Share your advice for first time parents to help build their confidence with Nurofen for Children - £300 voucher prize draw! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

Research by Nurofen for Children shows that, on average, it takes a first time mum an average of six months to feel confident as a parent(i). With that in mind, they'd like to know what words of wisdom you'd pass down to a first time mum to boost their confidence.

Here's what Nurofen for Children says, "Becoming a mum is a wonderful life changing experience, and a huge learning curve. Nurofen for Children understands seeking advice from other mums is an important part of feeling confident in the decisions you make for your new baby, so we’d love to know your best advice for other first-time mums".

Maybe you'd share something your own parents told you that helped when you were embarking on parenthood. Or something you wish you'd been told when you were a new parent. You might have a nugget of advice that you think would really make a difference, and we're eager to hear it.

Everyone who posts on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one mumsnetter will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher!

Thanks

MNHQ

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Nurofen for Children 3 months to 9 years Orange / Strawberry. Nurofen for Children Orange / Strawberry 3 months to 12 years (weighing over 5kg). Contains Ibuprofen. For relief of fever. Always read the label.

(i) Survey of 2,000 mums by One Poll, commissioned by Nurofen for Children (October 2013)

I have recently become a first time parent and I was petrified as I had'nt even held a baby before my little man was born. My best advice is to not be scared- everything is a learning curve and before you know it- you will be a great parent- stay positive and always ask for help too :)

Lots of people are going to give you advice and tips, but just remember if it doesn't fit for you or you don't feel comfortable just do what is right for you and your little one!!

Before my first child was born everyone told to be prepared for the tiredness, the tedium of putting another life before my own, the pains of breast feeding and the complete up-ending of normal life. But NO ONE told me how much I would love spending time with my baby and the complete joy he would bring. This came as a relief and very pleasant surprise! Unconditional love will get you through any tough times.

Try not to be overwhelmed, we have all muddled along at first. Try not to take in too much advice. If your baby is asleep, do not start doing all the household tasks, rest up yourself. :D

Perfect your 'smile and nod' as the world and his wife will have an opinion on how you raise your child.
Breastfeeding can HURT even when the latch is right/there is no tongue tie or thrush. The pain does go (if all the above is true) but even so, there's nothing wrong with deciding to stop and switch to ff.
The main piece of advice I would give to a new parent before anything else is to enjoy your baby. Cuddle them as much as you want, you cannot "make a rod for your own back" by cuddling your baby.

I think the key thing is to try not to worry too much and to trust your instincts, make good use of advice from friends and family who have been there. Try to make time for each other and discuss problems as and when they come up, but ultimately support each other.

Trust your instincts - there will be loads of advice thrown at you where you like it or not, and it can be overwhelming (the whole "first time parent" thing is overwhelming in itself!). If advice doesn't feel right, ignore it - it's your baby and you will figure it out !

Trust your own judgement. If offered help, accept it. Grab some sleep when baby naps. Also make sure that you are well fed not just the baby, as you need all the nutrients you can get. But most of all enjoy spending time with your little one.

The best advice my Mum ever gave me was that "everything is a phase". She didn't mean to trivialise my kid's problems, but when I first became a Mum myself, I would worry a lot about whether I was getting it right, and whether their behaviour was 'normal'. This advice was really helpful in reminding me to put things in perspective and that most challenges would pass - particularly useful with the difficult sleepless nights which seemed terrible at the time, but of course in the end were "only a phase"!

Done fret about housework. When I had my first child I was so worried as I just could not keep on top of my housework. I spoke to my health visitor about my concerns and she said she was pleased my house wasn't in tiptop condition as it showed baby was getting all the attention she needed

Babies are really tough - that is why we have survived for thousands of years. You can afford to relax

Chicken Pox - to relieve itching run a bath and cut the foot off a pair of tights and fill with porridge oats and tie the open end. Leave in bath and bathe child. This is a life saver and works extremely well.

You know your own baby, you know what works best. Just because a parent is telling you they did something and it's a lot better than your way, doesn't mean it is. It might have worked for their child but might not for yours. Also try not to take offence, most people rent judging you they just want to help but in your sleep,deprived mind you might see it as criticism xx

For me it was that, despite everyone telling me id love my baby immediately after birth. I didn't. And taking a good three to four months for those feelings to even start developing. The look after element was there. But not this love that everyone talked about. What I'd say is don't panic, it will come, it can take months but it's fine and perfectly normal. Dd is now nearly 3 and I love her to bits but I do remember panicking in the early days that there was something wrong with me as everyone kept telling me I should feel a certain way and I didn't.

Looking after a little baby can be hard, especially I think for couples who have been together for a long time before becoming parents! It took me a long time to realise how much extra time you sometimes need to allow to get out of the house (there is an advert on telly which perfectly illustrates this where a baby is all wrapped up ready to go out and then his mum realises he has filled his nappy 😀 ) - often this might not matter but it's worth remembering if you do need to get to an important appointment.

I would say to trust you instincts and also not to try to compare your baby to others as all babies are different and develop at their own pace.

Treasure every moment, they grow up so fast. Don't fret about the housework/washing, do that when baby is sleeping, they don't stay small for long!

Don't feel pressured by a book or friend etc in to any particular parenting 'theory' or sleep training. By all means do research but ultimately do what feels right and adapt things to your view. Oh-and follow the unmumsy mum blog and realise the chaos is totally normal!

Remember that it is not a race,your child will develop at the pace that is right for you both .

My partner was always so right to remind me that I should choose my battles with my girls as they grew up. He could see when I was being just like my own mother and not listening to what they were really kicking off about.

don't sweat the small stuff, sleep when the baby does, and leave space for you.

Have your change bag packed and ready to go at all times... And get out for a walk everyday - everything seems a bit better when you've had some head-clearing fresh air.
Yes. Even in the rain. That's what rain covers and coats are for!

Don't compare your child to others. They are an individual and will do things when they are ready.

ALL parents struggle & you're not on your own!

DON'T put any pressure yourself to be the perfect parent/partner.

I always felt better when I'd had little walks just to get out of the house plus it was nice to show of my babies

I think the old saying "mum knows best" needs to be remembered during these times of continuously changing guidelines and advice. No-one will know your child or baby like you do, you'll always have a instinct and 9/10 Ive been right to go with it. If you feel like things aren't working for you or your child make small changes until you figure it out, no one is the perfect parent and none of us get it right from the beginning so give yourself a break. Also remember children/babies are like little radios they pick up on your feelings so try not to stress and enjoy it :-)