A young mum who is travelling with her toddler and took the child on a kayak without a life jacket has responded to trolls who are slating her online.
Kaylie Bryson is currently backpacking with her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Lennon.
The duo have so far visited the Philippines, Thailand and Bali – but have also previously made their way across Italy, Austria and Greece.
READ MORE: Dad’s reaction to baby’s first words leaves internet ‘crying’
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The single mum, aged 24, wants her child to experience as much adventure as possible – but her decisions don’t always sit well with trolls online.
Kaylie recently shared a video of Lennon enjoying a ride in a transparent kayak in crystal blue waters, which has received 872,400 views and 202,900 likes.
But she has been slammed for not putting a life jacket on her daughter.
“When we are in shallow water and even honestly when it isn’t extremely shallow, I am comfortable with her sitting next to her life vest, instead of wearing of it,” Kaylie, who works as a preschool teacher, told What’s The Jam.
“The water is so calm, and we were with a tour guide who was paddling us, which I think people forget.
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“Her safety isn’t something that is taken lightly but knowing my experience in water safety and my experience with CPR and first aid training, I am completely comfortable letting her enjoy her boat without her life vest.
“Just enjoy the video and always put a life vest on your own kid if you care about it so much.
“I know my child will always be safe with me and whatever people can access online does not directly touch her ever – so I don’t really mind.
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“People love to judge anything, and while most are lovely people, wishing they could be doing the same with their children, some think that they would be doing it better or smarter or safer, and to that I say go ahead and try – it’s fun.”
Kaylie and Lennon took their first trip together when the little girl was just four months old.
She said: “I took her solo to Rome.
“It was amazing, i took her in the front carrier and my backpack with some suitcases –we definitely got some looks, but the Italians love babies.
“We went up to Austria and then in the coming months we went back to Italy, Austria and Greece.
“Those adventures didn’t seem too crazy to me or really anyone in the moment because tons of women are traveling with their babies locally and internationally in these places.
“She went to mountain peaks, lakes and the Colosseum, her first World Wonder.
“Lennon visited the Parthenon in Athens and the Dolomites in Italy and got to swim in small seas off the Greek Islands, all before she was half a year old, she couldn’t even walk unassisted on these grounds she visited!
“I think this definitely shaped her into the adaptable person she is now, making it so easy for her to mend into our life.”
Lennon has seen hidden lagoons and jellyfish waters, swum in pitch black caves and hiked up to see volcanos during a sunrise.
She’s cleaned and fed elephants, and eaten breakfast with monkeys outside a temple while watching monks worship.
Kaylie said: “She has experienced so many adventures kids her age wouldn’t even dream of pretend playing at home, and it has opened her view of the world so much at such a young age.”
The kayaking took place around Coron Island in the Philippines.
Kaylie said: “She loved being on the boat, she was genuinely in awe of it.
“While sitting she would just relax and enjoy the boat.
“She liked to paddle it too when she was allowed and she would paddle aimlessly and it was amazing.
“I think everyone should be overprotective of their own children.
“Children aren’t capable of protecting themselves so they rely on their parent to protect them, but that being said everyone should protect their own kid – and I am protecting mine.
“You can tell me how to do it, but I will continue doing it my own way and know that I protect her well enough for your commentary to mean nothing.”
Viewers have come out in droves to share their thoughts on the TikTok.
One person commented “I know this is so obnoxious to hear but life jackets are life saving. It takes seconds.”
Rachael said: “Cuuute but no life jacket is wild.”
Another person said: “So cute but no life vest fr???”
Kat said: “Always put life jackets when in boat! What the hell.”
But many viewers also praised the mum for her incredible parenting of taking her toddler across the globe.
One person said: “Connections being made all the time. She may not but her body and brain will remember it all. Soak it up little lady. The world is yours.”
Another viewer said: “What a GREAT MOMMY.”
Michayla said” “Her just gazing at the beautiful landscape going by her she will definitely remember and you’ll have stories to tell her as well.”
