Kourtney Kardashian Barker recently faced public criticism after posting a photo of her 21-month-old son, Rocky Thirteen, on a boat—without wearing a life vest. The image, shared on August 8, appeared to have been taken during a family trip in Idaho, where regulations require children under age 14 to wear life jackets while on the water.
The reaction from followers was immediate and intense. Comments ranged from concerns about water safety to reminders of recent boating tragedies. As one user urged, “Great photo except for the fact the child has no life jacket on,” while another pleaded, “You can make those decisions for yourself. But don’t make a decision like that for your child. PLEASE” .
In response, Kourtney posted an update to her Instagram Story the next day: “Update: bought a life vest that fits! Good looking out. Honestly didn’t think about some of the dangers,” followed by, “Thank you for making me aware and hopefully this helps make other mommies aware of the dangers of certain types of boating without a life vest” .
She also continued to highlight World Breastfeeding Week by resharing the original boat photo with a caption expressing gratitude for mothering experiences with Rocky .
The incident and Kourtney’s response underscore the heightened awareness around celebrity parenting and public accountability for safety—especially when children are involved. Her acknowledgment of the oversight—and the corrective step she took—may help raise broader awareness among parents about boating precautions.
