what have you found most helpful?

[Angel554]

Asa new parent where so you go for help and advice other than here on mumsnet. What has been the best tip you've been given, or what would be your best tip to me as an nervous, expectant mum?

Hello. IME, the most helpful thing I did was go to an NCT class. Not so much for the advice, but for the network of people I met. None of our friends had babies at that time, and we had no family locally. The support that I got from this network was invaluable. If you cannot afford NCT, then the NHS run classes as well. These classes are not for everyone - I didn't think they would be for me - but they were the best money we spent.

I am not one for routines, but the most useful book I bought was called something like Your Baby Week by Week. This told me what to expect in terms of number of feeds, number of dirty nappies and gave you tips if you do want to introduce routines once your baby is ready. I didn't read any other books and haven't done since. Have used the internet a lot though.

If breastfeeding is important to you, make sure you not only learn about latch etc but also do some reading about real life experiences of feeding. You need to go in with your eyes open in terms of what it can mean timewise in those first few weeks especially. When you seem to be feeding constantly in the first days, it can be easy to think you are failing when it can actually mean it is all going very well! I would also make sure you know where to get support for feeding and keep those contact details handy. I am new to mumsnet but there seem to be some very knowledgeable posters on the feeding forum and the advice I have seen has been great so definitely use the forum.

Hope that helps and hope you get some other useful tips.

Good luck!

If stuck I find my mum can be very practical in a crisis. My best friend breeds/trains dogs and raises children in a very no-messing way. She's marvellous on disicpline matters. 'Sit DS!! Si-t!'

Best tip... 'put him down'. Lovely as they are to cuddle all the time and much as you want to leap to attention every time they so much as fart, it is a lot easier on the nerves to pop them in a nice moses basket, forget about them for a while and have a

Thanks so much, really appreciate you taking the time!

I have looked on many websites for information, but i want honest answers. I know most answers on MN are very honest being as they come directly from mums. But of course everyones experiences are different.I feel like i need someone who can be empathetic who is trained or well informed.

You'll find some good tips here

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childbirth/a1403542-best-bit-of-advice-for-a-very-soon-to-be-first-time-mum

good luck!

When they're napping don't creep around. Make noise like normal otherwise you'll soon find they'll only sleep in absolute silence and you'll be sentenced to creeping and talking in whispers!

Get them napping in their cots/Moses basket early on. Have a friend whose LO will now only sleep whilst in her pram. My poor friend leaves the house at 9am every morning and just walks and walks. Great for getting back in shape I guess but crazy!

If you are bf (which if you want to/can is really wonderful) then don't worry about doing it in public. Once you get the hang of it it's so easy and honestly, noone has said anything negative to me, or stared at me etc. In fact quite the opposite.

Babies cry! I used to get flustered when DD set off and was worried about her crying in cafes, restaurants etc. Your own babies cry is set at a pitch to get your instant attention, most of the time it's not as irritating to others as you worry it is!!

Sleep when they sleep in the early days.

It's ok to spend the occasional day in your pyjamas or not have a shower until 3pm!! But if you can get up and get washed and dressed early then I found this made me feel much better about myself and the day ahead. Bonus points if you to blow-dry your hair and get some mascara on .

Get out of the house at least once a day.

Don't be lulled into a false sense of security! The first two weeks for me were really easy. I remember thinking 'this parenting malarky is a breeze'. She just feeds and sleeps. Wonderful! Then at wk 3, colic set in and my god, how things changed! Weeks 3-6 were the hardest for me, tiredness wise. I think the first two weeks I was getting by on adrenalin but that soon wore off! DD is 8mo now and is still keeping me on my toes. Just when you think you've got it Sussex with a nice little routine, they throw you a curve ball and it's all up in the air again.

That being said...I wouldn't have it any other way! You are about to do the most amazing 'job' ever. It's hard work but totally wonderful. DD amazes me every day and I still get emotional when I look at her sometimes. Still can't believe she's mine! Good luck...and enjoy!

Sussex??? ... sussed!