The overwhelm is something else

[JustMeBT]

Can I ask something that might sound a bit daft?

Where do you actually go? When you need to know if something's normal, or just want to talk to someone who gets it

I've been down the TikTok and Instagram rabbit hole more times than I'd like to admit. You go looking for reassurance and come back 45 minutes later feeling worse, more confused, and somehow subscribed to three people selling baby courses.

I know Mumsnet exists (obviously, I'm here). But beyond this, is there anywhere that just feels like... people? No agenda, no followers to gain, no brand deals. Just mums being honest with each other.

Would love to know what's actually helped. Especially in those early weeks when your brain feels like it's been put in a blender.

Baby groups - talk to other (real life!) mums!
You sit in a slightly funky-smelling church hall or community centre, a comforting older lady makes you a cup of tea, and you chat to another tired mum with a small baby and realise you're not doing it all wrong!

Bf support groups. (Eg la leche league.) Library (e.g. rhyme time). Reading books on parenting (often way more considered and balanced than social media) - recommend 'matrescence' by Lucy Jones. Podcasts on parenting - especially BBC podcast 'child'.

Other mums whose babies are a similar age, often met through antenatal groups or local baby groups.

Also, Claude is my preferred AI chatbot and find the advice generally just a summary of what you could google anyway but a bit quicker

Baby groups and other mums with same age baby. Realistic expectations. I highly recommend Helen Ball's book about baby sleep, it is evidenced based and really shows what is normal for baby sleep - and it is not instagram people saying their baby slept 12 hours with no feeds. Sleep when you can, cosleep if it works, don't not do something because of future worries about 'habits' (eg feed to sleep, cuddle to sleep etc). Babies change so much, in a few weeks/months, it will all change anyway. Get outside as much as you can, for you and baby's wellbeing.