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 yourself, do what you can and try to adapt gradually to the new situation. Don't forget to ask friends and family for extra support or some necessary me time!

Accept all offers of help and find out about baby classes as soon as you are up to it, nothing like being in the company of people all going through the same ups and downs of having a new baby to put your mind at ease that you're doing things ok

Just roll with it and do what works best for you and your baby. You can't spoil them and you won't make s rod for your back.

DS is 7mo and still in our bed. I'm gently moving him to the cot for naps as he just hates it. This way we all get sleep and limited screaming.

Go with the flow and don't worry if your baby doesn't follow any routines. Some babies do nap and feed at regular times but some babies just won't follow a plan no matter what you do.

Just remember mum's have been having babies for years go with your feelings your baby will know your smell and loving a new baby is more important than worrying about shopping etc.

Don't ask anyone for advice! If it feels right, it probably is. Your baby, your family, your rules.

Accept any practical help that is offered to you. Don't be too proud to let your mum clean your bathroom.

Oh, and don't feel weird if you don't want to pass your baby round like a toy. Keep 'em close.

just go with the flow

The best tip I had was to cherish the good times with your newborn. It's such a hard time to get through that it's too easy to focus on the difficulties and forget the special moments.

Never sit down to feed your baby without a drink and a tv remote close by. You never know how long you will be there for. Either because they feed for a long time or they fall asleep and you don't want to move them.

Such a cliche but enjoy every moment of you can. It really does pass too quickly.

I was lucky enough to be able to ask my mum for help if I needed any advice. She's had 4 kids so she knows a thing or two! I also tried to take power naps when the baby was sleeping during the day so the nights weren't too bad with waking up constantly for feeds

Listen to advice but do what you feel is best... grab sleep when you can if you have a bad sleeping baby

Go to lots of different children's centres, parks, libraries for activities (& to meet other parents), don't just rely on one

Breastfeeding is amazing, try as hard as you can, don't beat yourself up if you can't do it, but take it slow, stay relaxed and ask for help. I needed help and once I got it feeding was a bit of a steep learning curve, but it was so rewarding.

sleep when they sleep and don't worry about the housework.

Get as much sleep as you can and dont be afraid to ask for help.

really take the time to look at every cm of your baby and commit it to memory. The time really does go so quickly and before you know it you are looking your 11 year old in the eye as he is the same height as you lol. And be kind to yourself. Everyone does is it differently and as long as you love and cherish your baby, you are doing it right!

It has now been some time since my children were babies but the very best bit of advice anyone ever gave me was
(a) Enjoy every minute with them ... It goes by really fast and
(b) Whenever you get up in the middle of the night NEVER look at a clock, make sure all the clocks are turned away from you.
Then psychologically you won't realise that you have been up half the night and wont feel tired the next day. Trust me it works!

Sleep when ever u can! Simple but a lifesaver

relax, and nap as often as you are able, forget the dishes, let your visitors do them

Breastfeeding takes time. In the early days, babies could feed as often as every 1.5 to 2 hours and so sometimes it feels as if one feed has just finished and they are due again but this is good for building up your supply! Plus, what better excuse could there be to sit on the sofa or bed cuddling your baby?

Take time to wind your baby properly- although a partner or friend could do this sometimes for you.

Joining a breastfeeding group can help for support, advice, meeting people with children of similar ages and I found this also helped with giving me the confidence to feed in public- seeing other people doing it made it normal plus I learned local tips about where had good facilities!

I read a few "routine" books and mostly followed one of these just so I knew what to expect and vaguely at what times although in the beginning all of my babies slept for longer than the books said and couldn't stay awake for as long as the books said they might. Don't worry!! Babies can sleep a lot! Also, tomorrow is another day so until the routine is properly established, feeds and sleeps may be different- i persevered with the routine I was following, although followed it loosely some days, and I found it helped me but do whatever seems best for you and your baby. (I found the routines useful for encouraging baby to sleep at night, and at regular times during the day, and found that, as suggested, doing night feeds in low light and not getting into the habit of cuddling baby to sleep helped!)

I found expressing first thing in the morning was useful and I froze milk flat in the freezer then once it was frozen, it can stand it like in a filing cabinet- this makes it easier to store and then this milk can be used to top up baby in early evening when you may be getting tired and supply may be getting low or saved up if someone else needs to feed baby at some point.

Remember to eat and drink. Sounds silly but when you are so focused
on a newborn, it can be easy to miss meals so try to make time to feed yourself too!

Enjoy this time- it goes so quickly!

Take as many photos as you want!

Finally........Take all advice with a pinch of salt!

Things won't always be how you imagined / what you planned but that is ok.
Babies don't always sleep... If your baby isn't then it doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong

I wish somebody had told me about all the unsolicited advice that would be thrown at me during the first few months. My advice is to smile, take on board anything you think might be useful and then just go with your own instincts.

Don't think your experience has to match others. It's easy to get downhearted when reading articles that you are doing something wrong. If it works for you & baby, go with it

sleep when you can, get out when you can and ignore advice. follow your instincts. I'm the first time parent of an 11 week old so I know.