Mini Must-Have: Francesca Bateman’s Sparkly Slippers!

Belle Pictures/Ramey

She’s off to see the wizard!

Well, not quite, but Frannie was certainly wearing the right footwear to ‘follow the yellow brick road’ while hanging with dad, actor Jason Bateman, at The Lumberyard in Malibu on Feb. 20.

The adorable 3-year-old wore a cute grey and white checked tunic and grey leggings paired with super sparkly red ballet flats. And boy, do they pop!

After a quick search, we discovered her shoes are Circo‘s Adelaide Glitter Ballet Shoes.

And at only $13, not only are these fab ruby slippers fit for a princess, they’re totally affordable!

— Anya

Comments

Tons of girls at my sons’ school wear these and they also come in silver. BTW, what is in her mouth?

- SY on February 28th, 2010

Oh my goodness, she is such a cute little girl! Gorgeous.

- Rachel on February 28th, 2010

It’s a pacifier.

- Amber on February 28th, 2010

Well that didn’t take long

- Forever Moore on February 28th, 2010

SY, it’s a pacifier.

- emily on February 28th, 2010

I hate to say it but I think that gorgeous little angel has a pacifier in her mouth.

- Luna on February 28th, 2010

I couldn’t care less that she has a pacifier and neither should you guys. It’s not our place to judge or dictate how someone should raise their child, would you want someone taking pictures of your child daily and then critiquing everything you did? How many of you would get a gold star of approval? I bet none.

- TC on February 28th, 2010

i am totally against pacifiers AT ALL like my children will never have them…i have dealt with babies enough to know how to soothe them other ways soo….when they can smile through the paci…its a bit ridiculous!

- becki on February 28th, 2010

guys…it’s a little girl. She has a pacifier – so what?! I mean, how many pictures have we seen of her? And it’s the first time we see her with a pacifier – so obviously she doesn’t have it all the time!!! she looks cute though!

- Serah on February 28th, 2010

What a beautiful little girl. And a cute smile (even with the paci).

- Alee on February 28th, 2010

Becki, let’s talk when your alternatively-soothed kids get here! Not every kid is soothed by the same things and frankly if you haven’t bathed in two days and your 3 month old is on a sleep strike and screaming for an hour (and not due to hunger or wetness), you may change your mind. And it’ll be ok; the kid won’t be ruined for life.

Other than causing some mild problems with her front teeth coming in, pacifier use just doesn’t matter in the long term scheme of things. I think this is one of the first times I’ve ever seen this child with a pacifier, so maybe she just picked it up on her way out the door or found it in the carseat and JB snapped it on her dress to keep her giggling and laughing. She’s still adorable with or without the dang thing! I’ve always found her to be such a sweet, plump, happy little thing in the pix we’re allowed. And I love that JB spends so much time with her.

- Jen DC on February 28th, 2010

TC, who is complaining she has a pacifier?!!!! No one is. I swear women just love to stir up drama & have a reason to argue something.

- Karen on February 28th, 2010

She is sooooo gorgeous. Love her.

- marlee on February 28th, 2010

“i have dealt with babies enough to know how to soothe them other ways soo” – Becki – that’s great that you have the magic touch. However, each baby has his/her own way to self-soothe.

I have four kids. Some embraced the paci and some didn’t. One even used it until he was four. You know what? They all turned out great and I wouldn’t, for one minute, regret that I allowed them the comfort of using a paci.

- marlee on February 28th, 2010

Becki — I was an individual who was totally against the use of pacifiers at one point in time, but there have been recent studies that show that pacifiers reduce the rate of SIDS.

That said, I’m all for nipping the paci in the behind long before the child is walking and talking simply because it’s so much easier to do it then. Though I’m also not hear to judge other parents.

- Rachel on February 28th, 2010

TC – I agree with you.

becki – it’s all well and good to say what you plan to do but until you are raising your own child, you don’t have a clue. You may have helped care for babies and children, but it’s not the same as having your own kid. You’ll realize that someday and then you’ll realize how naive you were. I’m speaking from firsthand experience.

- mrsh on February 28th, 2010

I want those shoes for myself!:)

- meghan on February 28th, 2010

I knew as soon as I saw this picture that everyone would be all over the pacifier thing and low and behold I was right.

