The Proposal star's wife Blake Lively posted a photograph on Instagram.com last month (Jun15) showing Reynolds cradling the child in a front-facing baby carrier.

Fans and followers were quick to point out that James was not correctly strapped into the device and Reynolds faced an onslaught of criticism.

The actor has now spoken out about the incident and pointed out that as a first-time father it is natural to make mistakes.

He tells U.S. news show Today, "The baby is not properly secured in the vessel that I'm wearing (in the picture). I'm a first-time dad and that is not the first mistake I've made and I can guarantee it won't be the last... I had never used that particular carrier before so every other time it's been perfect."

Lively, who married Reynolds in 2012, gave birth late last year (14).