'It's special having them there' Helen Flanagan defends co-sleeping comments

Corrie actress Helen Flanagan has defended her decision to share a bed with her daughter Matilda when she was a baby.

Helen opened up about the subject in a recent interview with The Sun, recalling the time when she sparked a huge parenting debate on social media last June by admitting she was sharing a bed with the little girl.

She said at the time: 'I'm still sleeping with her - I'll stop when she reaches one. I want to get her into a better routine and she won't go into a cot. I know that's probably my fault.'

However, over a year after making the statement, which was even discussed on ITV's This Morning, Helen says that she's still sleeping with Matilda.

She told The Sun: 'They're not young forever and it's quite special having them there. [I'll stop when] she gets bigger and is kicking me in the night.'

'When I haven't seen Scott for ages we obviously go to sleep together and I put her in her cot.'

More: Safe co-sleeping for you and your baby

After returning to her role on Coronation Street as Rosie Webster after a 5 year hiatus, Helen added that she is no stranger to feeling guilt as a working mother. With boyfriend of eight years and dad to Matilda, Scott Sinclair, staying at their home in Scotland whilst playing for Celtic F.C, Matilda is left in the care of Helen's own mother whilst she is filming the soap.

'I felt a bit guilty, asking if I was a bad mum for going to work and doing this for myself,' she explained to the paper. 'But that's silly. If you're happy, it reflects on your child and they're happy. And Matilda is happy. Everything is tiring but it's so worth it.'

Helen also revealed that she takes a lenient approach to parenting, with Scott accusing her of being too soft on their daughter during the working week. At weekends, they drive back to Scotland to spend time together as a family.

'I'm not strict at all. Scott says she has me wrapped round her finger, but she's my little princess and I adore her, so I don't mind.'

'Scott's really understanding – he knew going back to work would make me happy and that it's important for me to have Matilda most of the time. I would find it too difficult to work if I couldn't see Matilda when I got home.'