I have NEVER seen a picture of Frannie where she isn’t smiling, she’s obviously a happy little girl who has everything she needs and quite possibly everything she wants, so if she wants to suck on a pacifier occasionally who cares?

The negativity on this website is getting ridiculous.

- jj on February 28th, 2010

She is a beauty! My daughter has the silver shoes like these and she calls them her princess dancing shoes!

- Jen on February 28th, 2010

Wow, Becki…be careful you don’t get hurt falling off of that high horse of yours. Not all of us are such perfect people.

- Fiona on February 28th, 2010

I agree, this is the first time I have seen her with a pacifier in a pic, so obviously its not there all the time! And even if it is, its not up to me (or any of us) if she should have one or not. For the record, my daughter is 28 months and still has one for naps/bedtime. I have had plenty of people telling me to get rid of it, but she is my daughter and I will take it away when she is ready to give it up. I am just lucky that I am not famous and have pictures of her posted online with her paci for other people to comment on!

- Melissa on February 28th, 2010

when they can smile through the paci…its a bit ridiculous!

~~~~~
My 7month old can smile through the paci…is that ridiculous too?

- TC on February 28th, 2010

Such a pretty little girl…NOT a pretty little baby…:) She shouldn’t be having a paci at 3 yrs old.

- Doreen on February 28th, 2010

Oh, I forgot to add that this is one of the most beautiful little girls I have ever seen! Look at that hair! She is absolutely gorgeous! (I got sidetracked about the paci comments, lol!)

- Melissa on February 28th, 2010

she is so beautiful. my now 6 year old son is the happiest, friendliest, and most confident of all my children. he used a paci until he was 4. i always thought i would never use them, but he needed it, wanted it, and he is perfect. i bet she does and is too.

- steph on February 28th, 2010

My daughter had her paci until about two months after she turned 3 years old, if I had it to do over again, we would have gotten rid of it alot sooner. She had health issues her first year and the paci helped alot. However, she has speech issues and although her speech therapist says that the paci “might not” have been the cause, it still makes me regret letting her keep it. She loved her paci and we just couldn’t take it from her, she’ll look at pictures now and comment about her paci, she’ll smile at me and ask if she can have one

- Momof3 on February 28th, 2010

I knew it! I knew when I answered the question of SY’s that the pacifier comments would commence and I was right! I really hoped I’d be wrong.

- Luna on February 28th, 2010

At this point, my kid can take his paci to college if it means I can sleep thru the night. I tried to take it away, plan on trying again before he is 2, but it is really the least of my problems in the grand scheme of life.

As for the shoes, you can get purple ones at Target.com- my daughter has them, but the glitter comes off super easy. Keep a sharpie on hand to fill in the gaps!

- Maggie's Mommy on February 28th, 2010

Umm Karen have you not read the comments?

The first comment where someone made a snide comment about the pacifier was deleted. Number 5 commented to it.

I swear some women don’t understand reading comprehension.

- TC on February 28th, 2010

Ok the first commented wasn’t deleted, for some reason it didn’t show up on my computer.

My comment still stands there were a couple of comments over a silly pacifier and I responded to them…and to the ones sure to follow

- TC on February 28th, 2010

She is so darling. I absolutely love this angel. (With or without pacifier.)

- Shirese on February 28th, 2010

Well said msrh!

I don’t understand why women aren’t more supportive of each other. Frannie is obviously a very happy little girl and that’s what matters.

My daughter has these shoes in silver, love them!

- Jessicad on February 28th, 2010

When my son was born, he immediately took to his pacifier (or binky…as we called it), and I remember thinking “I’ll break it from it by his 1st birthday.” Well, his 1st bday rolled around, and he decided he didn’t want his bottle anymore, only a sippy cup, which was cool….but I realized that he wasn’t ready to give up his binky as well. It was his comfort object. Some babies have their thumbs, some have a stuffed animal or a blanket-he had his binky. It made him feel better whenever he was separating from me, or hurt himself, was tired or didn’t feel well. At first I was like “HOW could I take that away from him….then I realized “WHY should I take that away from him?” When his 2nd birthday came around, I slowly started weaning him from it, by just allowing it at nap and bedtime….then after a couple of months, I just allowed it at bedtime. Then a few months after that I told him once he lost his last binky, that there would be no more. A few weeks later, in the middle of the night, the last binky disappeared. He cried for it for a few nights, then was fine. He was 2 1/2 by then…and I totally do not regret allowing him to have it that long. Francesca is a beautiful little girl, and I seriously doubt that she is going to be in any way, negatively affected psychologically because she is still sucking on a pacifier at 3 years-old.

