Ofcom has said it was wrong for Channel 4 to imply that the celebrity nanny Claire Verity, 42, possessed professional qualifications backed by training, and that she was accountable to a professional body.

However, Ofcom concluded that the programmes were not materially misleading about her professional status. It found “no evidence to suggest that a maternity nurse must have a qualification”. It found “no evidence to suggest that due care was not taken over the physical and emotional welfare of the children, or that they were caused unnecessary distress or anxiety”. The watchdog received 752 complaints over the series Bringing up Baby in which Ms Verity advocated strict routines, including leaving babies to cry and leaving babies outside “to air”. The NSPCC called for children under the age of 5 to be banned from reality shows as a result.

Channel 4 is conducting its own investigation into Ms Verity’s qualifications after a Timesinvestigation found that awarding bodies from which she claimed to have various diplomas said that they had no record of her.

Ofcom examined viewer complaints over the description of Ms Verity as a “maternity nurse”. It ruled: “Where there is the potential for harm, broadcasters should be careful when using terms which may imply participants have medical qualifications or other professional status. They need to take into account the potential risk of viewers giving more weight to the opinions of such people.”

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