Gemma Atkinson Responds to Criticism over Controversial Photo of Baby Son Thiago

Gemma Atkinson has hit back at mum-shamers after she was trolled for posting a ‘dangerous’ photo of her baby son.

The former Hollyoaks star, 38, who welcomed her second child Thiago in July, took to Instagram this weekend to share a sweet snap of her second child meeting her friend, Planet Radio star Mike Toolan. 

The adorable picture shows TV presenter and actor Mike posing next to the small tot, as he lay on his front asleep in a cot.

‘When Thiago met Toolan! Tools came round today and he gently leaned over the sleeping beauty to a welcoming sound of wet fart’, she penned in the caption.

‘As usual Tools ate half the contents in the fridge and left with more food boxed up for his tea. Someone’s gotta look after him! @miketoolan’.

Standing up: Gemma Atkinson has hit back at mum-shamers after she was trolled for posting a ‘dangerous’ photo of her baby son Thiago on Instagram 

The photo in question: Gemma had shared this photo of her son laying on his front alongside her friend, Planet Radio star Mike Toolan

But fans were quick to give their opinion of the photo, informing Gemma the position her son was lying in was ‘extremely dangerous’. 

One wrote: ‘Oh not sure about babies sleeping on their front, that could be quite dangerous.’ 

‘Please put him to sleep on his back to prevent SIDS’, a second added. 

‘Since they introduced the advice to put babies to sleep on their back, the SIDS rate has dropped by 85 per cent,’ commented a third. 

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) – sometimes known as ‘cot death’ – is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby.

In the UK, just under 300 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year.

According to the NHS: ‘To reduce the risk of SIDS: place your baby on their back to sleep, in the same room as you, for the first six months.’

Frustrated by the brash comments, Gemma replied: ‘He does sleep on his back. He naps on his front a few times throughout the day when I’m sat on the chair next to him.

‘He’s also able to lift and move his head in both directions when on his front. Not my first rodeo with babies’.

Informed: The former Hollyoaks star, 38, hit back and said that Thiago usually sleeps on his back, as is recommended but he sometimes sleeps on his front for a short while when she is watching over him

Followers then quickly rushed to support the star.

One wrote: ‘My eldest was premature and the nicu slept him on his front from birth. We continued this when he came home and even now a 8 yrs old he still sleeps on his tummy.

‘People need to mind their own business – this woman is not stupid!’

A second added: ‘My 7 month old will only sleep on his front. And has done for around 2 months. He has a major startle reflex so always woke up and wouldn’t resettle. My 4 year old did the same. 

‘They’re both happy, healthy and thriving. Everyone parent their own children and leave other mums to decide what’s best for their own children. Advise yes, judge no.’

‘Just leave the poor girl alone. All three of my babies slept on their tummy and are absolutely fine, as long as they are able to lift their head. SIDs can happen to babies on their back too. So all these keyboard warriors need to back off and worry about their own lives’, a third said.

The TV and radio star, shares Thiago with Strictly professional dancer Gorka Marquez, with the couple of six years also parents to daughter Mia, four. 

Meanwhile, it comes after Gemma has insisted she is not planning on having anymore children after giving birth to her second child in July.

Just two: It comes after Gemma insisted she is not planning of having anymore children with partner Gorka Marquez after giving birth to her second child in July

Family: The couple welcomed  son Thiago in July, a little brother for Mia, four but Gemma joked ‘Two is the magic number in our house I’m not going anywhere near him [Gorka] again.’ ‘I don’t dare’

She has declared that ‘two is the magic number,’ and joked that she won’t be letting her Strictly Come Dancing star partner Gorka anywhere near her again. 

Speaking on Fleur East’s Hits Radio Breakfast Show on Thursday Gemma quipped: ‘Two is the magic number in our house I’m not going anywhere near him [Gorka] again.’

‘I don’t dare – he thrusts his hips from across the room and I’m pregnant so no more!’

Gemma went on to admit that she has found the jump from one to two kids much easier than zero to one.  

‘Everyone said your second in some ways is a lot easier and I get that now – they just slot in your routine,’ she explained. 

‘I mean there’s some days when I’ve not washed my hair for days and it’s dry shampoo and then there’s days when Thiago’s doing the school run in his baby gro and hasn’t been changed yet, but it’s organised chaos and it’s fun.’