Mom Defends Her 'Crunchy' Parenting Choices as Online Critics Tell Her to 'Chill' (Exclusive)

May 23, 2026 - 22:43

Chloe Brewster says she faces a steady stream of harsh criticism from strangers online who question her approach to raising her children. "I get a lot of ugly comments from people online who don't know me or my family in real life," Brewster told PEOPLE. The mother of two identifies with the "crunchy" parenting movement, which emphasizes natural living, cloth diapers, homemade baby food, and limited screen time. She says her choices are rooted in research and personal values, not a desire to judge other parents.

The backlash, she explains, often comes from people who see her posts as extreme or performative. Commenters frequently tell her to "chill" or accuse her of making parenting harder than it needs to be. One recent video showing her making organic purees from scratch drew hundreds of replies calling her approach unnecessary and time-consuming. "They assume I think I'm better than everyone else," Brewster said. "But I'm just sharing what works for our household."

Despite the negativity, Brewster says she has no plans to change her methods. She points out that her children are healthy, happy, and thriving. She also notes that many of her critics have never met her family and base their opinions on a short video clip. "Parenting is hard enough without strangers piling on," she added. "I wish people would focus on their own families instead of tearing down someone else's." Brewster hopes her story encourages other parents to trust their instincts, whether they choose a crunchy, silky, or somewhere-in-between path.