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Tell Asda what you wish you knew before becoming a parent - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

406 replies

PoppyMumsnet · 23/09/2016 10:25

Sometimes, we wish we had the benefit of hindsight– knowing what to have said, what to have done would have made the situation a whole lot easier. Asda would like you to tell them about the things you wish you’d known about before being a parent to a baby/toddler. Would being a new parent have run more smoothly had you known certain things before? What sort of things would you have liked to have known?

Here is what Asda has to say: “Here at Little Angels, we understand how daunting it can be waiting for the arrival of your long awaited little one. That’s why we’d love you to share your top tips on anything from being a parent for the first time or what’s different when you have your second.”

So what do you wish you’d known before becoming a parent? Time flies by so quickly - maybe you wish you’d known to take more videos or photos. Perhaps you wish you’d known that children are much more expensive than you originally thought, so you could have planned better. Maybe you wished you’d known about a support network that you could have spoken to from the very beginning. Or maybe you simply wish you’d known how hard it would be so you could have mentally prepared yourself?

Whatever your story is, Asda would like to hear about it. All those who post below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Asda voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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Tell Asda what you wish you knew before becoming a parent - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
Keeccles · 26/09/2016 13:37

I wish someone had told me just how tough breastfeeding could be! And dealing with sleep deprivation 💤

ProfYaffle · 26/09/2016 14:08

Pre-dc I worried a lot that parenting was nothing but misery and work. I wish I'd known how much fun it is and how much I'd enjoy the company of my children.

nerysw · 26/09/2016 14:26

That you don't have to pay attention to ALL the advice your given!

WowOoo · 26/09/2016 14:37

I wish I'd known how fast time would fly. I wish I'd taken loads more photos of ds2 as a toddler.

compy99 · 26/09/2016 14:45

I wish I had know that I wouldn't have needed 80% of all the "essential" items that we bought before baby had arrived. I also wish that I had kept a record of all the milestones reached.

Quills · 26/09/2016 14:46

That there was no need to worry so much. When it came to it, I knew what to do, and even if some days we just muddled through, it was all fine in the end.

zippyants · 26/09/2016 15:31

I wish I knew that the ageing process would go much quicker once I had kids!

pinkiponk · 26/09/2016 15:50

I wish I'd known just how much I'd love him, it's the most natural and wonderful thing in the World :)

lindseyjemma · 26/09/2016 16:43

I wish someone had told me to ignore the housework instead of trying to be superwoman and get everything done.

vixxx666 · 26/09/2016 16:53

I wish I'd known just how little sleep I'd get!

Catsgowoof · 26/09/2016 17:25

That they will sleep/stop crying eventually

kittykomp · 26/09/2016 17:45

accidents happen

MalcolmTuckersEyebrows · 26/09/2016 18:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jaxcarp78 · 26/09/2016 18:12

That they grow up way too fast. You have to make the most of them all the time, but it's difficult when you are crashing from one development stage to another.

thanksamillion · 26/09/2016 19:47

That you don't need that much stuff. Really, you don't need a top and tail bowl, or a gazillion cute outfits, or a complete set of bottles when you're planning to breastfeed (I know it's good to have some in case it doesn't work out).

Ikea1234 · 26/09/2016 20:04

I wish I had known just how few gadgets I didn't need....I could have saved a fortune! Bottle warmer, nappy bin, movement sensors for cots, Moses basket, cot bed........all barely used and cost a fortune.

Annbunce · 26/09/2016 20:14

Make the most of everyday as time goes by soooo quickly.

cupcakeaddict1969 · 26/09/2016 20:16

That sometimes you'll worry and feel that you're not doing it right or you're just not good enough, but the fact that you're worrying means you're doing a good job. No parent is perfect and no one gets it right all the time. Children don't come with a handbook.

Jade5093 · 26/09/2016 20:34

The back ache from pregnancy... lifting toddlers... etc . I'm crippled!!

Charbru123 · 26/09/2016 20:38

kids always want to eat!

Whyisitsodifficult · 26/09/2016 20:41

How tiring and relentless it all is. It doesn't necessarily get easier as they grow up just different things to worry about! Spontaneity is the thing I missed the most, being able to go out for the day with just a handbag. Rather than changing bag, pushchair etc. Nothing, no words or advice can prepare you for becoming a mum!

HitsAndMrs · 26/09/2016 20:49

I wish I knew how much I'd worry.. Constantly, all day, all night. I sleep worry! The worry/anxiousness is awful but I also wish I knew how much I'd love them and how amazing it is.. I would have done it sooner!

AaLittleEggLayOnALeaf · 26/09/2016 21:24

I wish I had known that babies do not like to be put down for naps, ever. I thought that once a newborn was asleep you could put them down and get showered or eat breakfast etc. No, they wake instantly straight away. Once I let her sleep on me we both got a lot more rest.

Mojito6 · 26/09/2016 21:44

Several things I wish I'd known
-Sleep is a thing of the past
-It's not a competition, everyone is doing great in their own way. It doesn't matter what someone else's baby is doing
-You realise who your true friends are
-Your priorities change even if you never thought they would
-Your old skinny jeans will never fit again
-all the bad points are so trivial compared to how much joy and love a child can bring

SerenaVanDerWoodsen · 26/09/2016 21:48

I wish I'd worried less and trusted my instinct more to do what my baby needed. I wish I'd realised that it doesn't matter what everyone else thinks.