Best parenting tip you ever got?

I haven’t read through the whole thread so I apologise if someone has already given this one- do not reduce normal house noise in order for your baby to sleep or you will be walking on eggshells for the next however many years because they can’t sleep in anything but silence. My sister did this and it caused her a nightmare. I carried on as normal and my kids sleep through anything.

The double layer bed sheets / waterproof pad for us too.

And... buy jelly shoes / crocs to put on your child when potty training. A quick rinse / dry and they are fine.

No one ever asks them at a job interview if they were breast fed!

My Grandma

“Don’t come to me for advice, it was 50 years ago that I had a baby.”

I always hated the soundt of kids whinging "but you promiiiised!" urgh
vowed to never be in that situation.

So I've always told mine: "The only thing I promise you is that I'll always love you. Everything else is a plan"

I'd add, celebrate the "firsts" because you'll never know when the "Lasts" are going to happen. Well, last days at school etc you do, but you'll never know the last day they slip their hand in yours to cross the road, when they'll want to read in bed by themselves rather than curled on your knee, when they won't want pushed on the swings anymore. All these things are good things as it shows you are doing your job and they are gaining independence, but those are the things you'll miss.

"Do you know any adults who can't support their own head?" From a fab play worker at my local Surestart when I was having major wobbles over how my baby hated tummy time so wouldn't develop properly.. 😂

put a comfy bed for you in the baby's room!

Just let them watch YouTube.

Have a comfortable chair in the baby's room once it isn't in your room (6 months?) and always go to them, don't let them get used to coming to you

One for parents of teenagers, tell them that you will never be angry if they’re honest and open with you, lying will get them in a lot more trouble.

I told mine that we all make mistakes in life and that usually adults are better able to help sort things out or are good at just sharing the pain and that there were very few things in life that weren't made better by sharing them with someone who loves you.

This was after DS2 did something silly at school (he was with a group who were vaping and set off the fire alarm) DS was about 16 and had never been in trouble at school before. The deputy head called me and told me that he was so upset he was crying, he called DS1 in to help and his advice was that he didn't need to cry and that me and DH would understand.

Anyway, he was still upset when i picked him up but he didn't know i 'd been called by school. It all came out and he was told the above. I'm generally a fairly strict parent but genuinely enjoyed the teenage years the best. That was the worst thing he's been caught up in though he has come to me a couple of times when he's had a problem and I think meeting it with non judgmental help is key. He's still only 19 but he's learning to be a grown up I'm proud of.

I would also say record their voices when they are 2-4 years old. We took lots of pictures of them but hardly any audio. When I look at the pictures I think 'hmm yeah its them, they were bonnie etc'. But when I watch back the few clips we have of them saying something I feel such an immense connection to them again. I can appreciate them now when I just didn't have time to realise what an incredible little quirky human they were. I didn't enjoy them enough as it was just such hard work and I never saw an end to it. I never thought they'd not be like that forever and then suddenly they are big and I didn't take the time I needed when they were little.

Another 'ignore the people who say to get your baby to sleep through noise' - they just had heavy sleepers. My 2.5yo wakes up if the floor board squeaks, but I'm a light sleeper too. I don't think any amount of playing the radio and doing the hoovering could have changed how he is.

Every baby is different, what one parent swears by won't work for others. My son bossed potty training with no chocolate buttons, for example, but it will work for some children.

The first six weeks were very long, secondary school, whizzes by.

Depends who it is @ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba . sometimes someone says something good.

'Long days, short years.'

Best advice I ever had. The days when they are little are interminable. But suddenly, they;ll be finishing primary, then onto secondary..

You young 'uns may poo-poo this advice. But as the parent of 2 teenagers, it is so true. The years go by in the blink of an eye...

@BlackeyedSusan

I often skip the listen bit and jump to doing as I damn well please 🤣

Another one from me from a superwoman nurse I worked with many years ago. She had 5 children and a foster child- mostly teens. Her advice was to give young children lots of opportunities to try different sports. By the time they're a teenager they will hopefully continue at least one sport. Superwoman nurse assured me the regular sport would wear them out and keep them occupied, leaving less time for aimless hanging around and getting into mischief. She was right! Only problem is when a pandemic hits, sport is cancelled and your usually active teen is totally lost without the routine and activity.

Don't focus on the kids beds with waterproof/spare sheets...
DO yours too!

Where do you think your baby will spend the rest of the night when they are poorly, and likely to be sick again? Your king-size mattress....

Don’t sweat the small stuff

Listen to the advice you are given, then do what you damn well like.

IE the advice may work for one child but maybe not yours or your family because everyone is different and different priorities lifestyles, abilities, character, energy, disability, illness etc.

Also: you only need to be a good enough mum. No-ones perfect.

Comparison is the thief of joy.