Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

Original poster

Mumsnet needs your best parenting tips!

213 replies

Justine (mumsnet) · 21/10/2004 14:36

As part of the publicity for our forthcoming TV extravaganza - Mums the Word on Discovery Health (due on Nov 8th) - we are putting together a piece for the Guardian on mums' the top tips/ advice/ mantras from the parenting front line. It's supposed to be fairly light-hearted and witty - which is where you come in - and can be anything from something you wish you'd known much earlier to a really practical solution to an everyday parenting problem that you never would have dreamed would have worked before you'd tried it. The idea is to be a bit more colourful/ amusing than our usual daily tip on the home page so feel free to embellish a bit and use anecdotes. Many thanks in advance - can't wait to see them.

OP posts:
hmb · 22/10/2004 16:51

Before you have kids luxury is a swish meal out, a day in a spa, of designer clothes.

After kids luxury is having a bowel movement without someone shouting 'muuuuummmy' through the bathroom door. Sigh.

Spod · 22/10/2004 16:50

I cant think of a single person that i have talked to in the last six months with whom i havent talked about poo.... how they hell does that happen?

Spod · 22/10/2004 16:49

never try and write a literature review for your phd supervisor at the same time as contributing to this thread.... there is no way to explain how the words 'nipple' and 'breast' relate to the topic area.... oh god that was close

Twiglett · 22/10/2004 16:47

that can last for hours

Twiglett · 22/10/2004 16:47

You won't believe it but poo can become an enjoyable lunchtime conversation

nasa · 22/10/2004 16:47

at those spod

Spod · 22/10/2004 16:45

sometimes the highlight of your day will be opening a new box of nappy sacks to discover that they are a differnt coulour to the normal ones. you will then subconsciously debate which you prefer.....

Spod · 22/10/2004 16:44

don't let dh watch you express milk with a pump... he will either be amazed at the shape of your contorted nipple and want a closer look or be horrified... either of which will detract from the concentration you need to express effectively and permanently alter your sex life.

mrsflowerpot · 22/10/2004 16:42

The male incapacity to keep hands and willies apart starts at a distressingly young age.

You will start to find leftover fishfingers irresistable and they will make you fat.

Yorkiegirl · 22/10/2004 16:40

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 22/10/2004 16:39

yoda-spod

ladymuck · 22/10/2004 16:37

It's perfectly OK to have a glass of wine at 6:00pm - 5:30pm if the dc's are being particularly obnoxious.

It's never too early to get dc's to start clearly up after themselves (ie toys back in box, plates and bowls taken to sink etc) but would advise against letting them change their own nappy until they are old enough to ensure that it is "just wet". IME this is not until they are over 2.

Spod · 22/10/2004 16:31

ha haha lou33... i never encountered that response!!!!! just for the record, theres no way i would let a complete stranger latch on! or anyone else, just to get that straight!!!!! And yes, I did actually say that to someone, after weeks of being stared at, I was fed up and hormonal and its not as if my boobs were that attractive at the time... although MASSIVE THEY WERE!!!

pixiefish · 22/10/2004 16:00
Grin
lou33 · 22/10/2004 15:57

Spod, what if they said yes please?

pixiefish · 22/10/2004 15:54

the breastfeeding one not the ice cube trays

pixiefish · 22/10/2004 15:54

Spod- you didn't did you???

Spod · 22/10/2004 15:53

buy ice cube trays for weaning

MistressMary · 22/10/2004 15:52

Hoovers, hairdryers, car journeys are good for inducing sleep in small babies, not so good for parents at 3 in the am. [ wink]

Baby wipes are brilliant for cleaning in general. Keep a packet handy in all rooms.

When breastfeeding, make sure your other nipple has sufficient padding, unless you like the wet t-shirt affect.

Spod · 22/10/2004 15:26

if breastfeeding, keep baby's fingernails short... they pinch.

if stared at whilst breastfeeding in public, offer you other boob to the person staring.. 'want some?'. they will stop staring.

Pagan · 22/10/2004 15:19

The addage that 'Mother knows best' is true and remember that you are the mother and no-one knows your child like you will.

Also - don't buy a huge pram with all the gubbins. I got by on a car seat that clipped into a chassis until DD was 9 months then switched to the cheapest lightest buggy I could find.

Of course if you have twins then .....

Blackduck · 22/10/2004 14:56

following on from that one - no bib is ever big enough...

cab · 22/10/2004 14:54

Take all their clothes off at meal times when they start to feed themselves and have a straw handy to suck out peas shoved up nostrils.

pixiefish · 22/10/2004 14:47

So that mad womna was you was it prefer not

prefernot · 22/10/2004 14:45

Remember that having the anarchism of a toddler to hide behind gives you a perfect free rein to do all those things in public you only ever dreamed about ... I performed Baa Baa Black Sheep in a pretty good soprano while standing on one leg on a bollard outside Tate Modern this week. Last week I did my rap version of Rock-a-bye-baby lying on the floor of the British Museum Great Hall.

Alas, I'm still waiting to be discovered ...