Mumsnet users share the things they wish they'd known as a first time parent with ALDI Mamia

[YanaMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed.

With a lot to learn and a complete change in lifestyle, becoming a parent for the first time can feel overwhelming. Learning from the experiences of seasoned parents can make things a little bit less scary, so ALDI Mamia would like to hear about the things you wish you’d known as a first time parent, and would share as tips for those expecting their first child.

Here’s what ALDI Mamia has to say: “The goal of our award-winning Mamia range is to help mums navigate all stages of their baby’s first years. One way we do that is by making our amazing, top-quality nappies affordable for families. But now we need you! This is your chance to help future first-time mums by sharing all the things you’ve learnt over the years. Maybe you’ll pick up some new tips for you next one while you’re at it.”

Do you wish you’d been warned beforehand about how emotional the experience would be? Is there anything you wish you’d been told you didn’t really need? Perhaps you wish you’d been told of the things you could save money on without compromising quality for your baby? Is there anything you’ve learned since your children were born that would have been helpful while you were expecting?

Whatever you wish you’d known as a first time parent, share it on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £200 ALDI voucher.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

That you know what's best for your child/ren and to trust your guts and instincts. Oh and the constant whining/crying never really ever stops!

I wish I had invested in more bibs. Can not actually believe how many I went through in them first few months. And dont try and please other people having everyone round at your house all the time. Just enjoy your new baby and a routine is so important

There is no point dressing a newborn in anything other than vests and romper suits.
Accept all offers of help!
Stock up on chocolate to get you through the night feeds

After 9 months of reading every baby book under the sun, nothing can prepare you for when they actually arrive and the love you feel.

Take all the advice/books/articles/expensive recommendations with a pinch of salt - your baby hasn't read them and doesn't care! Trust your instincts and go easy on yourself, as long as baby is fed, clean (most of the time...) and warm you're doing all they need.

That Aldi where one of the only supermarkets that had nappies that fitted my 2600kg newborn. I had to go to a baby fair and get given a sample when my daughter was 5 days old to find this out.

Oh.. so much I wish I had known! I'm sure people tried to tell me - but you never really understand until your little bundle arrives & then it all becomes very real :)
I wish I had known that all babies are different - some sleep well, some don't - you can treat them both exactly the same, but they will be their own little person regardless.
As long as they are being fed, loved, snuggled, clothed, kept clean & comfortable & generally attended to - you are doing everything you can & everything you need to do as a loving, caring parent.
I expected perfection & I expected to know it all - but in reality I nearly fell apart! I would be a lot kinder to myself now & I think that would have led to me being a lot less anxious, more calm & this would have rubbed off on my little man too - although he was a little champion despite my constant fretting!! Enjoy it, it's a wild & crazy ride! :) x

Never compare your child with another child, lower your expectations for everything and aim to leave the house at least 30 minutes before you need to (because it will take you an extra 30 minutes to get through the door)!

Wish I had known that the most important factor in choosing a pram is the size of its basket underneath! Ended up with a beautiful pram with a basket that was half the size of that of other mums' prams. I felt so jealous seeing them carry things with ease!

Not to stress about hitting every milestone on time. You think omg they're never going to get it they're going to be behind but then next thing they're doing it without you even trying. Every baby picks things up at their own rate.

1. Try to Take a few naps with them each day to top you up for the night ahead. If you find it hard to sleep on demand or feel to tense to sleep don’t worry just rest and try listening to something relaxing on your headphones. It’s still rest. I find ASMR videos on You Tube really de-stressing.

2). Don’t feel pressure to go out and about with them from day one. It can be a bit stressful taking them out and it’s perfectly ok to hibernate for a few weeks while you get to know their patterns and rhythms. This is trickier when you have your second child but by then things are less mysterious and you know what you are doing more.

1. You really cannot have too many maternity pads. Tena lady pads are the best as they can handle a bit of wee too if your pelvic floor is shot to pieces after the birth. Also they are very comfy!

To politely tell my mum not to come up 'for a coffee' every day, when I needed to sleep, I was sitting chatting (pretty exhausted) whilst my baby was asleep - doing this for me made my first 3 months pretty exhausting

You wont be eating your tea warm for a very long time 😂😂
Every baby/child is different, they all develop at different rates so do not compare!!
Make the most of them being babies, the other household jobs can wait, they do not stay little forever!

It's ok to want a break!!! Dont feel bad for taking time out to be you!!

That breastfeeding can be difficult in the early days when you're both learning how to do it, but that doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.

That it will get better!! I found having my first as a newborn really hard, all he seemed to do was cry and be sick. Fortunately things improved when we started with weaning.

I wish I’d known how hard it would be to conceive and how heartbreaking it would be that a double line doesn’t always mean a baby and you won’t be learning how to burp a baby one handed for a long long time yet :(

The list is endless! I wish I had known that I would never sleep again - two toddlers and I'm still getting up at least three times. I wish I had known that baby vests fold down so you don't need to pull them over baby's head when they've had an explosion. I wish I'd known that baby grows so fast so no need for so many clothes in size 0-3 months 🙈

I wish someone had told me not to stress about routine. So stressful for every one

That after about 90 minutes of awake time baby will be tired.. I spent a lot of time trying to feed a grumpy tired baby because I thought he was hungry....

I wish I'd known more about breast feeding, rather than thinking it just came naturally to everyone. It wasn't until my 4th child that I learned about cluster feeding. I always thought I wasn't producing enough milk and switched to bottles a lot earlier than I'd have liked with my first 3 children.

That you don’t need every gadget and gizmo out there. Many of them only last for a couple of months before baby outgrows it or you no longer need it. Save your money for all of the clothes they constantly outgrow instead

That life with children may be infinitely harder, but also infinitely better.

Babygros and vests are your friends. But chose gros that button up in the middle top to bottom, it's the easiest design by far. Also don't forget vests are made so you can roll them straight downwards incase of a poo explosion.

I wish I’d known to accept any help offered. I didn’t and was exhausted as a result.