The woman, now 20, twice told police she caused the then three-month-old's spiral fracture in her right humerus, or upper arm, bone.

It was an action, defence lawyer Mark Cronin told Albury Local Court on Monday, she decided on so the baby's father would not be charged.

"She said 'I did it', which was quite foolish. But it was to protect her partner."

He said his client's offending occurred against a background of cannabis addiction.

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Mr Cronin told magistrate Richard Funston that in her favour was her recent completion of a full-time drug rehabilitation program at Wagga.

"She's had an unfortunate life; her closest relative is her grandfather," he said.

Mr Cronin said the woman, who cannot be identified, was no longer with the child's father and had no interest in protecting him.

She pleaded guilty on Monday to two charges of knowingly making a false or misleading statement.

In a third interview with police, she said it was he who broke the baby's arm.

The 28-year-old was jailed for two years for recklessly causing grievous bodily harm, across two incidents.

PREVIOUSLY: Lavington man lashed-out in 'frustration'

On March 2, he put the baby down on a mattress before reaching down with one hand and grabbing hold of her elbow.

He pulled the baby onto his chest, causing her to cry in pain before throwing her to her mother.

The next day, on failing to get the baby to settle, he placed her on their mattress between his partner and her bassinet.

She kept crying so he reached over his sleeping partner, grabbed the baby by the elbow, lifted her up off her back and on to his chest in a twisting motion.

Mr Cronin said the woman was "quite proud" of going 116 days without cannabis and hoped to regain custody of her daughter.

"It's not going to happen immediately; it's going to take some period of time."

The woman was placed on a 12-month conditional release order.