The world's silliest mum?

Menna Pritchard scales a rock-face with her daughter Ffion, 2, strapped to her back. Photo / Supplied

A mother has defended her decision to scale a cliff face with her 2-year-old daughter strapped to her back without a helmet.

Menna Pritchard came under fire after posting the photograph of her climbing the rock-face at Three Cliffs Bay in Wales with her toddler, Ffion.

Although Ms Pritchard, 26, and her fellow climber were wearing safety helmets, Ffion had no head protection.

One woman commented on the Daily Mail's website: "It's her choice to take risks but who is she to make that choice for her child?

"As if it's some kind of property she can take a chance on damaging."

Ms Pritchard told the newspaper: "I can appreciate if you didn't realise how safe the environment I was in, it could be worrying, but I was top-roping which means if you fall you don't fall any further than where you came off.

"It is the safest form of climbing you can do." Life is all about risks, whether that's something as simple as getting in your car every day or climbing up a rock face."

Ffion was only 4 months old when Ms Pritchard carried her up the highest peak in South Wales, Pen y Fan.

- Staff reporter