Share your tips on life with a new baby with Philips Avent and you could win £300! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

At Philips Avent breastpumps they understand the importance of preparing to become a parent and the need for a product you can rely on, therefore they'd love to hear your top tips on coping with a new baby - on everything from cooking, looking after yourself and getting out of the house to establishing sleeping and feeding patterns. What things helped you through those first weeks/months? And if you could share any advice with expectant parents, what would it be?

Here’s what Philips Avent say, “our range of breastpumps help new families feel comfortable and relaxed when expressing. We know life certainly is never the same again once you become a parent for the first time. For such a small bundle, babies can take up a lot of time, energy and emotions. How can you prepare yourself for the huge changes welcoming a new baby involves? And is it possible to?".

Add your top tips below and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for John Lewis.

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

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PS: Do check out loads of advice and support on the MN pages sponsored by Avent on preparing for life with a newborn here

Be prepared to sleep in shifts if need be. And to nap during the day. The housework doesn't have to be perfect and it's ok to fall back on convenience food sometimes if you need to. But do look after yourself when you can. Be happy to accept help but say no to interference - it's your baby and your way of doing things is just fine.

Get organised and accept help !

Don't be too proud or embarrassed to ask for help.
When friends and family ask if they can do anything, say yes!
Whether it's picking up some bread and milk on their way round, or bringing you round a frozen homemade meal. They're asking because they want to help, so let them.

Don't expect life to be perfect, just make sure you enjoy it, it will be over very quickly and if your not careful you will have missed it.

-Sleep whenever you can.
-If you're still in you PJs at 3pm that is fine.
-Netflix!
-Embrace the '4th trimester' if you have a baby that won't be put down. It's normal, it is just of a short bit of their lives and you won't 'spoil' them or set bad habits. By three months it'll be different.

When baby sleeps get some sleep too - with my first I made the mistake of spending the time he slept doing housework etc and I soon became exhausted. I learnt to have a nap when he did, then i was refreshed and able to enjoy my time with my baby son

Enlist lots of help from the family especially your mum

relax go with the flow and enjoy cuddles with baby and if someone comes round and offers to tidy up or make tea all the better

Don't panic, trust your instincts

Trust your instinct, listen to other new mums before buying shed loads of new fandangled products and when people offer to help - readily accept it!

Trust your instincts, don't worry about the state of the house too much as you will never get this time back, and accept help from those who offer, so you can have a bath or a quick nap, it makes such a difference.

Do your shopping online, cook in bulk and freeze, accept offers of help :)

I would say expect to be tired, very tired! Don't put pressure on yourself in those first few months. Don't feel bad that you can't go see your friends as often as you used to. If they are true friends they'll understand. Take your time, enjoy those first few weeks with your newborn. I'd say get out in the day for fresh air and exercise (always helps you!) but rest plenty too, don't overdo it.

Take as many photos as possible as you don't remember it all in the very beginning you are too tired

Do what feels right for you with your baby you'll be given loads of well meaning advice but you don't need to take it. If it's your first baby cross body fastening vests from Petit Bateau are a godsend when they are tiny so you don't feel like you are hurting them while putting vests on!

Accept help!
Go out at least once a day to let you and your baby get some fresh air!
Cherish every moment, they grow so fast!

Have no expectations, go with the flow and do what feels right :)

If breastfeeding learn to feed lying down! Best thing I did lol

For me it was not to worry about a routine. While on maternity leave it didn't matter so much if the baby slept early in the evening or later on.

I loved my bedside cot with DD2 and wish I'd had one with DD1.

I got out of the house to a baby group a couple of times a week and just out and about on other days. It kept me sane. I was lucky enough to make a great group of friends at the baby groups, some of whom I'm still friends with 10 years later.

Don't be scared to ask for advice, but don't be scared to ignore advice either. It's not called mothers intuition for nothing!

It can be overwhelming becoming a parent for the 1st time. All of a sudden you are in charge of the baby. You will be bombarded with lots of advice, some will be useful, some will not. You need to relax and trust your own instinct, the early months pass very quickly as do all the little milestones, try to not stress out and enjoy these early days and months. You are the expert of your own baby, trust your own instinct, you will know an awful lot more than you realise.

The most important thing I learnt was not to compare myself to others. That as long as I was doing ok and the baby was doing ok, life was ok. Pressure on yourself only leads to bad places!

Don't read too many 'expert' baby books, trust your instincts

sleep when your baby sleeps, so you can catch up on sleep :)

Don't feel guilty if you can't sleep when the baby sleeps. My 2nd only slept on me, I was hardly likely to have a nap on the sofa whilst holding him. I did go to bed at 7pm though, no faffing around on the Internet all night.

Having a baby was easier than I thought. I think people should be more prepared for when that sweet little baby turns into a threenager. Waaaah!