Tips for Kate: which invaluable piece of new-mum advice would you pass on? Please share it here, or Tweet to #tips4kate

[HelenMumsnet]

So, the royal baby has finally arrived ? congrats, Will and Kate!

Anyone with even moderately republican leanings should probably look away now ? and, by look away, we mean from everything: internet, telly, newspapers, billboards, the works. The next few weeks are set fair to be a veritable fiesta of regality.

Which is ironic, in a way, because there are surely few experiences more levelling than that of giving birth and its immediate aftermath. No matter how much money you have, or how many attendants dancing errm attendance, at the end of the day, it's just you and your baby.

With that in mind, let's offer a helping hand to a fellow new mother ? indeed, to all the new mothers out there. What would be the single invaluable piece of advice you'd share on the early days ? and long nights ? with a newborn?

Post it on the thread, or better yet, Tweet it with the hashtag #tips4kate. We'll make up a book of our favourites, and pass it on to her ? and we'll ensure that your suggestions are given a permanent home on the site, too.

So go on, share: what helped you through?

[GhoulWithADragonTattoo]

Congratulation William and Katherine! What wonderful news! {crown]

[DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper]

A boy! lovely! Congratulations to William nd Kate.

I will come back with some tips.

[ommmward]

Sleep when the baby does, preferably with the baby (plenty of information on the web about how to co-sleep safely).

Learn to say "yes, thank you" when people offer to help you (mind you, that's probably not going to be a big challenge for a member of the Royal family )

[Mum2toomany]

Use a wipe/cotton when changing him to save yourself getting sprayed!

[shoeprincess2]

When changing a nappy, be sure to keep the little boy bits covered once you have removed the old nappy. The cold air hits and whooosh, a puddle of wee

[cocolepew]

Set your boundaries with the MIL now

[DeathByTray]

Don't spend their childhood wishing they were at the next stage.

They grow up too quickly.

[CotherMuckingFunt]

Ignore all advice written in books and do what feels right for you and your baby.

[Pascha]

When the MIL comes to visit, don't let her sit down while you run around after her. Make sure you get her to do the washing, make tea, do a supermarket run for biscuits...

[HugAndRoll]

Make sure the willy is pointing down when you put on the new nappy to avoid him weeing out of the top of the nappy.

Just hold your baby. No rods will be made for any backs.

[lottiegarbanzo]

Get Wills to do the cutting of the fingernails. It's incredibly scary. He works in search and rescue though so should be used to high stress situations. This will test him.

[MichaelaS]

hooray, a boy!

but darn, there goes my hopes of a royal wedding of my boys.... unless the prince is gay and the royal family get VERY liberal.

as for advice... don't take anyone's advice unless you want to.

And don't let the Bounty rep in.

[LostInWales]

Why oh why do I feel the need to run to Mumsnet the minute I hear the news.

Congratulations to the new parents, my advice would be listen to MN, everything posted so far is wise.

[nenevomito]

Lansinoh if you're breastfeeding. Its the only thing that saved my boobs from ruin.

Cake is a main food group when you're recuperating.

Earplugs may not cure colic, but it makes it less painful.

Also, like so many new mothers before you, you will find yourself on the receiving end of some less then helpful advice from your mother in law. Sadly yours is the head of state so technically can she can overrule you. Be grateful that she can no longer send you to the tower, plaster a smile on your overtired face and agree with everything before ignoring it as soon as she's not there.

[dementedma]

wow, I saw it first on MN!
Take that SKY news!

[oldsilver]

I would suggest a little pot to catch the arc of wee that invariably happens the second you uncover, and make sure his royal willy not speaking about dad here always points down before you do the nappy up.

[DuelingFanjo]

Stay in bed.

[LostInWales]

And how come the OP was at 2.55? Don't you dare come all TSSDNCOP on me you hear me.

[Erebus]

Well, he'll be the youngest in his class, won't he? Hmm?

Didn't think about how that might disadvantage him, did you?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Don't forget to get your cake, drink and tele remote within arms reach before you settle down to feed your little Prince.

[lottiegarbanzo]

MIL? what?? Stop, think. Do you mean step-mother in law? (Perhaps you know perfectly well what you mean and think I'm being pedantic but I really don't think it's the same).

[SuzySheepSmellsNice]

That thing about the shoulders on babygros being designed so that do can pull them down if the baby has done a violently explosive shart a messy bowel motion and you don't get the disgusting creamy gooey mess poo in the poor baby's hair...

Bitter? Me? particularly sharty child? Never...

[overmydeadbody]

Choose your battles

Don't sweat the small stuff

Make time to just play with your baby (and keep this up as he gets older)

Be silly, have fun and enjoy your son's company

Let him get dirty and muddy when he is older.