Cruise Ship Couple Face Backlash for Leaving Kids in Cabin: "Facetimed the Monitors"

Photo byCruise Fever

A popular TikTok couple, Matt and Abby Howard, is facing criticism for leaving their two young children unattended in their cruise cabin while they enjoyed a dinner date.

Accordintg to US Weekly, the couple, who have two sons, a 2-year-old and a 12-month-old, recently took their family on a cruise vacation.

In a now-deleted Instagram Story, Abby described how they struggled to keep their children entertained during the trip and eventually decided to leave them in their cabin while they had dinner.

"So we ended up taking them for 5 nights and it became apparent that they weren’t enjoying it and therefore we weren’t either," Abby wrote. "So, THEN we switched our dinner time to AFTER their bedtime and FaceTIMED the monitors while we ate."

Abby explained that their baby monitors didn't work effectively on the ship since they were not close enough in range, making it difficult to keep an eye on their children from a distance.

While the couple found a solution to monitor their children, many social media users were outraged by their decision to leave them alone.

Critics argued that leaving young children unattended in a large, unfamiliar environment was dangerous and irresponsible. They questioned the couple's judgment and expressed concern for the children's safety.

"Why is no one talking about Matt & Abby leaving their kids alone to sleep in their cruise cabins while they had dinner?!?!" one social media user wrote.

Neither Matt nor Abby has publicly addressed the backlash, and their social media posts about the cruise have been removed.

The incident has sparked a debate about the appropriate level of supervision for young children on vacations.

While some parents believe that children can be left alone for short periods, others argue that it is never safe to leave them unattended.

The Howards have previously shared their parenting journey on social media, often focusing on the challenges and rewards of raising young children. However, the recent controversy has cast a negative light on their parenting choices.