'Come back to the modern world!' Back-to-basics mother-of-seven who believes in bed-sharing, baby-wearing and breastfeeding is blasted by This Morning viewers after saying she's a '10 out of 10 mum'

  • Mother-of-seven Anni Jones, 42, believes in 'gentle attachment parenting'
  • Follows the Bs: bed-sharing, breastfeeding on demand and baby wearing
  • But This Morning viewers have labelled her technique 'insane' today 
  • Anni claims her 'back to basics' approach makes her a 10/10 mother

A mother-of-seven has defended her parenting technique that sees her sharing the marital bed with her children and breastfeeding until they are 'ready to stop'.

Anni Jones, 42, from the Isle of Wight, was blasted by viewers after appearing on This Morning today to talk about her brand of 'gentle attachment parenting'.

Appearing alongside her husband Shaune and children Jamie, Alfie, Sam, Tiggi, Keani, Freddi and George, she insisted she was a '10 out of 10' mother. 

Anni Jones and her husband Shaune (pictured with Tiggy, two) were blasted by viewers after appearing on This Morning to talk about their brand of 'gentle attachment parenting'

Anni Jones and her husband Shaune (pictured with Tiggy, two) were blasted by viewers after appearing on This Morning to talk about their brand of 'gentle attachment parenting'

The family first hit headlines last week when Anni told TV crews how she wouldn't let her husband help with their children until they are older than two. 

She said her parenting is all about the three Bs - bed-sharing, breastfeeding on demand and bonding - so her children are close to her night and day.

She also home schools her youngest - Tiggy, two, Fred, three, Keani, nine, and Alfie, 12 - as she doesn't want to 'miss out' on their childhood by sending them to school.

Anni told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: 'It's all about the three b's - bed sharing, breastfeeding and bonding. It's about keeping the babies close to you, keeping them close, attached and nurtured.'

Anni and Shaune are parents to Jamie, Alfie, Sam, Tiggi, Keani, Freddi and George - and say their parenting is all about the three Bs - bed-sharing, breastfeeding on demand and bonding

Anni and Shaune are parents to Jamie, Alfie, Sam, Tiggi, Keani, Freddi and George - and say their parenting is all about the three Bs - bed-sharing, breastfeeding on demand and bonding

She explained how she's been inspired to research attachment parenting after taking a childcare course at college and being told to leave a baby if it's crying.

And when asked about her breastfeeding and bed-sharing habits, she said: 'It's going back to how nature intended us to be. Any other mammal would feed their baby until they're old enough to venture out on their own. 

'It's on their cue as it's an individual thing. One [baby] may be ready by two years old, another baby may not be ready until they're for five or six.'  

Twitter users were unconvinced by the Joneses' technique, with Heather taking to Twitter to write: 'Shouldn't these children experience social skills that school provides?'

Twitter users were unconvinced by the Joneses' technique, with Heather taking to Twitter to write: 'Shouldn't these children experience social skills that school provides?'

'My children have grown into strong independent happy healthy children and that's why I think I'm a strong mum.' 

But viewers were unconvinced by the Joneses' technique, with Heather tweeting: 'Shouldn't these children experience social skills that school provides?' 

KylieUttley added: 'Every mum is entitled to have some HER time & attachment parenting is insane. Come back to the modern world.'

A viewer called Stacey blasted: 'Even super nanny wouldn't be a 10/10 mother (no offence intended) @thismorning no one is 10/10.'

Tony Potts appeared to agree, writing: '@hismorning 10 out of 10 mum why aren't these children at school?'

The couple were keen to fight their corner but one viewer blasted: 'Every mum is entitled to have some HER time & attachment parenting is insane. Come back to the modern world'

The couple were keen to fight their corner but one viewer blasted: 'Every mum is entitled to have some HER time & attachment parenting is insane. Come back to the modern world'

When asked about her breastfeeding and bed-sharing habits, Anni said: 'It's going back to how nature intended us to be. Any other mammal would feed their baby until they're old enough'

When asked about her breastfeeding and bed-sharing habits, Anni said: 'It's going back to how nature intended us to be. Any other mammal would feed their baby until they're old enough'

While Harrie Hayward blasted: 'I'm surprised Anni Jones didn't get a potty out and let her child poo live on TV.'

