Bengaluru woman's parenting tip video backfires as clip shows house help's daughter eating on floor: ‘This is so dehumanising'

Indian Express

21 hours ago

A Bengaluru-based nutritionist, Sonakshi Sharma, has found herself at the centre of a heated debate online after a video she shared offering parenting insights went viral for reasons she would not have foreseen. The clip, intended to demonstrate how baby-led weaning (BLW) is not just a Western fad but something deeply rooted in Indian parenting traditions, sparked criticism for what many saw as a jarring visual contrast.
In the video, Sharma is seen comfortably seated on a sofa while her own baby eats from a high chair. In a later frame, a domestic worker's child–around three years old–is shown sitting on the floor, heaving a meal. It was this stark juxtaposition that raised eyebrows online.
Sharma's caption argued that Indian mothers have long practised a form of BLW without labelling it. 'Remember our moms being so busy with housework that they used to leave us with the food, and in that process we learnt to eat. BLW is just the same story wrapped in a seemingly exorbitant cover!' she wrote.
A post shared by Sonakshi Sharma | Women Fitness | Paediatric Nutrition | BLW (@fitnaari.india)
But for many viewers, the issue was not about parenting methods–it was about privilege, optics, and inequality. Critics questioned why one child appeared in a high chair while the other was on the floor, calling it a tone-deaf comparison that unintentionally reinforced social hierarchies.
One user commented, 'My heart breaks for the child sitting on the ground. There's no excuse, they're taught to know their place due to their poverty… I ensure my helper's child sits at the dining table because this is so dehumanizing and degrading.'
Another viewer remarked, 'Whatever is your justification for why your help's 3 yo is sitting on the floor..etc.. it still does give out wrong msg u know that right? This comparison reel was unnecessary in first place.. it did intend to show difference in privilege.'
Facing the backlash, Sharma issued a clarification. She said the two clips were shot on different days and that the child chose to sit on the floor. 'Before you jump your guns here, this video is from two different days and I don't practice idiotic things like untouchability in 2025 for god's sake! We just valued this child's preference, that's it,' she responded.
Sharma went on to defend her intentions, arguing that people were misreading the video. 'You're seeing a 'Househelp's child' sitting on the floor, while I'm seeing just a child who chose to sit on the floor—the same way my daughter would sometimes choose to do–the same floor where we regularly sit and eat,' she added.
Still, opinions remained divided. Some came to her defence, arguing that the outrage was misplaced. 'Interesting to see how people here are missing the whole point of this reel, and are crying about the child sitting on the floor instead and other equally unnecessary things.. tells a lot about our society,' said one commenter.
Others, however, raised further concerns–not just about seating, but about the food being served. 'You are a 'nutritionist' but your help's toddler is eating roti and Dahi at your house?! Where is the protein for that child?! At least when the child is eating at your place make sure the toddler of your help has a healthy meal,' read one sharply worded reply.