Joe wicks shocks fans over photo with baby 20230412 p5qjan.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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This was published 3 years ago

Fitness guru Joe Wicks shocks fans over photo with his baby daughter: 'Surely a baby can't do that?'

Heidi Krause

British fitness guru Joe Wicks has left his fans stunned after posting a photo of his seven-month-old baby hanging from a pull-up bar.

The dad-of-three, and founder of the hugely popular fitness app The Body Coach, shared a series of happy snaps to his Instagram account of his recent family holiday to California in the US.

And the first photo has certainly caused quite a stir among his 4.6 million followers.

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In the image, baby Leni can be seen dressed in a white onesie and dangling from a very tall metal monkey bar at the beach. Proud dad Wicks looks on smiling underneath.

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Fitness guru Joe Wicks shocks fans over photo with his baby daughter

Fitness guru Joe Wicks shocks fans over photo with his baby daughter  Instagram

Many of his fans were shocked and concerned given how young Leni is - calling the dad out for such a 'risky' pose.

"Jesus, is the first pic photoshopped?" asked one.

"How is the first pic even possible?!" said another. "Surely a baby can't do that?"

Another chimed in with: "Is that safe for her shoulders and joints to hang onto bars supporting her own weight like that?

"Please don't do that to your baby. She would be frightened," commented a fourth, sparking a debate among Wicks' followers.

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"She doesn't look fine to me and a lot of people agree. This is cruel and would instinctually cause fear in the baby. If you think that's OK you are a cruel person."

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Joe Wicks

Joe Wicks Instagram

Others were impressed with the "super baby" and her remarkable strength - praising the dad for sharing the photo and defending him against his critics.

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"That first picture of Leni is amazing! You need to recreate that every year!" said one. "I love how you let them take risks."

"Your kids have iron man genes," commented another. "Wow Leni is strong holding on to the monkey bars, that's brilliant."

READ MORE: How to cut the cost of kid's activities

Joe Wicks' wife with baby Leni

Joe Wicks' wife with baby Leni Instagram

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Others reminded critics that the baby would not have been there for long at all.

"My babies/toddlers could all do this when they were young. It was only for a few seconds. We were there ready to catch them," said one.

"It is called the palmar grasp reflex and it is normal for babies," commented another.

A child gymnastics company, Little Gym UK, even weighed in saying: "For those questioning if it's photoshopped, our classes start at four months and babies can absolutely grasp and hang this little."

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While newborns do indeed have a grasp reflex and the grip is often 'strong enough to hold the baby's entire weight', experts do not advise picking up or swinging a baby or toddler by their arms. It can cause a common injury called Nursemaid's elbow.

Wicks shares two other children with his wife Rosie: Indie, four, and Marley, three.

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