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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:
fiorocious · 21/10/2004 14:39

Do not drink too much and forget contraception. Easy.

Bunglie · 21/10/2004 14:40

I vote for the 'Pasta Jar'

SoupDragon · 21/10/2004 14:43

It is possible for a one year old to get stuck in a cat flap. You may think it?s not big enough but I can assure you it is! You will then suffer the dilemma as to whether to free your child or get the camera...

emmatmg · 21/10/2004 14:54

and following on from soupy's-

leave wellies outside dogflap, upside down(to avoid filling with rain) so that a 2 yr old and 4 yr old can climb out at 7am without unlocking the door!

One yar on a 3 and 5 yr old maybe too big to do this so tell 5 yr old us the key

KBear · 21/10/2004 15:00

My advice is "listen to everyone's advice, pick out the best bits, ignore the rest and bring your child up how YOU want without feeling guilty where possible!".

I am still trying to do this!!

Bunglie · 21/10/2004 15:10

But what about the 'Pasta Jar'?

It works well for dh's and children alike....I love it

Whose idea was it...Cody???

motherinferior · 21/10/2004 15:16

There is a thread of 'anti tips' somewhere. Also one of 'anti-tips for the broody', which I started.

I'll look for it!

Blackduck · 21/10/2004 15:25

you can never have too many vests....

Bunglie · 21/10/2004 15:29

Or Knickers...NOT thongs....

Blackduck · 21/10/2004 15:29

I meant baby vests!!!

motherinferior · 21/10/2004 15:37

Other people's babies - the ones who sleep through the night from two weeks, and behave immaculately in later months - are unnatural creatures wodged together in a laboratory somewhere.

And personally I would disagree with Blackduck and say 'do not give a new mum the incredibly useful present of a packet of vests. You can be sure everyone else has done exactly the same. Even a new baby can only wear a finite number of vests. Especially one born at the beginning of the hottest summer on record'.

motherinferior · 21/10/2004 15:37

And the number of people with second children makes it a statistical possibility that somebody, somewhere, will find your post-natal body attractive again.

Blackduck · 21/10/2004 15:42

I will add a caveat MI - you cannot have too many vests when your child is vomiting at regular intervals

On which subject - milk doubles in quantity when regurgitated AND they can project it further than you think

jude2105 · 21/10/2004 16:04

be prepared....DS will always produce amazing fountain during nappy-changing process....

SoupDragon · 21/10/2004 16:41

You can remove an envelope necked vest downwards rather than pulling it over your precious baby's head. There will be a time when there is poo up to their armpits and this is an essential piece of information

deegward · 21/10/2004 16:43

While it is good not to lie to your children about where babies come from, it can have a down side. DS1 (4.5)in Mothercare stated to a pregnant lady, "I know you got a seed from your husband to make your baby (then whispered, by a special cuddle), and Mummy says that you get it out by pushing like doing a poo!" Oh how I wished he hadn't really listened to me, and be like his friends that think you get babies from a baby shop

deegward · 21/10/2004 16:48

#1 Babies DO bounce, and will fall off beds, settees, chairs, changing tables , without coming to much harm. #2 Arnica is very good on bruises #3 1 & 2 are not necessarily related items

Blackduck · 21/10/2004 16:51

Whatever you claim that you will not do BC, you will find yourself doing/saying when you have the child.......

Bunglie · 21/10/2004 16:51

When you are on the phone your child will need the loo...and then yell (for all to hear)
"I've finished...I said I've finished will you wipe my bum please?"
It is at this point that you tie your phone to your ear with a pair of tights!!

Bunglie · 21/10/2004 16:53

Soupy Very true!

foxinsocks · 21/10/2004 17:03

sweets/chocolate bribery works

making home seem really boring means school is much more exciting and they are more willing to go ('mummy we get to paint at school and we never do that with you. School's much more fun')

give your babies mild curry right from the start of weaning then they will happily accompany you to Tandoori Nights for your Saturday night curry (so one less pre-child outing you have to sacrifice)

nasa · 21/10/2004 17:07

men's hearing seems to go a bit downhill once the baby is born - especially at night.

nasa · 21/10/2004 17:09

somebody should warn first time mums that there will be a time when you suck snot out of your little cherbub's nose...yes really

codswallop · 21/10/2004 17:14

remember almost everything washes
Pooey hands, muddy trousers, but not cats.

codswallop · 21/10/2004 17:16

att he supermarket put everything they naga bout int he trolley then take it out and hide it all over the shop when they are not looking.

It keeps someone isn a job.