25 years of parenting wisdom from Mumsnet, in a nutshell

Let’s face it, you can read every book and take every class, but nothing truly prepares you for that moment when you walk through the front door, baby in arms, and realise this tiny human is now your responsibility.

Parenthood will have you feeling like you’re completing an ultra marathon before you’ve taken your first steps. The rush of hormones and sleepless nights can also have a big impact, not to mention the common fear that you’re doing it all wrong.

That's where the power of shared parenting wisdom comes on our Talk boards. Real parents talking about real things. Embracing the happy moments and battling through the tough ones together. Not to mention sharing the helpful hacks they've picked up along the way.

Today we’re shining a spotlight on the clever ways parents are trying to get one step ahead of sickness, especially as winter typically spells cough season. Because sometimes, it's the small things - the everyday tips and tricks - that make the biggest difference when it matters most.

How to tackle sleepless nights

They warn you about the lack of sleep, but it’s hard to imagine until you’re in the thick of it. Some people are lucky to have babies who sleep in blocks, while others might have a baby who refuses to sleep anywhere but in their arms, or a frequent waker who stirs every ten minutes or so. 

Sleep is so important for our physical and mental health, and there’s plenty of ways Mumsnet users have turned things around for the better. Sleep training, for instance, can be a divisive topic, but there are many approaches you can take.

“I did ‘vanishing chair’ when my DS was about 7 months old,” oreopanda said in a thread. “I’m not going to lie, the first two nights of not picking him up were awful, but we sat by his side for hours comforting him and supporting him and now he sleeps in his cot for 10 hours at a time.” 

“We did [the] Ferber method and it worked within three nights when [our] baby was five months old,” BarbaricPeach said in another thread. “Sleep training means we know when he does cry out now, there’s genuinely something wrong. Him having great uninterrupted night sleep and naps has been so beneficial for him and me.”

For others, it’s all about the bedtime routine. 

“Not too early [for] bedtime (but not [too] late)?” FTMbg said. “Try playing the same soothing music and patting a heartbeat on their bum as they drift off every bedtime then use it in the night to get them back to sleep? 

“Ask them what the matter is- cold, hungry, thirsty, need a wee, sore teeth/tummy/poorly, scared of [the] dark, want cuddles (provide a teddy), want to play (no, sleep first, play in the morning).”

Sleep is so important for our physical and mental health, as well as children’s

How to deal with fussy eaters

Weaning can be a joyful milestone for parents, but introducing solid foods often marks the beginning of a challenging battle of wills. Some children eagerly explore new flavours, while others prefer sticking to familiar favourites, and some seem to change their preferences by the day.

“I found some success with my picky eater by letting him put his 'new' food on cocktail sticks,” thenightsaredrawingin said. 

“Feed her the safe food,” Watercolourpapier advised another struggling parent. “Alongside that, serve meals family style and let her try things that everyone else is having if she wants to. 

“Don't make a fuss about it. Let her serve herself and discover the food. Take all the pressure off. Get her involved in preparing the food for the family as well so she can touch it and explore it without the pressure of eating it.”

How to survive cold and flu season

While the arrival of autumn brings a festive feel, it also brings the season of colds and flu. At this time of year, the best hacks combine prevention and preparation. 

Many Mumsnetters have their own remedies for getting ahead, with longlostauthor suggesting a humidifier, while roseheartfly insists a vapour plug-in changed their lives.

A lot of our users also suggested Broncho Junior, which is a cough syrup for children aged three years and above. Made with natural honey and marshmallow extract, it works to create a protective balm for the throat, which provides relief for dry and chesty coughs. 

“A humid room and Bronchostop is the only thing which helps here,” LazyYogi added, while greenbirdsong wrote: “I tried about 10 different cough mixtures out of shear desperation and found the Broncho Junior cough syrup the only one that seemed to do something.”

How can I prepare my family for the cold and flu season?

