Celtic wag Helen Flanagan has hit back at trolls after being shamed for her mothering methods.
The Coronation Street star was called a 'f*****g idiot' and 'absolute fruitloop' after revealing she has started weaning her youngest daughter, Delilah, at just under five months.
Helen, 28, who is married to Celtic's Scott Sinclair, also mum to Matilda, three.
The actor shared a picture of her baby girl on Instagram with the tagline, 'We are weaning'.
She continued: "Matilda would never ever take a spoon from me and had absolutely no interest in food until way past she was one-year -old, she only had interest in milk.
"Weaning used to really stress me out.
"I always said with my second baby I’d start earlier with weaning just to get them used to it.
"Delilah loves her food and the spoon so I’m so relieved and it’s so cute.
"I’m going to make my own baby food too.
"I really feel like each baby is different, Delilah is five months next week and she seems really ready and really enjoying it."
The post received a mixed reaction with dozens of followers hitting out at the mum-of-two criticising her for weaning at this early stage.
On Instagram socialhangouts_579 wrote: "So, she’s sitting up unaided then?
"Can hold her own yes?
"Doesn’t really look like it.
"Really disappointing to see you’re advocating early weaning.
"Being a mother doesn’t come ahead of the advice and fact from professionals."
Also on Instagram sharnic13 added: "Very early to wean!?"
Cinnamann posted: "Will you be doing baby led weaning with Delilah?
"If yes then ditch the purees cause that’s starting off not teaching her how to chew.
Beckylou.matt commented: "Your kids will pay the price of early weaning in their later life."
Corraerobinson.xo posted: "F*****g idiot.
"Guidelines aren’t there for the bants, hun.
"Your baby will have problems if weaned early you absolute fruit loop."
Later that day the soap star posted a follow up photo on Instagram defending her decision.
Helen claimed 'every baby is different' and urged her followers to lay off on the 'mum shaming'.
She wrote: "So this morning I posted about weaning my baby girl at nearly five months and I got quite a lot of negative comments.
"I’m not an expert but I do think each baby is different.
"Delilah is loving little baby fruit purées and is really interested.
"I’m only giving her little licks of the spoon not the whole packet and on the baby packages it says from four months onwards
"No mum shaming please that I didn’t boil the fruit.
"I am still feeding her myself and will do as long as she needs."
"I breastfeed and my toddler is still in my bed.
"What works for me won’t work for someone else.
"It doesn’t make you a better mum whatever your choice of feeding.
"I do think as Mums we’re all in it together, we should support each other, it’s not a competition.
"We’re all just trying our best really.
"No one is perfect and we should uplift each other as women as it’s the best job but not always the easiest."
Following the second heartfelt post, fans came to the defence of the actress.
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