Gen Z Mom Has Message for Stranger Who Said Her Son Needs a ‘Volume Button’

A Gen Z mom has shared the moment a stranger made a remark about her toddler making a noise in the store.

The TikTok video shared by Karly (@karleymw) quickly went viral, racking up 2.3 million views since it was posted on June 10.

The 24-year-old from Greensboro, North Carolina, told Newsweek: “I felt irritated, and a tad taken back.”

During the video, which was being recorded as part of her budget-grocery vlog, she can be seen scanning items. Her 18-month-old son is in the cart behind her, babbling.

Then a woman’s voice can be heard. The text layered over explains she said the baby needs “a volume button,” then her message, “your reminder you are entitled to a child free life, not a child free world.”

The stay-at-home mom told Newsweek: “I would have been more understanding if he was having a tantrum but that wasn’t the case.

“He was happily talking and doesn’t understand volume controls yet. I tended to him several times but was just trying to finish checking out.”

So far, the video has over 188,000 likes. She told Newsweek: “I shared the clip because I so often see so much hatred and just rudeness towards children for taking space. Some people have adult expectations for children and it’s frustrating.”

In the comments, Karly told another user that she asked her son to use his indoor voice but he is too young to understand.

Newsweek discussed the interaction with child psychologist Ana Aznar, founder of REC Parenting, an online platform supporting parents and caregivers, to discuss the issues raised.

She said: “The child is displaying normal behavior for a child that age. The problem is not the child but the increasing tendency of pushing children out of public spaces.

“Looking online, it seems that more and more, there are public spaces with ‘no pets and no children allowed’ signs, or even worse they allow pets but not children.

“It is really important that we all understand that children need to be out and about to become functional members of our society.”

Karly states this is the first time she has experienced a negative comment when out and about.

She told Newsweek: “I don’t get nervous very often about taking my kids out. Overall, they do well except on occasion, but that’s what comes with kids. People are generally so sweet to them.”

Aznar added: “We all have been there: your baby cries nonstop on the bus, your toddler throws a tantrum at the supermarket, or your child’s ice cream falls on the floor, while you get angry comments and looks from people around you.

“These can be very stressful situations, but we should all remember that children belong in public spaces. I would advise this mom and others facing the same situation to either ignore these comments or have a calm response ready: ‘I am sorry he is being loud; he is only little and we are doing the best we can.'”

TikTok Reacts

The clip has sparked a debate online, receiving 15,600 comments at the time of writing. There’s a mixture of opinions, with some users backing the woman and others the mom-of-two.

“You can teach him not to shout. They have to be taught,” suggested one user. Another wrote: “I’d rather this any day over an iPad kid watching YouTube at full volume.”

“He’s not even being disruptive??? He’s just existing,” said a third commenter.