Share with WaterWipes what you wish you were told before the arrival of your new born - chance to win £300! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

The team at WaterWipes would love to hear what you wish you'd been told before the arrival of your new born.

We all can recall those innocent days before the arrival of baby and the impact having a child can have on your life so please share on this thread what you wish someone had told you - or what you were told which was especially useful!

Here's what WaterWipes says: "WaterWipes contain only 2 ingredients: 99.9% Water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract. Non-irritating to even the most sensitive of children’s or Mums’ skin, WaterWipes help prevent and alleviate nappy rash and other sensitive skin conditions. WaterWipes are the only baby wipe ever to be endorsed by Allergy UK. We think they're great for newborns and we'd love to hear what other pearls of wisdom you wish you knew before your baby arrived!"

Please share a comment on the thread: you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win £300 voucher for the store of choice (from a list). Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

get plenty of sleep before the birth.. you sure as heck ain't getting any after!!

I wish someone had told me that I might not be able to breastfeed, and that lots of women can't. I spent ages worrying about how I was doing it wrong, and feeling rubbish.

That breastfeeding could take hours off your day, especially if the baby is cluster feeding. Also - to make sure you're as comfy as possible during those feeds!

Time goes very fast

That we all do things at our own pace. Relax!

I don't think being told anything is actually the same as experiencing it for yourself. I wish I'd known to relax more and not let myself be befuddled by expert advice.

That I will become a pro at cooking with one hand! That I will become a pro at doing my makeup with one hand. That I shouldn't get stressed about the silly little things such as a messy kitchen as long as me and my little ones are happy. That men often call looking after their own children 'babysitting' and that within a few months you will feel like yourself again only a better version with beautiful children! And you are not in competition with anyone, your friends may be doing PHDS and are getting promoted every second but that doesn't matter because its not where you are its where you are going. Lastly, parenthood is the most challenging job there is but the happiness that you will get from being parent or carer is priceless and can often bring about tears of utter happiness.

their would be sleepless nights and your body would never be the same again

Calm and contented mums have calm and contented babies.

That I wouldn't get a night's sleep for 3 months.

Babies don't naturally drink the same amount at their different feed times in the day - mine cried in the evening because I assumed she had had the Normal amount of milk and couldn't therefore be hungry. She was. Took me a while to catch on!

That everything WILL pass.
That includes those 4am fits of weeping, (me in desperation!) as well as those special moments we need to cherish.

I would have liked something like a development milestone; so if by this age he is not ... then contact ... etc I think that would have taken so much worrying out :)

how quick you forget the pain of labour

Relax and just enjoy. They grow so quickly. Sleep when baby sleeps and take lots of pictures.

I wish I'd been told that actually they are pretty tough and adaptable. I knew this by the second one and things were way different (and easier for all concerned)

To relax and enjoy your baby as they grow too quick, don't worry too much about the housework and accept help from others.

I am just grateful I had a couple of photos of myself in a bikini before I had children!

To enjoy your baby when they are small as they grow up so quickly.

Keep a diary and write down everything you'd like to remember.

Take lots of photos, and, most importantly, enjoy your child.

Trust your instincts!

Stop trying to compare yourself or your baby to others.

I wish someone had told me to just accept help from others instead of being determined to do everything myself!

I wish someone would have told me that I didn't need half the stuff I'd bought! Could've saved myself a fortune!

I wish I'd been told not to get up to see to the baby every time they made a noise - they can have noisy dreams