Gemma Atkinson has hit back at a parenting expert after being slammed for pinching her one-year-old son.
The former soap star, 39, also slated the BBC for not renewing her CBeebies show during a late-night rant on her Instagram Stories.
MailOnline revealed on Tuesday Gemma had told her two million followers she had pinched Thiago, one, in retribution for the tot doing likewise to her five-year-old daughter Mia.
Her actions were criticised by Jo Studholme, editor of Parenting Expert, who told MailOnline: ‘Pinching a child back as a form of punishment is not only ineffective but can also be harmful.
Gemma Atkinson, 39, (pictured) has been criticised by a parenting expert after posting that she pinched her one-year-old young son when he did it to his four-year-old sisterÂ
Gemma Atkinson has hit back at a parenting expert after being slammed for pinching her son
‘It teaches children that violence is an acceptable way to resolve conflict.
‘Instead, try using positive discipline techniques such as time-outs, loss of privileges, or talking calmly to the child about their behaviour.’
But last night, Gemma hit back, saying: ‘Thiago is going through that phase where he’s nipping and biting.
‘I said he really nipped Mia the other day so I went like this back to him (gesturing pinching), and said ‘Aye, we don’t nip.’
‘I didn’t ‘uuur’ (insinuating pain while pretending to pinch her own arm), as if I would?’
Gemma revealed her disappointment over CBeebies show The Toddler Club being axed.
The former Strictly star, who met partner Gorka Márquez, 34 – the father of her two children – on the 2017 series of the BBC juggernaut, interacted with mums and their young children, reading stories, dancing and singing songs on the show before it was canned by bosses.
She said: ‘It wasn’t renewed, the show, it should have been because it was bloody marvellous.
‘But everything got removed to digital so they didn’t renew it.’
Gemma Atkinson at Hey Duggee CBeebies The Live Theatre Show at The Lowry Theatre
She added: ‘It’s still being shown on TV which is great.’
The former Hollyoaks and Emmerdale star, who also featured in a reality show with Gorka and the pair’s two kids on the W Channel, posted her original message on Instagram Stories to highlight the behavioural differences between her children.
The post read: ‘Really noticing the differences in how Mia was to Thiago.
‘It’s fun to watch. Toys are just banged or slid across the floor and the tantrums are new as Mia didn’t have them.
‘He pretend cries and throws himself on the floor.
‘I stand and watch until he realises it’s getting him nowhere and they are slowly getting shorter.’
On the pinching, she adds: ‘He pinches when he gets frustrated.
‘I did it back to him on Wednesday as he did it hard to Mia. He’s not done it since.’
Gemma regularly shares her ups and downs of parenting life on social media.
Last March she revealed Thiago had picked up an ‘ear infection’, while in December last year she hit back at mum-shamers accusing her of ‘spreading misinformation’ for weaning her son when he was just four months-old.
Gemma, 39, hosts a show called The Toddler Club on CBeebies and recorded a reality series on the W ChannelÂ
She wrote: ‘That’s why I always say ppl should do their own research.
‘I spoke with a private baby physio who told me that the sitting up with no support is down to a baby’s weight & size, not food related at all, hence why they all do it at different stages.’
Gemma, who also hosts a show on Hits Radio, also responded to criticism by social media users after discussing daughter Mia’s love of CrossFit, when she was just two years-old.
She wrote: ‘I received this message about Mia loving CrossFit and the ‘should be watching kids’ programmes’ baffled me a little.’
‘One of our friends is one of the best CrossFit athletes in the world and whenever she stays with us, Mia has looked at her in awe of her physical strength, her capabilities in regards to gymnastics etc…’
Gemma added: ‘We also go for ice creams and have pizza every weekend and pick’n’mix at the cinema. Fab lollies after tea and pancakes on Sundays.
‘I am personally very happy that Mia loves sports and that she has strong role models and she CHOOSES to watch the games.
‘I am sick of watching it to be honest.’