- CTBmom on February 28th, 2010

My niece has very similar shoes in silver. (She got hers at Target.) They’re fabulous and she loves them–but the glitter is kinda sharpish and can snag delicate fabrics (like auntie’s nylons) if your child is a bit squirmy with them on. Not that that’s a deterrence to wearing them or having them, it’s just something to keep in mind.

- MissMissy on February 28th, 2010

My daughter will be 4 at the end of March and still has her pacifier. She has anxiety issues and night terrors and only uses it at night or if she is really upset during the day. We don’t take it out and about but if she wanted to, I would let her.

Seriously, stop complaining if you aren’t the one paying for the braces, and if you don’t like it, DON’T LOOK AT IT. Everyone parents differently. It’s not like she is going to become some bad person or some psycho because she had a paci at the age of 3. Oooooohhhhh, nothing will come of it at all.

- Amber on February 28th, 2010

Doreen, why do you care? She’s not your daughter so it’s none of your business. Anyway, I think the shoes would be such a cute gift for one of my friends. Her little girl would love these and she has a birthday coming up. Thanks for the information CBB:)

- Lee on February 28th, 2010

When I first saw this pic I had to do a double take since I have never seen this child with a binky in her mouth…but I refrained from commenting knowing that these binky debates always stir up. So forget the paci and why is it hanging from what appears to be a really long string?! I get that this is so the binky doesn’t get lost but seriously I find this really long choking hazard to be more of a problem then the paci itself!
Francesca is beautiful even with a paci – but I still don’t ever get why children need them that long!

- JMO on February 28th, 2010

I thought that was a whistle or something. Doesn’t look like a pacifier to me, and the photo is too small to get a good look to be certain, anyway.

Frannie looks as adorable as ever, and I’m always happy to see a picture of her & her parents!

- Christina on February 28th, 2010

I love that Jason spends so much quality time with his daughter. More fathers should take note!

- meghan on February 28th, 2010

Now wait…….Someone simply stating that they do not believe she should have a pacifier still at 3 years old is considered negativity??

It seems like people are waiting to say “You’re not her parents!!! Don’t judge them!” on every.single.thread. these days.

Sorry…the kid IS too old to still have a paci.

- Brooke on February 28th, 2010

Oh for Heaven’s sake, calm down! She’s not sucking on a dirty hypodermic needle she got from the trash!

I had a paci (I called it my choo-choo) until I was in first grade (at which point I started sucking my thumb). And now I’m a very well adjusted 37 year old with 2 PhD’s and perfect teeth (never had to go to an orthodontist, either).

Should my mom have made me give up my pacifier before my first birthday? Who knows? It makes no difference now. And in the long run, it will make no difference for Frannie.

If you don’t like the look of children with pacis in their mouths, don’t give you child a paci. Easy peasy! But don’t judge others. We all really need to learn to be more accepting of others.

- Michelle on February 28th, 2010

She’s adorable. The one comment, or question rather, is why do the moderators here at CBB continue to let these arguments happen? It’s so stupid. A 3 year old with a pacifier! Who cares if it’s not your kid? I used to love coming here to see the celebrities with their kids. Every picture always has a negative (or more, usually) comment. I think I’ll just stop reading the comments and enjoy the pictures. More people should do that….just in MY opinion.

- Marci on February 28th, 2010

Wow, Frannie is more and more beautiful each time I see her!

I love those shoes. Every little girl I know has a pair and loves them to death–especially my three year old. She wears them everywhere she goes. They’re so cute and come in several different colors.

- Allegra on February 28th, 2010

I once heard this and I thought it was perfect.

“My kid doesn’t drink, smoke, swear or gamble. If she is three and her biggest issue is she likes her pacifier, then she gets one. Let her have SOMETHING”

If you want to take away something your child loves so much and makes them feel so much comfort because you need to conform to societies rules about yanking it out of their mouth by a certain age, then that is on you.