Meanwhile, an incredulous Phillip asked Shaune: 'It's quite neanderthal, isn't it, nurturing at home in the nest with the "cubs". You're the hunter-gatherer, but you're not really involved until after the age of two?'

Shaune replied: 'I still change nappies and give them cuddles and that, but Anni wont go out of the house and leave the children with someone else.'

He added: 'It lets me able to go surfing a lot!' 

Appearing on a documentary last week, Anni insisted she doesn't find this relentless mothering stressful and doesn't have time for parenting gurus who encourage mothers to have regular 'me time' or share the load with their spouse.

Anni Jones and her husband Shaune with their seven children, from left, Jamie, Alfie, Sam, Tiggi, Keani, Freddi and George. She believes in 'gentle attachment parenting'

Anni Jones and her husband Shaune with their seven children, from left, Jamie, Alfie, Sam, Tiggi, Keani, Freddi and George. She believes in 'gentle attachment parenting'

'I love it. I love being with them 24/7 that is how I thrive,' Anni said. 'I have an issue with making life easier for the mother. It is not attending to the child's needs.'

Anni shared her parenting technique on BBC documentary Anne Robinson's Britain, as the presenter investigates the differing approaches UK residents take to parenting in 21st-century Britain.

Anni believes her way is the best, ranking herself '10 out of 10' as a mother. 

'I would describe myself as gentle attachment parenting. It is how nature intended it to be, to keep that baby close, to keep away predators, to feed your baby yourself,' she explained to Anne.

'A lot of people think it is hippy, new age parenting but it is going back to basics without all the commercialised paraphernalia that goes with it.'

Anni shares her parenting techniques with presenter Anne Robinson, left, on her new show. She said she is a' 10/10' mother because she tends to her children's needs night and day

Anni shares her parenting techniques with presenter Anne Robinson, left, on her new show. She said she is a' 10/10' mother because she tends to her children's needs night and day

Anni said in order to bond with her babies, their father Shaune's access is from 'a far' until they reach the age of two. He said he is happy with with the set up.

'I don't feel shut out. Babies are babies, they lay there and need feeding so I can't do too much,' he said. 

When asked what she would have done if Shaune had asked for a greater role when his children were young, Anni said it was her way or the highway - as she has to put her children ahead of her husband. 

 I get to watch then grow and develop and know that it is not some teacher who gets to spend all their childhood with them
Anni on why she home schools 

'I am a strong enough person I would have done it anyway. If he didn't behave I would kick him into touch,' she said. 'The children are definitely more important than Shaune.'

As a result, Shaune admitted they only recently has their first meal alone together in nine years. 

Anni allowed Annie to witness one of the lessons she gave to her children where she tried to teach the elder two Maths while trying to wrestle pens off her youngest.

She said she loves being able to spend extra time with them by being their teacher.  

Anne, pictured with her daughter Emma, said many of the parents she has met filming her new show have baffled her as, in her day, there were 'no poo charts" and Mandarin lessons'

Anne, pictured with her daughter Emma, said many of the parents she has met filming her new show have baffled her as, in her day, there were 'no poo charts" and Mandarin lessons'

'I get to watch then grow and develop and know that it is not some teacher who gets to spend all their childhood with them,' she said.

Despite admiring Anni's patience and dedication, Anne wondered if her children were missing out on the 'rough and tumble if coping with classmates' by being home schooled.

The presenter was also left baffled by some of the other mothers she met filming the show who run their households like military operations.

The 72-year-old mother, whose daughter is Emma is now 46, said things has changed since her day.  

She told The Sun: 'There never used to be "poo charts" and Mandarin lessons and extra maths and all the rest of it. I just watch the latest generation of mothers and think, "Does it have to be this hard?"'

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