Melissa and Tammy Etheridge out with their twins

Melissa and Tammy Etheridge went out for pizza and a walk in Santa Monica with their twins, Johnnie and Miller, 4 months. We assume that’s a sleeping Johnnie riding on Tammy under the blanket in the Baby Bjorn.  In the first photo, Miller rides in a pink Kolcraft umbrella stroller ($20), which, for a cheapy stroller, is not too shabby.  (We have one for Anya and I prefer the way it handles to my $100 Combi.  Granted, this one doesn’t recline or have a basket and the canopy is pretty shallow, but not bad for twenty bucks.)

As several readers have noted, a non-reclining stroller is not recommended for infants who can’t sit up on their own. Because they can’t sit up, they will slump or curl up like the babies are pictured here. Extended periods of sitting upright can hinder spinal development in young babies. The best position for them for correct neck and spinal development is for them to be lying flat on their backs, which is why strollers with bassinet attachments or full recline are great.   

Tammy writes on her blog this morning that she was upset by the comments and explains that she and Melissa are both recovering from the flu and are exhausted. While waiting for their meal after going to the twins’ 4 month checkup, they debated putting Miller in the stroller, as they know it is too big for him, but decided to as he is now too heavy to hold "for long without our arms falling off." Tammy also points out that there are many photos, but they were only taken in a couple of minutes.

We’re so sorry Tammy! We didn’t mean to say you and Melissa are bad moms.  We love you guys.  Not everyone knows about the stroller thing (as evidenced by many moms using carseats and Snap and Go’s as their main strollers) and by pointing this out, we hoped to educate our own readers, not pass judgment on you and Melissa.  One suggestion- if the babies are too heavy to carry, you may want to try a sling or a mei tai or a wrap.  They are more comfy than the Baby Bjorn for a heavy baby (for you and the baby).  Also, we hope that you DO publish your own photos of the babies.  That will definitely keep the paparazzi at bay.  It’s the reason why Sarah Jessica Parker told the press exactly when and where they would be leaving the hospital after she gave birth to James.  The photos were then worth practically nothing because no one had an exclusive and so many photos flooded the market.  It’s all about supply and demand.  If you make photos publicly and freely available, they’ll lose interest and leave you guys alone. 

Source: FlynetPictures.com, Flynetonline.com, used with permission

Click Continue Reading for two more photos, including a close-up of Johnnie.

Pictured are (first photo) Johnnie with Melissa, and (second photo) Miller with Tammy.

Comments

Aww! Johnnie is so cute!

- Jess on February 16th, 2007

Yay! I’m always so excited to see news about this couple and their twins. Thanks for posting.

- Emily on February 16th, 2007

OK I have to comment as it’s something I feel very strongly about but that child should not be in an upright stroller…..babies should be laid flat for the first six months, that stroller doesn’t even recline. Not going to quote but anyone with an IQ can find the information relevant.

- Jen on February 16th, 2007

Ok I’m going to comment seen as everyone seems to be obsessed with safety and Britney… That baby should be laying flat or at least reclined it’s barely 4 months old.. Jeez it makes me furious to see tiny babes lolloping in strollers or made to sit for hours in car seats on travel systems…. Babies under the age of six months should be laid flat to enable developing muscles. They should also not be sat in a car seat for any longer than two hours NOW BREATHE

- Jen on February 16th, 2007

I am so happy for them! Those babies are so beautiful! P.S. It is also nice to see that there are no nannies!

- Sarah K on February 16th, 2007

such a cutie

- Scherriea on February 16th, 2007

They seem like great moms but I agree with Jen — that baby should not be in an umbrella stroller!

- Teba, CBB Reviews Editor on February 16th, 2007

I love this family!

That must be Miller taking a turn in the stroller with the green socks and blue hat.

- PR on February 16th, 2007

Please when I was younger that’s all I sat in was an umbrella stroller from the time I was born. I turned out fine! Remember there was a day when all the fancy baby stuff we have today did not exist. Stop worrying. The baby is fine.

cute photos of the family!