- rb on February 28th, 2010

Brooke – telling people the way they raise their own child is wrong, is negative. When you say “she IS too old for a pacifier,” you are judging a family that you don’t know, and as such, have no right to make a blanket statement about what is or isn’t right for them. Feel free to comment, but yes, it is negative.

- mrsh on February 28th, 2010

i didn’t even realize it was a pacifier until i got to the comments. it looked like a light-up ring pop, which my four-year old nephews are obsessed with…

- noam on February 28th, 2010

Okay, I probably won’t want my child to have a pacifier for that long. And yes, maybe it can (possibly) cause speech problems, and crooked teeth. However, are you the one paying for the speech therapy? Is money for braces coming out of your pocket? If so then complain right ahead, if not, it’s none of your business! If it makes her happy, and the parents aren’t concerned that she may develop crooked teeth (which most people have anyway, not necessarily related to the pacifier) then it really shouldn’t make a difference. You can comment that you wouldn’t personally do it, but her using a pacifier is not putting her, or anyone else, in danger, and it doesn’t (well shouldn’t) offend anyone, so I don’t see any need for criticism. Just my opinion, of course.

- Erika on February 28th, 2010

I find it incredibly amusing when people argue about pacis and parenting methods
everyone is a indivual and no two people are alike
I sucked my thumb til I was 13
No lie
And guess what I’m normal and happy and healthy

- Kiki on February 28th, 2010

Noam, that’s what I thought it was…the string looks really long on it so I thought that perhaps it was a whistle or something. Really I hope I didn’t start the debate!

- SY on February 28th, 2010

Can I just say I am beginning to think the person who commented that they thought it was a ring pop may be right. I just searched the web for pics of her and there are hundreds but never once have I ever seen her with a pacifier in her mouth…not even when she was itty bitty.

- Amber on February 28th, 2010

Post 30, perhaps others need to learn to relax a little…

- J on February 28th, 2010

I have never seen her with a paci either. She is so gorgeous!

- Jenn on February 28th, 2010

That is not a paci. It is a toy or some sort of candy.

- T on February 28th, 2010

That child is beautiful! From the hair to the smile, she’s beyond adorable.

- Liliana on February 28th, 2010

okay personally i have lived with my aunt and uncle since my cousin was born 8 month ago and i have kinda been the live in nanny they depend on me A LOT and i have NEVER given him a pacifier just to “quiet” him i ALWAYS tried everything else and i never did because again i am AGAINST the pacifier and that is my opinion and i am sticking to it!

- becki on February 28th, 2010

ohhh and my mom NEVER used any pacifiers for me or my sister and we are fine and she was always able to calm us down.

- becki on February 28th, 2010

She is such a beautiful little girl. I love those shoes!

Oh my is that a binkie that I see in Francesca’s mouth?

- RIP Michael on March 1st, 2010

Good for you Becki, to each his own.
I’m a paediatrician, and I advocate the paci. So what?

- Jas on March 1st, 2010

Everytime I see a pic of Francesca, it makes me smile. She looks like she has a delightful little personality. Beautiful hair, eyes and smile. I love seeing her out with her dad so much, too!

- Scout on March 1st, 2010

Who cares if she uses the dummy (pacifier). I used a dummy till I was about three and I picked it up again from the ages five to six (my mom died and I used dummies for soothing). I’ve never had a problem with my teeth, I always get comments how straight my teeth are, or my speech.

Too me it almost looks like one of those dummies for dolls. One of my extra mom’s day care children usually finds one that we have at home and walks around with it.

- Linny on March 1st, 2010

I never had a dummy/pacifer, i wasn’t even allowed to suck my own thumb and I turned out fine. I had friends who used a dummy/pacifer and they turned out fine. Does it even matter? Parents should do whats best for their own child. Francesca is an incredibly beautiful and happy looking child so her parents must be doing something right.

- Sophie on March 1st, 2010

JUST A QUESTION FOR MISS BECKI – DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN OF YOUR OWN!!

- Sharon on March 1st, 2010

Before i had kids BECKI i looked after my nieces and nephews and the next door neighbours kids at that, and they all had pacifiers and i was like “No way are my kids going to have them, surely you can calm them down with out the use of one of them” Well guess what BECKI both my kids had them. So untill you have kids of your own i would not go around stating your opinion because you are only going to be shot down by all the mums. So go and have your own kids and come back in a couple of years and then tell us your story. I think Francesa looks cute.