While colds are highly contagious and therefore sometimes inevitable, it can be effective to build up your little one’s immunity. You may want to consider a child-friendly multivitamin, but it’s also important to ensure they are getting a varied diet that’s rich in vitamins and nutrients. 

Fruits and vegetables, along with meats, fish, beans, and probiotics like yoghurt, are great for supporting your child's immune system and overall health.

“They need protein and vitamin c from food and vitamin D from vitamins and sunshine,” foghead said. “Lots of activity and fresh air."

Good hygiene is also key, such as handwashing and using tissues for sneezes. 

“Make sure everyone washes their hands as soon as they walk into the house, before touching anything,” SnowdaySewday said. “It’s possible that some of it is due to the adults bringing in bugs they are immune to but the children are not.”

How to tame toddler tantrums

Toddler tantrums are a normal part of development, but that doesn’t make them any easier to handle in the moment.

Some parents believe the best approach is to allow children some space, with FredInYourHead explaining: “When she's calmed down she usually comes over for a cuddle. I tell her I'm only friends with people who are nice. Seems to work.”

“I found an ‘ok, I'll be over here when you want a hug’ approach worked pretty well,” Soapnotshowergel added. “DD1 just seemed to need to get it out of her system and then would calm down pretty quickly!”

Other parents found more success in acknowledging their child’s feelings. “I try to get down on her level and let her know that it’s okay to feel cross/sad etc,” Alitlebitsleepy said. “I prefer not to ignore as I think young children need to be shown that we’re here for them even when they’re struggling with their big feelings.”

“We make sure she's safe, acknowledge the emotion she's feeling and that it's hard, try and stay calm and wait it out,” Potplant19 added. “We try and talk about it very soon after, once she's calmed down, and what we'll do differently. We've made a point of talking about other angry characters in books etc, what they're doing to help etc.”

“Work on naming emotions when she’s in a good mood,” Paturday suggested. “Debriefing after a tantrum helped my kids (‘you were frustrated because XYZ’).”

Tantrums are a normal part of development but that doesn’t make them easy to navigate

How to blitz household mess

Keeping up with household chores can be a real challenge, especially when you’re raising young children. With all the chaos and clutter they bring, it’s easy for your home to start feeling overwhelmed by stuff.

“The fewer toys the better,” kingofthehedgehogs insisted. “Seriously.”

“Put most of the toys away and rotate the ones which are 'out'” catsnore said. “Remove as much clutter from the house as possible.”

“I pick up after myself as much as possible, and everything has a home,” Speedweed said, while PuffinLord added: “Do a quick clean/reset every day, and then deep clean/organise different areas on a rota when you have time.”

About Broncho Cough Syrups

Broncho offers a range of cough syrups that help the whole family when they are suffering with either dry or chesty coughs. The range starts with Broncho Junior, a children's cough syrup suitable for ages 3+ which has a strawberry flavour and is made with natural honey and marshmallow dry extract. For children 12+ and adults, there is the choice of Bronchostop, a traditional herbal medicine which relieves any cough*, or Broncho 5in1 Multi-Symptom Action Syrup which provides multi-symptom relief for any cough and sore throat^.

About the author

Kat Romero is a writer and journalist with over a decade’s experience in the industry. As a working mum of a toddler, she knows all too well how preparedness can help navigate cold and flu season. Away from her desk, Kat can be found consuming far too much coffee and spending her weekends with her toddler and partner - soaking up the sights of London and sampling anything new and exciting that has opened up within walking distance.

*Buttercup Bronchostop Cough Syrup. A traditional herbal medicinal product for use in the relief of coughs, such as chesty coughs and dry, tickly, irritating coughs and catarrh, exclusively based upon long-standing use as a traditional remedy. Always read the leaflet.

^associated with a cold. Broncho 5in1 Multi-Symptom Action Syrup is a medical device used for the relief of any cough (dry & chesty) associated with a cold, as well as sore throat due to common cold, associated hoarseness and dryness of the throat. Not recommended for children under 12 years. Always read the Instructions for Use.

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