- joy on February 17th, 2007

when i read this it gave a little personal insight to their day and may help those who are judging to think differently.

http://hollywoodfarmgirl.blogspot.com/2007/02/strollers-flu-fame.html

- Shelly on February 17th, 2007

i always read this site, but lately its very judgmental – i’m not just talking about the comments but the editors who post just like up above where you urge melissa and tammy.. i wonder if her blog post is pointed right here because i just want to see pics of cute babies, know what the people are using.. i’m tired of seeing all the judgment from the editors of the site. i can deal with the posters, but get off the high horse!

- crazytalk23 on February 17th, 2007

I believe the stroller is not appropriate for the baby. I had a similar stoller that reclined back for both my kids so I was able to have them in stollers at a few days after birth. This stoller,albeit good, is really for older kids. Tammy would have been better off carrying her in a sling.

- Gigohead on February 17th, 2007

I would guess that 75% of the population have umbrella strollers at one time or another — and they are fine for everyone else. It must really stink to be a public person (even if their family is not) and have people taking photos. I certainly wouldn’t like it. The next time you go to the grocery store or walk outside your front door, think about some jerk jumping out and taking YOUR picture. YIKES! You’ve gotta really feel for them. I know the career part is their choice, but not the garbage that seems to go along with it.

Note from Danielle: I said that strollers that don’t recline are not good for babies who can’t sit up on their own, not umbrella strollers.

- annabelle on February 17th, 2007

Geeze JEN, I am surprised that my children made it to be 29 and 30. I used an umbrella stroller way back then.

They both have perfect posture and do not have bad backs.

And..hey they also survived sleeping on their stomach like all babies did back then.

Besides, Tammy said on her blog that they only had the baby in it for a few minutes.

You young parents need to lighten up a bit. There have been babies for millions of years and most have survived.

I can also say since I have grandchildren, that most of the babies these days are quite delayed because of being kept on their backs all of the time. They are delayed in holding their heads up and in scooting and crawling and rolling over.

Just my two cents

- Ayla on February 17th, 2007

Well I’m glad to see that the people have been enlightened as to how Tammy and Melissa care for their children. Now if everyone could pick at the rest of the parents in this world the same way………..
Why is it that just because someone is a celebraty, some people think they have every right in the world to council them in proper etiquette of how to eat, sleep, dress and raise their children? As an average person in this world, I know I would go off on anyone who critiqued the way I did things especially if they did their critiquing with only a smidgen of the facts available. Kudos to Tammy for handling the fiction concerning these pictures the way she did. Kudos to this site and those responsible for the information attributed to the pictures for publicly apologising for their snafu and for turning the mistake into something that others might learn by. Though it would be better if you didn’t teach people by examples of others, especially before you know all the facts.

Tammy, I know you don’t mean it about posting pictures of the babies on your blog site. Personally I feel it’s none of the worlds business what the children look like. Also by not knowing what they look like, it helps to keep them safe from predators. Just something for you people to think about when you ask for pictures to be posted.
Show of hands, how many of you would willingly let pictures of your children be posted on the world wide web or printed in the newspapers/ragmags? Would you still consider yourself a good parent if you allowed this? Just another thing to think about.

- SA on February 17th, 2007

Well first I just want to say as a mother of twins I know the difficulty of even going anywhere period. I also have 2 older children and am very thankful that I don’t have the paparazzi covering my every move. I am sure I’ve done things that weren’t ‘by the book’. Sometimes you just do what you gotta do. Now, my oldest son is almost 6 and I had never heard about the laying on the back thing. Sadly my 3 month old twins have endured sitting up in bouncy seats or wherever I can place them. I do however give them plenty of tummy time, which I thought was more important. Anyway, I’m rambling but I just wanted to put my 2 cents in. I wish them the best of luck with their babies.

- Melissa on February 17th, 2007

I just read Tammy’s blog entry in which she lamented over the comments people made, and I have to say that she sounds quite bratty and immature. She and Melissa made the choice to be in the public eye, and with that comes interest in their personal lives, including their children. That’s the way it is, and if she doesn’t like it, maybe she should find a career that is less high-profile. Moreover, if they knew the babies shouldn’t be in that stroller, why did they bring it with them in the first place? Why not use a more appropriate stroller and use the umbrella once the babies were old enough to sit up? Sounds like she is just making excuses because she is mad about what people are saying.