- Sharon on March 1st, 2010

I’m always interested in the whole Paci debate. I don’t really care if someone chooses to use one or not (neither of my girls did). However I’m always interested to see when people think it’s too old for one. I ran into a girl at my local grocery store. She was about 5-6 years old and came up to talk to me and my toddler. She had a paci in her mouth and was trying to carry on a conversation with me and I couldn’t understand one word! Is it okay for a 5yo to use a Paci because she will “eventually give it up”?

- Lorus on March 1st, 2010

Also, I just LOVE this little girl’s hair. Adorable but I imagine it’s difficult to manage (or will be when she’s older).

- Lorus on March 1st, 2010

I am against paci’s too. There are a few reasons I am against them, everybody has an opinion. I always find the “comfort” excuse quite funny. The child is 3 years old, she is not a baby anymore. A child learns every day from things around them, and from what their parents teach them. I never had a paci and I was fine. Why do children need them for comfort? the fact she is too old is just simply true. At that age a child should be starting to learn that they need to find comfort in other ways, having their parents help them overcome fears, worries, ect. Children are going to have problems, be scared of things, its good for them, they don’t need to be wrapped in cotton wool. I am not saying the child should be terrified, or psychologically damaged, but they just need to learn to deal with certain things, in an appropriate way for someone of that age. I am not saying a three year old should be treated as a 10 year old or that it needs to be complex, and at that age, of course I know it would be hard.

- audrey on March 1st, 2010

Ditto that, Audrey! I really think 3 years old is WAY too old for a pacifier—-they are for BABIES, correct? Becki, I think you are right on as well, thanks for stating your opinion. I know I really can’t stand seeing children with them, it looks beyond ridiculous. I think any child past one year old should not have them—-just MY opinion I love Francesca and think she’s adorable, who knows if that’s really a pacifier anyway?

- Dana on March 1st, 2010

Becki…FYI in case you ever do become a mother – studies have shown that giving a baby a pacifier to go to sleep actually reduces the risk of SIDS. So while I do agree that 3 years old is beyond the need for a pacifier, I am all for letting a baby use one.

- someone on March 1st, 2010

My 5 year old has those shoes except in silver. Most of the silver where the toes are have come off. Anyone else have that problem?

- Momof3 on March 1st, 2010

My son has a chewwy. His occupational therapist suggested it for him to help him calm himself. I used to think kids were “too old” for pacis/chewwies at some point, but after dealing with a child with issues, I’ve learned that it is not our place to judge others. We don’t know if she uses this paci all the times or if it is a one time thing. Either way, it is not our business. By the way, my son is almost 6. I’d hate to hear some of the judgmental comments here directed towards me by people who don’t know our situation.

She’s an adorable chid, by the way. I love the shoes.

- Linda on March 1st, 2010

Those shoes also come in a pale pink color….Pink is apparently the color of choice for my DD….so we have those ones!

- Dani on March 1st, 2010

Francesca is beautiful. I love all the pacifier-haters. Guess what, you can take a pacifier away, but you can’t take a kid’s thumb away, and if a kid wants to suck on something, they will (even, yes, at age 3, when they do still need comfort).

- Natty on March 1st, 2010

Such a gorgeous, beautiful little girl.

- sad on March 1st, 2010

let kids be kids!(those precious years are so short)
you think pacifiers are ridiculous but you don’t realize that you don’t appear really smart when you start every sentence by “according to specialists…”
if i was as judgmental as some here I would say that i find it very funny to see people who rely so much on specialists to raise their kids, what about YOU deciding what’s good for YOUR kid?

- daze on March 1st, 2010

