Gemma Atkinson hits back at mum-shamers after sharing ‘dangerous’ picture of baby son Thiago
Gemma Atkinson has hit back at mom-shamers after she was trolled for posting a ‘dangerous’ photo of her son.
The former Hollyoaks star, 38, who welcomed her second child Thiago in July, took to Instagram this weekend to share a sweet photo of her second child and her boyfriend, Planet Radio star Mike Toolan.
The adorable photo shows TV presenter and actor Mike posing next to the little toddler as he slept on his stomach in a crib.
‘When Thiago met Toolan! Tool came by today and he gently leaned over the sleeping beauty as he heard the welcoming sound of a wet fart,” she wrote in the caption.
‘As usual, Tools ate half the contents in the fridge and left with even more boxed food for his tea. Someone has to take care of him! @miketoolan’.
Stand up: Gemma Atkinson has hit back at mum-shamers after she was trolled for posting a ‘dangerous’ photo of her son Thiago on Instagram
The photo in question: Gemma had shared this photo of her son lying on his stomach next to her boyfriend, Planet Radio star Mike Toolan
But fans were quick to share their thoughts on the photo, telling Gemma that the position her son was in was ‘extremely dangerous’.
One wrote: ‘Oh, I’m not sure about babies sleeping on their stomachs, that can be quite dangerous.’
“Please put him to sleep on his back to prevent cot death,” a second added.
“Since they introduced the advice to put babies to sleep on their backs, the cot death rate has fallen by 85 percent,” said a third.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – also called cot death – is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.
In Britain, just under 300 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year.
According to the NHS: ‘To reduce the risk of cot death: put your baby to sleep on his back for the first six months, in the same room as you.’
Frustrated by the offhand comments, Gemma replied: ‘He does sleep on his back. He naps on his stomach a few times throughout the day when I sit next to him on the chair.
‘He can also lift and move his head in both directions when lying on his stomach. Not my first rodeo with babies.”
Informed: The former Hollyoaks star, 38, hit back, saying Thiago usually sleeps on his back as recommended, but sometimes sleeps on his stomach for a short period of time when she watches over him
Followers then quickly rushed to support the star.
One wrote: ‘My eldest was born prematurely and the nicu has made him sleep on his stomach since birth. We continued this when he came home and even now that he is 8 years old, he still sleeps on his stomach.
‘People should mind their own business – this woman is not stupid!’
A second added: ‘My seven month old son only sleeps on his stomach. And that has been going on for about 2 months. He has a big startle reflex so would always wake up and not want to resettle. My 4 year old did the same.
‘They are both happy, healthy and thriving. Everyone takes care of their own children and lets other mothers decide what is best for their own children. Advise yes, judge no.’
“Just leave that poor girl alone. All three of my children slept on their stomachs and that works fine, as long as they can lift their heads.
‘SIDs can also occur in babies who lie on their backs. So all these keyboard warriors need to back off and worry about their own lives,” said a third.
The TV and radio star shares Thiago with Strictly professional dancer Gorka Marquez, with the couple of six also parents to daughter Mia, four.
Meanwhile, it comes after Gemma has insisted she has no plans to have any more children after the birth of her second child in July.
She has declared that ‘two is the magic number’ and joked that she won’t let her Strictly Come Dancing star partner Gorka near her again.
Speaking on Fleur East’s Hits Radio Breakfast Show on Thursday, Gemma joked: ‘Two is the magic number in our house. I won’t go near him (Gorka) anymore.’
Just two: It comes after Gemma insisted she has no plans to have any more children with partner Gorka Marquez following the birth of her second child in July
Family: The couple welcomed son Thiago, a brother to Mia, four, in July, but Gemma joked: ‘Two is the magic number in our house. I won’t go near him (Gorka) anymore.’ ‘I do not dare’
“I don’t dare – he’s sticking his hips from across the room and I’m pregnant, so not anymore!”
Gemma further admitted that she found the jump from one to two children much easier than from zero to one.
“Everyone said your second is a lot easier in some ways and I understand that now: they just fit into your routine,” she explained.
‘I mean, there are days when I haven’t washed my hair in days and it’s dry shampoo, and then there are days when Thiago is doing the school run in his babygro and hasn’t been changed yet, but it’s organized chaos and it’s fun . ‘