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)

If you can't settle your baby after feeding, nappy, etc etc go for a walk in the ptam, it gives you headspace but soothes your little one to sleep (hopefully)! Mum's know their babies best so trust your judgment/instincts. Speak to your health visitor, they have amazing up to date advice!

you will receive a bombardment of information from all directions, it is good to take this on board, but remember that no 2 children are the same, your child is unique to you and you are the expert of your child. trust your judgement, you learn a lot through experience and know a lot more than you realise!

Don't ever forget that you know your baby better than anyone else

babies can sense when your not happy so make sure you get lots of rest and when baby is asleep instead of doing house work take a power nap it can change your mood instantly.

I was a teen parent, and my one wish is that I had documented more of my first babies milestones! My baby is now a strapping tall seventeen year old, but because I was young & naive at the time (also 17!) I thought the baby years would kind of last forever....they don't! One minute they will be your beloved shadow, by your side always, and they are happy just to hear your voice, and next thing, they are making you cups of tea and off to college....Take photos, make notes of the lovely stupid things they do, and don't forget one precious second of your bootiful bubby! x

Do NOT compare yourself to celebrity mothers!

just go with your gut feeling cause it will always put you right if you think their something wrong you know best you know your child nobody else so you know when something not right

Stop stressing - You are doing a great job! Yes its tiring and yes you feel worried about everything but take all the help you can get from friends and family - asking for help does not make you a failure!! Most of all enjoy it cause your baby will grow up so quickly.

My advice would be to take time for each other as a couple and don't let a baby dominate everything. Being new parents is really stressful, it's when you are both snapping the most. It puts a strain on your relationship. Taking 5 mins a day to chat to each other and reconnect can really make a difference.

Also invest in a really good waterproof jacket. You can not push a pushchair and hold an umbrella at the same time. A good waterproof coat you will be thankful for.

Hi Nurofen.

IM GOING TO PUT THIS IN CAPITALS: NUROFEN PLUS IS SERIOUSLY ADDICTIVE - with these kind of advertising campaigns where you are trying to buy people's allegiance to your brand, in what way are you considering how opiate addiction destroys individuals and families?

I'm assuming this doesn't matter to you, as long as you secure brand loyalty at an early stage - after all, when some of the people who subscribe to you as a trustworthy family brand become addicted, it's all pennies in the bank.

To me, you are one of the most unethical companies operating in Britain today.

Happy to answer questions as required.

Dont worry too much.

Dont feel guilty to ask family members to look after the baby when you need a break. looking after yourself is so important and never undervalue sleep and power naps!

To remember that every parent is different and to just follow your instincts !

Trust your natural instincts and don't feel guilty for grabbing a bit of 'me time' when you can!

Everyone will have advice on every aspect of parenting. Nod, smile and listen, but then do your own research (evidence-based not anecdotal) and make your own decisions based on the information you have and what will work for your family and in your circumstances. You have to live with the decisions you make, the advice givers don't!

Trust your instincts, forget the housework, take time to relax and get to know your baby. Ask for help if you need it, and try to sleep when you can. Most of all enjoy it, as they really aren't babies for very long.

Don't be hard on yourself. We all think we are failures at some point, find ourselves crying like our babies in the corner because the sleep deprivation is too much. But rest assured no matter how hard it gets it gets better and easier and nothing is more rewarding than the bond between you and your child. Keep strong!

Relax, Monitor your child and just make sure you stay positive :)

No one parenting advisor is ever 100% right about everything. We are all individuals, as are our children, so what works for me won't work for everyone - it is perfectly OK to read all the parenting books that you want to, and to pick and choose what suits you and your child. If it is different to all your friends in your antenatal class or Mums and Tots class, that's fine - it doesn't mean they are right and you are wrong, or vice versa.

My one piece of advice would be this:

Learn what corners you can cut, and cut them. You don't have to be a perfect madonna of a mother - and you don't have to do everything perfectly all of the time. You don't have to sacrifice yourself all the time either - as Libby Purves says in her book 'How Not To Be A Perfect Mother' - even a madonna needs half an hour off, with her feet up, a book and a drink. There are some things you can't let slide - feeding the baby, keeping them clean and warm and safe - but there are other things that can give - and if that bit of 'give' means you can have a sit down with a cup of tea, a biscuit and Mumsnet, then that's a good thing.

I learned with ds1 what corners I could cut, and what things made things quicker and easier (now they would be called 'hacks', but then we didn't have a name for them - lol) - and they were invaluable when I had ds2 - they meant I could do all the things that needed doing for a toddler and a baby, without losing my grip on the final shreds of my sanity.

Try not to be hard on yourself being a first time parent is hard and a learning curve and everybody makes mistakes just as long as you feel its right, go with your instinct x

Every stage is just a stage! Whenever I go through a tough time with one of my kids, Im convinced that things will be like this forever but then I remember that every thing is just a stage and stages pass.

If you have guests in your house don't try to impress them with your cooking and clean house. Let them to do the work. Don't spend money on expensive clothes, babies grow very fast.

Don't even think about the housework, use any time when baby is sleeping to have a nap yourself

Sleep when baby sleeps dont worry about house work and trust your instincts, most of all enjoy your baby as they grow up so fast,

The best piece of advice I was given was to enjoy every moment as far too quickly they grow up, go to school and you are no longer the centre of their world. I cherish the times my eldest still wants to hold my hand as I know it won't last forever :)