I always find the whole attachment thing quite interesting anyways. Not just of a pacifier but a bottle, stuffed animal, blanket etc. Here’s the bottom line if you don’t give a child these things to LEARN how to soothe they will never use them!! But lets face it sometimes as parents you do whatever works in the moment! I do not care if children have comfort items. But I do feel there has to be a time when the child knows it’s time to stop. When it comes to celebs it’s a bit different bc they live completely different lifestyles having their children surrounded every day by flashing photographers and people who scream their names! I can see them needing these things to calm them. But as a childcare worker I see kids all the time who carry around comfort items who quite frankly don’t need them. There is nothing worse then a binky/bottle talker. I can’t stand seeing older children have these items then sit next to you and have a conversation like an adult as their trying to talk out of the sides of their mouths! But every child is different. Growing up my mom said that she would give my brother anything to make him stop whining and fussing. So my brother used a paci and bottle until he was 2. However I never took a paci and was off the bottle at 7 months (my mom put forumla in a cup and that’s what I preferred). She said my brother and I were night and day. My brother also continued to carry around a blanky until he was 7 (and then was made to keep it in his bed which he didn’t give up until he was like 12)!! That’s the only reason why I find this to be an interesting topic when it comes to attachment items.
Binky’s were indeed made for children and if you read certain articles most suggest to wean by the first birthday because after that it becomes more of a habit rather then a comfort. But whatever one chooses to do it’s nobody else’s business.
I for one plan on using pacifiers if my child wants one. But by the first bday I also plan to start weaning no matter how hard it may be. That’s just my choice and YES folks I’m sticking to it

- JMO on March 1st, 2010

I also had a pacifier till I was 3 or 4, and I’m a well adjusted adult. Therapists say it’s perfectly fine. I loved my paci stinky – with my smell on it. It really soothed me.

- Maya on March 1st, 2010

BTW, Frannie looks SO much like her aunt…

- Maya on March 1st, 2010

I want to know why people care so much? It’s not your child, mind your own business. Not to mention that it’s silly for grown women to be creating silly arguments for no reason at all. There are bigger problems in the world than a paci debate about kids that aren’t your own

- Lee on March 1st, 2010

my son still carries around his teddy bear at age 7 – good to know there are so many judgmental moms out there. just because a kid uses a paci/blankie/teddy etc doesn’t turn them into adults who can’t cope. ridiculous. i STILL (at age 33) sleep with my bunny i’ve had since i was 2 years old. yep, i must be some crazy lady who can’t self-soothe…

- amandamay on March 1st, 2010

Ok, i have never felt the need to comment before. However, Becki you have no idea what it will be like with your own child. Every child is different and unique. I have three kids and all three were very different from the get go. My eldest took the dummy (pacifier) only at bedtime right from the start. He weaned himself by 8mths. My second child however was very different. We saw in the sonogram that she was sucking her thumb. So in my mind I figured we had to get her a dummy right from the start so she wouldn’t be a thumb sucker. I figured you can take away the dummy but you can’t take the thumb away. we tried and tried but she wouldn’t take it. She prefered her thumb and did so until she was 9. Yes 9, and she’s fine. My third child was again different from the other two. She took nothing, no dummy, no thumb, no blanky, and no stuffy. All children are different and until yours is born you have no idea what will or won’t work. Francesca is a beautiful child and she looks well taken care of. Who knows, maybe she found it amongst her toys and felt like playing with it that day. Or maybe she uses it all the time and we just haven’t seen it until now. Who are we to judge? It’s really none of our business.

- motherofthree on March 1st, 2010

okay and i am not judging…and i never said i was against the thumb…yes i know its the same thing but a thumb-sucker in public looks a lot better that a paci-sucker and that again is MY opinion and i am slandering no parents so please people don’t take it as a personal attack because its not…other people have said the same thing as me and wut only because i don’t have children my opinion doesn’t count? well then wut has this world come to?

- becki on March 1st, 2010

Becki it was the way you said it, you’ve dealt with babies and know other ways to soothe them, meaning moms who use paci’s aren’t as skilled as you when it comes to soothing their children, it was a little insensitive, that’s all. You may feel differently when you have one and you’re on month 4 of sleeping 2 hours at a time and your baby won’t stop screaming.

I tried not to use one, until my daughter developed colic and hours of rocking, singing, dancing, breastfeeding, swaddling, swinging, driving, etc etc DIDN’T work, the paci didn’t either but I damn sure tried to force it on her! Still, I try not to judge other moms or put them down for their parenting choices, treat others as you want to be treated right?

- Jessicad on March 1st, 2010

