Share the best baby advice you’ve been given with ASDA Little Angels for the chance to win a £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[EmmaMumsnet]

Having your first child can be a daunting time, causing you to ask yourself ‘Am I doing this right?’ multiple times a day. And with the constant stream of parenting tips from all and sundry, it can be hard to know who and what to listen to. ASDA Little Angels would like to know what the one piece of baby advice someone gave you was that really cut through the noise and made a difference.

Here’s what ASDA Little Angels has to say: "We all know you can get great advice online from the likes of Mumsnet or our own Baby & Toddler Club; but sometimes that one thing that makes your life easier can come from the most unexpected source. We’d love to hear yours!"

Did someone show you a handy trick to make nappy changes hassle-free or tell you the must have essentials for your nappy bag? Maybe you were given golden advice on how to still feel like yourself whilst caring for baby? Or perhaps you were told tips on how to get your baby to sleep through the night?

Whether you were enlightened by the numerous uses for wet wipes or told a never-fail trick to soothe your baby, please share it below and you will be entered into the prize draw where one Mumsnetter will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Sleep is developmental, you've not done anything wrong, your child will sleep through when they are ready.

Funnily enough it was outside my local Asda, I was waiting for a taxi with DH and two tired DDs . A lovely lady simply said “you know best...do what makes your child comfortable, if they need a dummy...or a bottle before bed...give it to them. It’s ok if your baby is not potty trained by 13 months or talking and running about...they are all developing at their own pace” I just needed to hear I was doing an ok job.

YouTube mama ‘NillyDahlia’ once said “The days are long but the years are short”... that really resonated with me.

My best advice would be to not feel the pressure from others to do everything perfect, do what comes natural and what works for you and your baby. Breast feeding didn’t work for me so I used Aptamil formula, you can buy these already made as well as other brands. But these saved a lot of time and a lot less screaming of a hungry baby! Especially when out and about or even at night.

Buy kimono vests, they make explosive vests much easier to deal with.

When my daughter was a baby I read an article about how to make your home-made activity centre. It involved an elastic across the cot (baby could not sit up so no danger there) and changing the activity items every fortnight or so. One morning, when I couldn't sleep, my daughter was 6 months old. I had just stopped breastfeeding and found myself in the garage at 3am drilling holes in her powdered milk scoops to change the activities on her elastic! She used to kick the thing with gusto! Lots of different colours and two weeks later I had changed them to something else.

Vests can go down as well as up - useful for poonamis so you don't get poop in their hair!

Also I sometimes layer the clothing then put it on baby so I'm effectively only putting one item of clothing on them when actually it's two! For example I'd put a T-shirt over a long sleeve vest and then onto baby.

Put Calpol into an empty teat so baby takes it easier.
Also don’t panic! You are doing it, you are being a Mum and go with your instincts.
Also baby wipes are good for cleaning everything!

stroking the nose is a great magic trick for getting them to sleep!

You will do things differently to your mother , but not necessarily be a better mother

Buy a really good decent waterproof coat as it is difficult to push a buggy and hold an umbrella.

Also you do not need half the baby products that are targeted to new parents.

Sleep when baby sleeps!

Best advice was from my Dad, when he said, “They’ll not still be doing it when they’re 15”.

We have 5 DC and like most people, we’ve had issues with walking, weaning, toilet training, sleeping etc and reminding myself of this has been invaluable.

Best thing I was ever told was "youre the mum, you know best". Such a relief when advice, sometimes conflicting, is being chucked at you left right and centre.

I think the best advice is get into a routine from day 1.

Enjoy this time as it is gone in a flash - people were full of doom and gloom - oh you'll never sleep/wait until the teething/weaning/toilet training etc starts... I felt so lucky to finally have my baby when I had nearly given up hope that I would ever have one in my arms that none of these warnings phased me - I had gone through hell already, this was the great bit!

My Mum showed me that if you gently stroke your hand over baby's forehead and eyes, he will become sleepy and go to sleep.

I remember someone saying to me “if you’re questioning whether you’re a good enough mum then you definitely are”
I was a single mum to a child with lots of medical problems. When I felt bad for not going anywhere some days because I was so exhausted I’d remember what that person said and it really got me through the tough times.
I’ve since got married and had another child and things are a lot easier now!

Baby vests can go downwards as well as over the head.
Never pay full price for nappies - always a deal on somewhere.
To never buy sleepsuits which need to be fastened at the back - impossible with a wriggly baby. We got given some which were never worn.
Some relatives just won't 'get' why you want to breastfeed and will keep on asking when you are going to stop. Not worth having a debate - easier to change subject!

to enjoy the sleepy cuddles as a newborn as those days don't last for very long.

It’s your baby! Trust your mother’s instinct.

I think my all time favourite piece of advice was when discussing a parenting book with a Mum of three grown up children. She said “the baby hasn’t read the book you know.” I’ve often repeated that to myself st 3am!

Done is better than perfect. That's my advice. Don't stress about everything being perfect.

The best advice I was given was to accept help when it's offered and ask when you need it. Everything doesn't have to be perfect, as long as you have a happy healthy baby who cares if e house is immaculate. Also take time for yourself. Even if it's just meeting your friends for a coffee. A little time out helps you deal with anything xx

nappy bag essentials must be clean nappies, nappy cream, wet wipes, nappy sacks and a spare change of clothing. I normally take 2 changes of clothes incase of an emergency!

Don't try and be too quiet around a baby, the womb is a very loud place and so is the world!