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

[PoppyMumsnet]

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

I wish I knew that nothing goes as easy as it says in the parenting books. Life throws problems and dilemmas that aren't simple and you have to figure your own parenting style

I wish I'd have known that it's okay to ask for help. I didn't have any problems raising my daughter and teaching her right from wrong but I thought if I asked for help, I was 'failing'. How wrong I was!!

i wish I knew about the sleeping difficulties .

I wish I knew how quickly time would pass and to stress less about lack of sleep- it does get better!

Only listen to the midwives you agree with - as once you've had your baby they all have a different view on everything so there's no point worrying about trying to make sense of it!

Allow yourself the chance to make mistakes and realise its part of the learning curve of parenting, not the eand of the world,If asked take the help offered its not a sign of weakness.

That time flies by so quick and not to buy so much stuff you never end up using.

How unimportant sleep would become!

First time round, I wish I had known that you don't have to buy well-known branded baby products for them to do the same job. With DC 2-4, I tried other brands including Asda and realised they are just as good for nappies, wipes, bath products etc.
I also realised that even after 4 DC, you never stop learning as a parent and they never stop surprising you.

I wish I'd known not to believe the doctor when for months on end he told me it was normal for DD to be sleeping so badly. It wasn't normal, she had reflux.

I wish I'd known about slings!

To not bother buying the "top end" nappies, wipes etc and that own brand stuff will save you a fortune. Yes your precious first born is worth it but he hasn't a bottom made of gold!

I wish I'd known that children are so different and they arrive as unique, puzzling and sometimes quirky little bundles of joy

I wish I'd known it was ok to have lots of snuggles and the occasional cuddle to sleep instead of following bloody Gina Ford.

I wish I'd known that I should take more photos at every stage, even if you aren't looking your best.

That it is normal to feel inadequate

I wish someone had told me how hard it can be trying to advocate for your children when they cannot speak up for themselves. It's a hard skill to master, getting the balance of them seeing you standing up for them and not becoming that annoying parent. You don't want them to feel singled out and different, but you need to ensure that their needs are met. Parenting is hard sometimes...

How many early morning trips to get urgent items needed for that day I'd have to do! (this morning it was a pair of trousers!)

I wish i'd known how scary it would be.The constant worry that you have about them all the time, even when they are grown. :/

I wish I had known it is ok to get things wrong and that all babies are different. What works for one baby does not necessarily work for another and if you make a mistake or try something and it doesn't work it is not the end of the world, no damage has been done.

You can never have too many wet wipes

That it never gets any easier the older they get

To record and enjoy every moment of them being young, it goes by so quickly.

That no phase lasts forever.

I wish I had been told to make more time for ourselves as a couple as now the children have grown some we seem to have forgotten how to have fun as just a couple

the worry and stress