Elizabeth “Liz” Johnston, a star of the popular TLC show “7 Little Johnstons,” has recently faced criticism from fans over a parenting decision involving her newborn daughter, Leighton Drew Bolden. The 21-year-old welcomed her first child with her boyfriend, Brice Bolden, in November, marking the beginning of the third generation of the Johnston family.
The controversy began when Liz shared a family photo on her Instagram Story. The picture, taken during a Christmas light show at Callaway Gardens in Georgia, showed Liz holding her baby in the back seat of a car. This sparked a heated debate among fans on Reddit, with many questioning the safety of the situation.
One Reddit user expressed concern, asking, “No car seat?! Did they take the baby out of the car seat just for a photo op? I hope there’s a car seat back there…” Another user pointed out that Callaway Gardens is a drive-through light show, suggesting that the car might have been moving slowly or even parked. However, this did not quell the criticism, as another commenter stated, “I don’t care if they are ‘driving slow,’ ‘off of the main road,’ or ‘just taking her out for a feeding.’ If you have a platform as big as they do, you DO NOT post a photo of a newborn in a car not in a car seat. Period.”
Despite the backlash, some fans defended Liz, arguing that the car might have been stationary or moving at a very slow pace. One supporter wrote, “I’m sure the baby is fine and they are going slow but why even bother and risk it? It’s not like she is a baby or toddler who can even see and enjoy the lights… she’s still a newborn…. so odd.”
Liz and Brice officially introduced their daughter, Leighton Drew Bolden, to the world on November 3. The couple shared their joy with People magazine, stating, “The wait is finally over! We’re excited to introduce our baby to the world.” Leighton, who weighed 5 pounds 9 ounces at birth, is the first of the Johnston family’s third generation.
The Johnston family, known for their TLC reality series “7 Little Johnstons,” has been sharing their lives with viewers since the show’s debut in 2015. The family consists of mom Amber, dad Trent, and their five children: Jonah, Elizabeth, Anna, Alex, and Emma. They are the largest family in the world with achondroplasia dwarfism, a genetic disorder that affects the limbs.
The show has documented various milestones and challenges faced by the family, including Liz’s recent journey into motherhood. In a trailer for the upcoming 14th season of “7 Little Johnstons,” Liz revealed her pregnancy to her family, with her boyfriend Brice expressing his nervousness about sharing the news. The trailer also highlighted the family’s concerns about Liz’s high-risk pregnancy due to her achondroplasia dwarfism, which necessitates a C-section for childbirth.
As Liz navigates the early stages of motherhood, she has been sharing glimpses of her life with her newborn on social media. Recently, she posted a series of photos from her maternity leave, including adorable pictures of baby Leighton surrounded by stuffed bunnies and videos of the infant cooing and smiling. Brice also appeared in the post, shown cuddling and kissing his daughter.
Liz captioned the post, “Officially starting back work tomorrow, the past 2 months and 19 days with our sweet baby girl has been absolutely life-changing and nothing but amazing, being a mom is the greatest blessing ever.” Brice commented, “The best mom ever! Can’t wait to see what the future holds for us and our daughter.”
Fans have been quick to notice the resemblance between Liz and her daughter, with many commenting on Leighton’s dimples. One user wrote, “Aww. She looks like she may have your darling dimples!” Another added, “She has her Mommy’s dimples,” while a third said, “So precious!”
Despite the recent criticism, Liz continues to share her journey as a new mother with her followers. The Johnston family remains a beloved fixture on TLC, with fans eagerly anticipating the new season of “7 Little Johnstons,” set to premiere on March 12.
As the family grows and evolves, viewers will undoubtedly continue to follow their story, celebrating their milestones and supporting them through their challenges.
Source: People, Reddit, Instagram
