David Beckham responds to parenting criticism

LONDON, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- David Beckham shot back at British tabloid Daily Mail for criticizing his and wife Victoria's parenting choices Tuesday.

The former pro-footballer and father of four posted a screenshot of the Mail article headline, which read "Why does Harper, four, still use a dummy?" to vent his frustration about being publicly criticized without context.

According to the article, Victoria's consistent use of the "dummy" -- or pacifier -- "can damage her teeth" and is "likely to hinder speech development."

"David and Victoria seem wonderful parents and I'm sure they give Harper lots of attention but, like it or not, they are role models and lots of people will see this and think that having a dummy at this age is normal when it's not," a former midwife interviewed for the article said.

"Why do people feel they have the right to criticize a parent about their own children without having any facts??" he wrote.

"Everybody who has children knows that when they aren't feeling well or have a fever you do what comforts them best and most of the time it's a pacifier so those who criticize think twice about what you say about other people's children because actually you have no right to criticize me as a parent."