on September 9th, 2006

Alex said – “I’m sure I read somewhere that if Brad and Ange split up, he doesn’t get access to Maddox and Zahara??? That would be so sad, especially for M and Z because they’re growing up with the same “dad” as Shiloh, and it’ll be horrible that she’ll see him and they won’t.
I could be wrong here though, does anyone know if this is true?”

Pitt has legally adopted both Maddox and Zahara. So even if he and Jolie never marry and break up, he will still have legal paternal rights and responsibilities for all three kids.

- Stacey on September 10th, 2006

Why does he have to be such a great dad…it makes him more attractive! *dies* haha he’s so lovely!

- ericka on September 10th, 2006

For Nappy Rash Lucas natural pawpaw ointment. It is fantastic!

- melanie on September 10th, 2006

You have to love a dedicated dad!!

Yeah, zinc cream is a good one for nappy rash,

but sometimes the problem is too much moisture, so for really bad nappy rash I swear by corn flour dusted over affected areas and as much open air time as possible.

- Kate on September 10th, 2006

I really hope someone can pass this comment to Brad about Shiloh’s rash. When my son was born he would get terrible rashes on his behind too. I also tried everything I could think of. One day I was shopping for diapers and happen to notice that some diapers have a very strong perfume odor to them and others a mild perfume. I thought that maybe when my son wet his diaper the perfume and urine mixed and that might be giving him the terrible rash. After changing to the mild perfume diaper the rash did start getting better but was still there. So I went looking for a diaper that didn’t have any perfumes or dyes in them at all. I found several different types in several different store all being the Store Brand diapers. Just as soon as I started using them my son’s rash went away. I still used a very mild salve after cleaning his behind with non perfumed whips or a warm wash cloth and then the diaper.
All the best to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Barbara

- Barbara on September 10th, 2006

wow what a wondeful father and a happy family, he truly seems to be a doting daddy.Reading his adoration for his children gave me gossebumps,brad is truly one of the good guys

- carly on September 10th, 2006

I’ve got two words for Brad on combatting Shiloh’s diaper rash: cloth diapers, and Lansinoh. OK, makes that three words – I guess “cloth diapers” counts for two. LOL

I used this unbeatable combination on my now 9-yr old son, and he never had a diaper rash – not ONE.

- mom4bob on September 10th, 2006

I think Brad is being a great daddy to these kids..I just wish he and Jennifer would have had kids, that would have been the one I would have been on pins and needles to see!! LOL!! But anyway, my son’s pediatrician prescribes this stuff called Greer’s Goo or Miracle Cream for his rash..works wonders, I can totally see why it’s called MIRACLE cream!! LOL!! I have also used Calmoseptine cream..it’s at the pharmacy, but you have to ask the pharmacist for it (it isn’t prescription, though) and alot of times they don’t keep it in stock, so they may have to order it. Just an idea for anyone with this problem!!!

- Misty on September 10th, 2006

Try using non perfumed diapers.

- Barbara on September 11th, 2006

People.com is asking its readers for their opinions on the best diaper rash remedies. I think they’re going to send them to Brad and Angie. Some people might want to add their thoughts over there. So far, 470 people have commented.

http://offtherack.people.com/2006/09/brad_pitt.html

- Lexy on September 11th, 2006

I do think Brad is a good father and truely loves the children, however I do feel that Angelina does have some mental problems like her father stated awhile back, I can easily see her uprooting the kids and taking them to another country where Brad would have difficulty in seeing them, she can be unstable and it will flare up again. Maddox totally cute, Shiloh a beautiful baby, but Zahara, not cute at all, I feel sorry that she never smiles and appears to be unable to walk at her age. She is always frowning!

- Arlene Keil on September 13th, 2006

brad ur sooooooooooooooooo hot angie ur not hahaha

- lara on September 14th, 2006

brad ur sooooooooooooooooo hot angie ur not hahaha

- lara on September 14th, 2006

Try Argo corn starch, it works wonders, it also works for women with yeast infections.

- B on September 18th, 2006

What a great Dad! Angelina is so lucky to have him, and vice versa.
I do feel sorry for Jennifer Ainston though, and wonder if the rumours really are true, that she put off having children. If she did that is her choice, although she cannot blame Brad for leaving, if children were his heart desire.
What I REALLY want to know is…was Shiloh planned?

- rach on September 18th, 2006