Somehow I get the feeling that Becki is deliberately trying to rile people up. I’m not even sure the “baby whisperer” even has any children. And by the way, indeed, how many school-age children do you see running around with a binky. In time, a child will learn to give something up on his own, or with the gentle guidance of parents.

- l.j. on March 1st, 2010

To each his/her own, but she is a bit old for the pacifier. Why have it? Doesn’t look like she’s really needing it; doesn’t look insecure in any way. I nannied for children that were able to give it up with quick, simple reasoning and discussion. After a day, they didn’t miss it and knew it was because the dentist said so & that they were a big kid now. They were totally fine and secure; feeling “proud”.

- Laurie on March 1st, 2010

Ive always been anti pacifier as had my parents. However, when my daughters turned 8wks old, I gave them a go as 2 babies screaming in unison was alot to handle. That kept them happy, even though I despised the things especially since, it just seemed to progress into a habit for the children. As they began crawling around, they would pull themselves up on to furniture to look for the pacifiers, even when they were quite content. When the girls reached 7 months, I threw the pacifiers away, I only ever gave them to the children when I really could not soothe them anyway. Each to their own, my opinion is that parents can do whatever they like in regards to their own child, I however knew 100% that my kids did not NEED the pacifiers anymore, I wasnt going to allow them to happily move around with a pacifier just because they liked to have something to suck on (out of habit)Without trying to insult anyone, I do think that children of a certain age that still happily walk around drooling like crazy thanks to a pacifier, looks a bit odd. They are no longer babies.

- Claudia on March 1st, 2010

I agree with Becki, my sister has allowed her son to use his pacifier for a very long time, he is now 6 as still uses it as soon as he gets home. The problem is that she likes to see him as a little baby, which he is not. Is there a magic age where we, as parents should say NO to the pacifier, or do we let our children dictate to us, for as long as they like? At 3 yrs of age, a child is capable of walking and communicating and thinking for themselves, surely the binky is not a necessity. Why dont we allow our children to drink out of a babies bottle at 6 yrs old? Sure, some children may prefer to do this (especially if it has never been discouraged) but it’s simply not a necessity any longer, and neither is a pacifier.

- Sascha on March 1st, 2010

thank you and no i am not trying to “rile” people up i was giving an opinion and stating that i have been able to soothe babies other ways but that’s fine you are all entitled to your own opinions and its cool i am glad that we are all giving opinions but come on…its a blogging site not and arguing site

- becki on March 1st, 2010

Sasha & Claudia – that’s exactly how I see it. As a BABY and yes I mean baby I can see giving it to them when it’s necessary but I also can see being the parent and taking it when I know for sure there is no need for it. And guess what being a parent also means dealing with tantrums, endless crying, and sulking…but EVERY child gets over it and it doesn’t last. You as the parent need to deal with those issues soon or a later so why not sooner? Your child won’t be harmed or effected by any of it. Just like many say theire children who use binky’s for long periods of time adjust fine to life so do those whose parents snatch their beloved comfort items!!

I just have to add that this really has got to be the most adorable beautiful child I have ever seen!! I swear she gets more beautiful the older she gets!

- JMO on March 1st, 2010

It looks like that on top of the paci in her mouth she is about to grab that hot coffee and spill it on herself ! where are the bad parent police! OR NOT! This little girl is fine and we do not know her family or their situation so just look at the pictures without freaking out over every little detail. Would any of you like it if complete strangers were this critical of your every move? I DOUBT it!

- sarah on March 1st, 2010

My goodness me… if this were Suri Cruise, there’d be a firestorm of comments about how awful it is that she has a pacifier. Thank goodness it’s Francesca Bateman, right?

LOVE the picture, she looks so, so pretty- minus the binky in the mouth, of course.

- Lioness on March 1st, 2010

Its also how its used. When upset, to go to sleep…one thing. As a plug to sort of zone them out its awfgul. And I know SO MANY parents who use it like that. Really bugs me.

- moose on March 2nd, 2010

I really don’t like to judge other parents, but it just looks silly that she has a soother. However, it seems that many celebrity babes are “clingy” and maybe it’s because they are nervous about the crowds of paparazzi and they need a soother, or a blanket for comfort.

