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Kendra Wilkinson on Spanking, Bribery & Other Controversial Parenting Moves

by Julie Ryan Evans on June 5, 2012 at 11:13 AM

Kendra WilkinsonIt seems like a lifetime ago that Kendra Wilkinson was living with Hugh Hefner, and showing us what life was like inside the Playboy Mansion as one of his girlfriends on The Girls Next Door. Now she's married to Hank Baskett III, has an adorable 2-1/2-year old son, Hank Baskett IV, and her new show Kendra on Top is premiering tonight on WE tv.

Life today dealing with preschool and potty training is a bit tamer than the happenings at the Playboy Mansion, but Kendra still lives according to her own rules, and has thrown the parenting books out the window when it comes to raising "Little Hank." She bribes, spanks, and believes co-sleeping is mean, but at the end of the day, she's amazed and proud of the job she's doing as a mother and is happier than she's ever been.

I recently spoke with Kendra about her parenting philosophies, fears, and defeats, and she revealed some of her biggest parenting confessions. Here's what she had to say about some hot-button parenting topics.

Bribing

She's totally into it. "We're not ashamed to admit it. We try to guide him, but when it comes to some things, we go for the bribe." Her bribe of choice: Organic fruit gummies.

Her Worst Parenting Moment

When Hank was 10 months old, she had "the flight from hell" with him while traveling from Los Angeles to Minnesota. "Little Hank screamed the whole way. Not just crying, it was screaming. It was the most traumatic thing ever." She hasn't flown commercial with him since.

Co-Sleeping

Does she? "No way! They have a bedroom for a reason. I feel like it's mean to them. We cuddle him and everything, but we don't want him to be that attached to us. Bedtime should your own time and time for him to rest. You can't do that when you're in bed with your parents."

Spanking

"It's a touchy subject, but there was a time when I had to give him a little pop on the hand. I never said I'm going to be a spanking mom, but I feel like you have to do what you have to do. I don't him walking over me. A little spank now and then -- yeah, we're not anti."

Parenting Philosophy

"I'm not a crazy parent, but I follow my instincts. If I smell something bad, it's usually bad. Advice is good, but I'm the only person who really knows Little Hank, and I believe in my instincts. I don't go by the book."

What She's Most Proud of As a Mom

"We're finally starting to see the outcome of all of the work, love, and guidance. It shows we're doing a good job. Being able to hear him say please and thank you or caring when someone falls down shows that he's nurturing and caring, and that comes from both of us [she and Hank Sr.]"

On Rumors That She's Pregnant Again

"No comment."

Here's a clip from Kendra on Top in which she has a pregnancy scare though, so who knows:

What do you think of Kendra Wilkinson's parenting philosophies? Will you watch Kendra on Top?


Filed Under: a mom's life, celeb kids, toddler development

Comments

13
  • JessicaC
    -- Nonmember comment from

    JessicaC

    June 5, 2012 at 11:27 AM
    I can already see the crazy 5 year breastfeeders getting ready to hate on Kendra for her cosleeping remarks. Honestly, I agree with basically everything she said. I don't think co-sleeping is "mean" but I do think bedtime is a time for rest and reflection and after the first few months of being in our room we are definitely putting our daughter in her crib. Kids need their own bedtime and mommy and daddy need their own "bed" time too!
  • Melis...
    --

    Melissa042807

    June 5, 2012 at 12:27 PM

    Good on her for being honest about how she parents. There's a difference between methods and principals, and she seems to get that. 


  • Mommy...
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    MommyMeggyG

    June 5, 2012 at 3:12 PM
    One reason why I love her. She is honest about everything and isn't ashamed to admit certain things. Im sure someone will get on here and bash her for her parenting though
  • Disney17
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    Disney17

    June 5, 2012 at 4:01 PM
    I like her parenting style :)
  • bossy...
    --

    bossyjossy

    June 5, 2012 at 4:09 PM

    I love her!!!!!


  • Bunny...
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    Bunny3187

    June 5, 2012 at 7:05 PM
    I <3 Kendra!
  • MomLi...
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    MomLily67

    June 6, 2012 at 6:24 PM

    She is not  empty headed as the 'girls next door" tried to portray her. I feel she is very smart , and was raised right herself. 

    I wis no one posts mean comment about her oponion on co-sleeping, different things work for different people living different lifestyles. 


  • mande...
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    manderspanders

    June 7, 2012 at 10:31 AM
    Wow... Kendra has impressed me. She seems more level-headed and to have more common sense than so many mothers these days. Go Kendra!
  • 18and...
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    18andsafe

    June 7, 2012 at 6:03 PM


    In light of the Judge Adams video,

    We often hear from those who fight to uphold this practice for those under the age of 18 (even to the blaming of the social maladies of the day on a supposed "lack" of it), but we rarely, if ever, find advocates for the return of corporal punishment to the general adult community, college campuses, inmate population, or military. Why is that?

    Ask ten unyielding proponents of child/adolescent/teenage-only "spanking" about the "right" way to do it, and what would be abusive, indecent, or obscene, and you will get ten different answers.

    These proponents should consider making their own video-recording of the "right way" to do it.

    Visit Parents and Teachers Against Violence in Education to learn more.


  • 18and...
    --

    18andsafe

    June 7, 2012 at 6:05 PM


    Currently in the U.S.:

    When an adult does it to another adult, its sexual battery:
    http://hamptonroads.com/2011/12/va-beach-restaurateur-pleads-guilty-sexual-battery:

    When children do it to adults, its a "deviant sexual prank":
    http://www.theday.com/article/20101207/NWS04/101209750

    When an adult does it to a person under the age of 18, its "good discipline".

    Research/recommended reading:

    Spanking Can Make Children More Aggressive Later
    http://tulane.edu/news/releases/pr_03122010.cfm

    Spanking Kids Increases Risk of Sexual Problems
    http://www.unh.edu/news/cj_nr/2008/feb/lw28spanking.cfm

    Use of Spanking for 3-Year-Old Children and Associated Intimate Partner Aggression or Violence
    http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/126/3/415

    Spanking Children Can Lower IQ
    http://www.unh.edu/news/cj_nr/2009/sept/lw25straus.cfm
     
    Plain Talk About Spanking
    by Jordan Riak
    http://www.nospank.net/pt2010.pdf

    The Sexual Dangers of Spanking Children
    by Tom Johnson
    http://nospank.net/sdsc2.pdf

    "Spanking" can be intentional or unintentional sexual abuse
    http://www.nospank.net/101.htm


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