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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

Standard T&Cs apply

Tell Asda what you wish you knew before becoming a parent - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED
OP posts:
playinthedarkness · 24/09/2016 00:38

Time passes too quickly,enjoy the small stuff
it's ok to dress them in sleep suits most days, pyjamas are mandatory for you too!
shops own nappies are often better than brand and, baby wipes are a miracle ⭐️and will be used to clean your house as well as your baby-buy extra!
Take offers of help, don't be 'supermum' trying to do everything.

Jayfee · 24/09/2016 01:14

I would tell myself to join a babysitting group as soon as possible, for the friendship of the mums, the freedom to go out and the peace of an evening watching TV or reading while babysitting.

GloveBug · 24/09/2016 01:43

I wish I'd known how hard it weeps be and that people always say how great it is to be a parent but never talk about the bad times and the struggles. When I had pnd and was struggling to enjoy my baby I thought I was the only one!

SecretAriel · 24/09/2016 02:47

I wish I'd known to make sure the "frill" at the edge of the nappy wasn't tucked into the elastic and to make sure little boys little bits should not be left up the way in the nappyConfused . Its a steep learning curve but I am glad I didn't know how much love you feel, that is the best surprise everGrin

Sierra259 · 24/09/2016 05:14

I wish I had frittered away less of my full time wage every month when I was full-time with no children. That I had known how much you second guess yourself over every tiny decision, and how much you worry over whether the decision you made was the right one! And that in the end the only right decision is what works for you and your baby!

Sierra259 · 24/09/2016 05:15

And how much I'd be on MN at some ungodly hour during a feed! Grin

Solobo · 24/09/2016 07:51

I wish I was told that everyone is making it up as they go along !

And that too enjoy the small things with them.

BeeMyBaby · 24/09/2016 08:21

I wish I had known not to fixate on their weight so much and being on a low centile is still perfectly fine.

CheeseAtFourpence · 24/09/2016 08:28

That it's okay to say you're struggling. That everyone else isn't perfect.

That Aldi's (much cheaper) nappies are great.

That pouches are fine - not everything has to be homemade.

YorkieDorkie · 24/09/2016 08:50

I wish I'd known that some many people would bombard me with advice. I know this was all meant in the nicest possible way but I spent weeks agonising over what should/shouldn't be happening with my baby. In reality, I was doing everything just fine my own way and the weeks of worry were completely unnecessary.

Mummy knows best!

parisgellar · 24/09/2016 08:57

I wish I'd known just how all-consuming a child is. Every part of my life has altered to fit him and it's been hard adjusting to that, of course he's been worth it all.

HardcoreLadyType · 24/09/2016 10:22

I wish I had known that children lying is really not such a big deal - it's really not!

I wasted so much angst on worrying about it, when they were small, and trying to get them to "own up".

Now they're teens, I realise that yes, they do lie from time to time, but it doesn't mean they are inherently untrustworthy. We all lie from time to time for various reasons.

Paddybare · 24/09/2016 10:46

To not fret about every little thing and that your instinct is a powerful voice which you should listen to!

CordeliaScott · 24/09/2016 11:26

I wish that I had known to accept all help offered rather than assuming I should do it all myself.

evelynj · 24/09/2016 11:33

I wish I'd made a list of all the things I wanted for them & me in life before having them. Also how much extra housework & Chores there would be and saved and arranged for a few hours help a month beforehand!

ayeokthen · 24/09/2016 13:18

I wish I'd known to trust my own instincts, I wish I'd known that I didn't need to spend every day panicking about germs/illness/cot death and just enjoyed them.

gillyweed · 24/09/2016 13:37

I wish I had known that sleep begets sleep... I just thought babies put themselves off for a nap when they were ready! Consequently my first born was permanently overtired, and we had a torrid year before a very well meaning Aunty suggested perhaps she needed MORE naps in the day, to make her sleep at night!

hermancakedestroyer · 24/09/2016 13:44

I didn't realise that I would lose my name completely and from my child's first entrance to the world be known as DDs mum. I'm thrilled to be a mum but also have my own identity to cling to!

hungryhungryhippos · 24/09/2016 13:49

I wish I'd known how fast they grow!

lemonymelanie · 24/09/2016 13:51

That it gets more expensive the older they get.

That it doesn't last forever and to go with the flow and enjoy it more......

DinosaursRoar · 24/09/2016 15:48

That everyone is making it as they go along.

That just because the NCT and all the calm looking mummies you know are saying about being baby led and focuses on natural way, but some children respond well to routines and frankly, I respond well to sleep.

That it's worth spending a bit more on a changing bag and "mum clothes" if you are going to be using these daily for a year or more.

That bras would need to look like scaffolding from now on...

OneForTheRoadThen · 24/09/2016 15:55

I wish I'd known how happy it would make me and how I'd finally feel like I'd found my place in life.

LadyMumble · 24/09/2016 17:09

How to ask for help with the little things.

I was so sure I needed to do everything myself and didn't always ask for help when I could have made my life easier at times.

FeelingSmurfy · 24/09/2016 17:11

Everyone will try to give you advice, just do what feels right to you

foxessocks · 24/09/2016 17:32

That everything is just a phase!