I think Francesca is the prettiest celeb baby ever!!!

- MollyB on March 2nd, 2010

Wow, there seems to be a lot of unnecessary anger towards Becki. She stated her opinion and her opinion counts even if she isn’t a mom. The problem that most of you seem to be having is that you are taking her opinion as a personal attack on you. I don’t recall her saying anything about bad parenting. She is entitled to think that pacifiers are not necessary – and there are a lot of studies and people who agree with her.

- Sarah K. on March 2nd, 2010

I really don’t understand some peoples need to say that most people pick on the Cruises. I have seen this stated (mainly from the same people) in a Shiloh,Zee, Harlow, and now Frannie article. Some people will complain about anything but most people who complain about the Cruises (and not even Suri) are complaining about how they allow her to dress inappropriately for the weather. I would rather see Suri with a pacifier in her mouth than walking around in winter with a fall jacket. Which I have repeatedly seen of Suri.

- shirese on March 2nd, 2010

Gold star parent award for you Becki!!!!!!

We cant all find ways to soothe our children like you because not all children are like yours.

Live your life pacifier free and leave those who use them to do so without imposing your beliefs on them.

Jeez!!!

- Dee on March 2nd, 2010

LOL as soon as I saw the binky in this picture I knew there would be a zillion comments and sure enough…crazy mommies never disappoint.

- terra on March 2nd, 2010

thank you Sarah K…that is exactly it…i gave an opinion as have many other people and I’m sure i might have tooted my own horn as many will call it…a little too much but that is how i feel that i have and i can do that so yes i guess an apology is in order for the ones who took offense to it because it was not meant that way but i still stand by wut i say…pacis hanging out of kids mouths as they are smiling is a bit ridiculous

- becki on March 2nd, 2010

My children didn’t use pacifiers. I was so afraid of nipple confusion that I wouldn’t give them to them until well after nursing was established, and then they wanted no part of it, which was fine with me, it’s so hard to find latex free pacifiers (I’m allergic to latex, not sure about my kids, but what a way that would be to find out!)

That said, eh, who cares about Frannie and her paci? My kids have shoes like that in pink from Target (they’re Disney brand) and they call them their princess shoes. The glitter can come off, and like someone else mentioned, it’s a little abrasive, but they always get compliments and they love the shoes. The elastic thing on top hurts my older daughter’s feet a little, but I think she just needs to wear stockings or something with them.

- Rebecca on March 3rd, 2010

Shirese, I can safely assume you’re talking to me, since I was the only one to mention Suri out of all the commenters…

“I really don’t understand some peoples need to say that most people pick on the Cruises.”

Are you serious with this? You’re actually complaining that I mentioned people’s hypocrisy with the Cruises in my post? Where do you people come from? It’s not a “need” to mention this- it’s a want. And I stand by my point- most people complain about almost anything Suri or her parents do- no coat/high heels/lipstick or make-up/being carried/not being carried/not smiling/picking her own clothes/wearing too many dresses/wearing expensive clothes/drinking from a bottle/USING A PACIFIER/carrying around a blanket/bangs in her face… shall I go on? Because I can. There wouldn’t be nearly as many people coming to the Cruises’ defense, and I found that odd. So I SAID something about it. It’s an observation that I made, and I’m free to mention it. As I said, Francesca looks beautiful in that picture- minus the pacifier.

- Lioness on March 3rd, 2010

Lioness, you can say what you want but it does not change the fact that most people complain about how inappropriately weather related Suri’s outfits are and not about her style. I was not just referring to you but you know you are guilty, so be it. There are many people on this board who keep throwing Suri’s name around when the majority of the posters just don’t agree with what they are saying. She was mentioned in a Jolie-Pitt child post too. I think some of you, yes you are apart of the some, like to flex your CBB muscle because it is easy to write things and to try to intimidate people. Just as you are free to say what you want, so are others. Type away.

- shirese on March 3rd, 2010

And I was very serious with my comments!

- shirese on March 3rd, 2010

This is seriously the most beautiful little girl. They are gonna have to keep her locked away from the boys when she grows up! =)

- gargoylegurl on March 3rd, 2010