Scandalous? Celebrity parents who are causing a stir

Ohh, we have a juicy gallery for you today: celebrity parenting SCANDALS! Well, for the record, we don't actually think there's anything scandalous here. But the media and Internet at large have jumped on the celebrity parents in this gallery for opening up about some not-so-mainstream parenting choices.

Let's start with Kourtney Kardashian, 33. In this most recent "scandal," Kourtney shared her birth video on the finale of her reality TV show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians. While many (myself included) thought it was awesome — especially because she pulled baby Penelope out with her own hands — others attacked her for over-sharing, another Kardashian sell-out. 

Jessica Simpson, 32, unintentionally shocked the world when she shared a photo of her 4-month-old baby, Maxwell, wearing a yellow knit bikini. Again, while I (and many of you) couldn't have cared less, there were articles written, public statements by a child-welfare organization made and, sadly, a barrage of tweets attacking the new mom.

Remember several months back when you mysteriously heard a collective "ewwwww"? That was the world reacting to January Jones announcing she was eating her own placenta. To many of us this wasn't gross at all. Indeed, when we talked about it on our Today's Parent Facebook page, we learned that some of you were even in the process of encapsulating your own placenta for the same purpose. But alas, the mainstream wasn't ready for January's confession. Good for her for bringing awareness to this practice, though, and informing many moms-to-be that it was possible.

Alicia Silverstone, 35. Poor, poor Alicia Silverstone. She innocently released a home video demonstrating to the world the art of premastication — otherwise known as chewing your baby's food before feeding it to him or her. Birds do it. And, actually, many cultures around the world do it. But the mainstream would have none of Alicia Silverstone doing it. And it'll take a while for critics to stop cracking premastication jokes about her (as if the jokes about her baby's name, "Bear Blu," aren't enough).

Is she pregnant? Isn't she? We thought we had a scandal there, but the majority of the world believes that Beyoncé Knowles, 31, was indeed pregnant (I took an informal poll). Regardless, a scandal did occur when Beyonce and her hubby, Jay-Z, blocked off the entire floor of the hospital — including the NICU! — when she was giving birth to their now-8-month-old baby, Blue Ivy. Remember that? Ca-ra-zay!

A relative of mine was actually touring the hospital when this all went down (in preparation for her delivery), and she was told she wasn't allowed in that strictly forbidden zone.

Extended breastfeeding is certainly NOT scandalous, of course. But, Mayim Bialik's parenting beliefs have drawn loads of controversy: co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, diaper-free toilet training, child-led weaning, to name a few. Mayim, 36, is bravely vocal about her parenting beliefs and strategies, and we love her for that — no matter what anyone else thinks.

Photo: Beyond the Sling

Another day, another rad celebrity-kid hairdo. The world went crazy when young Kingston Rossdale, now 6, showed up in a serious blue mohawk. BUT, whatever-whatever-whatever, that dress his mom, Gwen Stefani, 42, is wearing makes it all OK. LOVE! Here's a close-up of the mohawk.

Katie Holmes, 33, and Tom Cruise, 50, have been blasted for letting their daughter Suri, now 6.5, wear high heels (even on the beach!). Though she's now famous for her penchant for pretty ballet flats, Suri continues to wear heels now and then.

Would you let your child wear high heels — I mean, beyond the plastic princess shoes you get at the toy store?

Leave the kid alone! Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's 6-year-old daughter Shiloh happens to enjoy boys' clothing, haircuts and shoes. Apparently, this doesn't please a lot of people over the years. The controversy has certainly died down in recent months — though Angelina, 37, still has to deal with her mother-in-law's girlie gifts. But good on Brad and Angelina, I say, for encouraging their kids to be themselves and for supporting their personal choices.