Mum sparks debate after stranger says her child needs ‘a volume button’

The video features a stranger calling out the mom over her toddler's volume

Karley Welch, known as @karleymw on TikTok, posted a video where a stranger said her child needs a "volume button."

@karleymw mind you he’s literally 18 months and is causing you no harm at all. #motherhood #toddlermom #rudepeople ♬ original sound - karley

The caption noted that her child was only 18 months old and was causing her no harm at all.

In the video, Karley Welch wrote:

"Lady at the store talking about my child, 'need a volume button.' Your reminder, you are entitled to a child-free life, not a child-free world."

Since she posted the video, it has sparked a debate over who was in the right in this situation.

Many commenters wrote that he was being disruptive and that he should be taught not to be loud in public.

One person wrote:

"He is being disruptive in public, little stuff like this, you should be turning around and saying hey, remember we’re in a store, no yelling… YOU CHOSE TO HAVE THE CHILD… don’t make the rest of the world suffer around YOUR child"

Another said:

"we dont expect a child free world. we expect parents to attempt to redirect their child if they are screaming in public. sorry you are expected to parent your child?"

Other commenters question why Welch was recording in the first place:

"and you just happened to catch the exact moment this happened?"

"But let's set my camera up instead of being a parent", another added.

However, many came to Welch's defence

"I’m child free - but this is a damn grocery store not a movie or a restaurant. A kid yelling, crying, or giggling is completely acceptable and normal for their developmental age. Like this is an Aldi - I see grown adults act more like a fool than a child finding his voice!" one wrote.

"it’s an 18 month old being an 18 month old. I’m child free by choice and even I know you can’t tell an 18 month old to stop if they don’t want to LOL", wrote another.

"these comments are insane. he is a BABY! this is what babies do???????"

Speaking to Today, Karley Welch said to the publication that he wasn't throwing a tantrum or screaming, and if they were restaurant, she would have told him to be quiet:

"My 3-year-old was sitting right next to his brother, and he was quiet because he knows not to be loud," Welch adds.

“So I thought some of the comments I received about my parenting were kind of extreme. All they saw was an 11-second clip.”

The comments show a clear divide between how one should parent their children. But it is important to note that Welch's kid was only 18 months.

Teaching manners and behaviour in public spaces takes time, especially for young toddlers.

And it's important to have manners and teach your children them, but come on, some adults behave worse than a loud toddler.