- Lauren on February 17th, 2007

There are so many things that the ‘experts’ say to not do with babies today. Most of these things are exactly how we were raised and we turned out just fine. My nephew is due any day and I told my brother not to worry so much that most of it is instinct and he will learn as he goes.

- Shell on February 17th, 2007

RE: Lauren

I don’t feel Tammy was being bratty at all. She was upset because people were assuming and making judgment calls when they knew nothing of what transpired while those pictures were being taken. Every point you made in your response can be easily answered through her blog. My suggestion is for you to go back and re-read her blog with a clear mind and no disdain for her simply because she is famous. As far as her career choice, as I understand it through her blogs, her career choice at this point is to be a stay at home mom. I don’t see how that is something that should be an open door for any photo hound to click pictures anytime he/she wants to. As for choosing to be in the public eye, Melissa has to be to a point, Tammy chooses not to be as much as possible. Yet they both choose NOT to have their children in the public eye. Do you really think it’s wrong for them to want that or to ask for that? A career choice of any kind should never be an open ended ticket for strangers to get into your private lives and private business. Imagine for yourself if your boss told you, you could only keep your job if pictures of your kids were posted on the Internet or in a rag mag. In a sense this is what happens every time someone like you comes along and says, “Well they’re famous after all. They need to just expect and accept that people will want to take pictures of them. It’s a part of their job, if they don’t like it then they need to make another career choice.” Yes, I paraphrased but only because I’ve heard that lame argument too many times and each time it makes less and less sense to me as I’m sure it does the “famous” people.
Lastly, before you go calling her immature again, enlighten yourself and read ALL her blogs. Tammy is an amazingly honest, amazingly funny and an impressively intelligent woman. She comes from a very humble background and she’s gained a lot of knowledge in her 32 years on this earth. Do not judge her until you’ve given her the benefit of at least getting to know her. Or getting to know something about her.
Tammy is out spoken and stands up for herself, her family and her beliefs. I for one like that about her. But I’m not all about trying to control her or control the way she does things within her own personal life. Maybe that’s why I see nothing wrong with the way she handles herself when responding to people who don’t have a clue as to what’s going on in her personal life but still think they have the right to comment on her or Melissa’s parenting abilities. Or more aptly, comment on anything about their lives or the way they do things.

- SA on February 18th, 2007

I don’t feel Tammy was being bratty at all. And hello!!!! I just dropped into this site, don’t you americans have better things to do?? Why not be nice to eachother?? I’m sure they are very good parents, after my opinion Melissa and Tammy are the most “down to earth” that any other of you’re famous people in the usa. But to avoid the papparazzi post picuteres on you’re own Tammy and Melissa! So maybe you can get some peace around you:) This is a comment from Norway, and shame on everybody who is throwing dirth!!

- Astrid on February 18th, 2007

I agree that everyone needs to take a deep breath and chill out. I have two kids (ages 6 and 3) and I am sure I’ve made plenty of “mistakes” in regards to buying all the “right” products, supplies, etc. I think women need to lighten up and help each other out instead of passing judgment. We should be supportive of one another as mothers as it is probably the most difficult thing we do in our lives.

- Jennifer on February 18th, 2007

People just need to back off a little and quit being so darned critical of every move these Mom’s make. I think they’re doing a wonderful job of parenting and all of their children are very lucky to have such obviously loving parents. More power to ya Tammy and Melissa!
Remember to keep loving those beautiful babies and big brother and sister too. Most important of all, keep loving each other (’cause Mom’s need love too)!

- van on February 19th, 2007

What I don’t understand is why everyone is so quick to jump to the defence of tammy and melissa and yet so quick to attack britney when she nearly dropped sean preston whilst surrounded by paparazzi. They made a mistake, just like she did.

- jotb on February 23rd, 2007