Former Emmerdale star Gemma Atkinson has been once again praised for her honest account of parenting after admitting she doesn't follow a strict bedtime routine with her daughter Mia.
It came after the The Hits Radio host posted a video of her two-year-old daughter, whom she shares with fiancé and Strictly professional dancer Gorka Marquez, seemingly having the time of her life playing in her toy house late last night, she captioned the post "full of beans tonight".
However, the timing of the clips, which were posted gone 9pm on Monday, May 10 stirred intrigue amongst her 1.7m Instagram followers who questioned why the tot wasn't in bed.
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Never one to shy away from a controversial topic, Gemma addressed the concerns in a series of talking stories this morning where she admitted that she has never stuck to strict a bed time routine with Mia and that being flexible works for them.
The doting mum said it works quite well as she sleeps in until 8.30am meaning that Gemma can use the morning to squeeze in her work out before her parenting duties begin.
Gemma explained: "Hi guys I am just jumping on, I've had lots of messages from Mia last night, running round like a mad git bless her and people asking what time she goes to bed because obviously it was quite late.
"We don't really follow a strict routine with bed time, I know some do, I know some don't, we all do our best but for me it's just kind of if she's tired, I'm not going to try and force her to go to sleep if she's not tired because it just causes a load of havoc.
"She usually wakes up between half 7 and half 8 regardless if she goes to bed at 8 or 9, she normally starts winding down between 8 and half past, which I know for some that's really really late, I know some like it earlier but I just kind of fit her into my routine
"If I'm going out she can fall asleep on a bed on a load of coats like I used to do when I was little, she's kind of fit perfectly into our routine so that's why it works for us.
"That being said I have some mates who are like strict on the dot with their kids sleeping and that's worked perfectly for them, it's like if they're out, right 7 o'clock lets go, they go to bed and that's slotted into their routine perfect so I think whatever works for you and your family really.
"I'm quite chilled with it all, my mum was always quite chilled with us though, so I think you just do whatever works for you."
The 37-year-old went on to speak about the pressures of being told how to parent when Mia was a baby and how she feels she would be more relaxed if she was to have another baby.
She continued: "I remember being told when Mia was a baby I had to wake her up to feed and all sorts and I remember being like well she's asleep and if she's hungry she'll wake herself up won't she and she did, she always did so yeah I just whatever works for you and your little family
"But yeah Mia roughly, sometimes she will go 'Mum, I'm tired' and that's at half 7 and sometimes half 8, sometimes 9, as long as she gets her sleep and she's eating and resting I'm all good. "
Do you agree with Gemma Atkinson? Let us know in the comments below.
The TV personality followed the talking stories with an adorable throwback snap of Mia and her dad Gorka from when she was a baby, a much younger Mia looked very happy with herself as Gorka lay next to her fast asleep.
Gemma penned: "2 years ago she wasn't up for sleeping as much though, this was one morning and it was Gorka's turn to do the night feed" followed by a laughing face emoji.
She later came back on stories with an update after being inundated with messages thanking her for her honesty about Mia's lack of bed time routine.
She said: "Can I just say I've had loads of messages saying thank god it's not just me, it's not just me, I've had 100's it isn't just you or me, we're all in it together, none of us have routine, none of us know what's going on, we're all just winging it.
"Anything for an easy life, 'Mum can I have a Creme Egg at 10pm, yeah do whatever you want I'm watching Netlifx' were all winging it" she laughed.
"Pat on the back for all of us" the mum-of-one added.
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