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

[YanaMumsnet]

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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

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No one knows your baby better than you do! Trust your instincts.

That 'good enough' is literally that, good enough- things don't have to be perfect for you to be a good parent. As long as they are fed (however you choose to do so), warm, safe and loved nothing else matters.

Oh and weirdly, try and laugh lots with your baby, even when they are really small. I feel like I've built a stronger bond because she loves to laugh with me. Obviously having a child is about the most serious thing you'll ever do but be silly with them and enjoy play. The housework can wait!

I wish I had known from the start that many vests can be removed by pulling them downwards rather than pulling back over the head. Would have saved a lot of time rather than carefully not trying to get poo explosion in the hair.

Leave a supply of nappies and wipes in each room. Saves having to run upstairs/downstairs looking for them.

I think I'd have liked to know more about process to get discharged. That it's not just go in have baby go home. They have to know you've weed, baby has fed and pooped etc. And also where baby would go if wasn't well - My second baby was very premature and having to go see the nicu and get my head round what it could be like while bleeding and worrying when he'd arrive was so hard.

I wish I knew how many bibs you would need. I literally went through 12 bibs a day. Also that there is no such thing as perfect just to be the best mum you can be. You house doesn't need to be immaculate 24/7, you don't need all the organic ingredients, its okay to feel tired and have no make up days. As long as you and your baby are happy.

How painful breastfeeding is

Everytime a midwife asked how i was going to feed baby, I said BF.

I tried really hard but my god it just hurt so much I couldn’t carry on. Didn’t help that tongue tie was involved and that you have to chase it up to get it sorted

Baby sleeping bag! I only discovered it when DS was 10+ months old, it made a big difference in sleeping through the night. I wish i had tried one sooner.

I wish I'd bought a few clothes for my little one myself. We were lucky to have lots of hand me downs and gifts but looking back at photos I wish I had dressed them in clothes I chose and loved

Look after yourself as well.

To relax and enjoy the ride. And that everything challenging is a stage, and will pass.

Cuddle your baby as much as you want. You will not be "making a rod for your own back"

Don't sweat the small stuff.

That you don’t have to be Supermum. Relax and take time to enjoy your children. They don’t need the most expensive clothes or the latest toys, and don’t bother scrimping and saving for the flash holidays and experiences that they’ll later claim they don’t remember a thing about anyway. As for fretting about how to wean and potty train.... However and whenever it’s done, it’ll have the same outcome.

How lonely the early days can be when you are trying to establish feeding, get to know your baby and get them to sleep (which never happens in my case, or at least it feels that way!) i now know it’s okay to reach out if you need help.

Pick your battles!

I wasn't warned about the bleeding after birth and the horrible baby blues. Also my in laws kept 'warning' me not too spoil baby with too many cuddles as he won't be able to settle himself. Wish I didn't listen to them in the slightest, as I did give my baby endless cuddles, I was worried about spoiling.

Let your firstborn make mistakes, don't helicopter! My later kids are much more chilled

To enjoy the newborn phase, as hard as it is, because it's over in the blink of an eye. And to get outdoors with the baby as much as possible - it's brilliant for mental health and the fresh air helps baby sleep 🤞🏻

If I had only believed my sleepless baby wouldn't come to lasting harm if she didn't have the number of hours and minutes sleep the books say are essential on week a,b,c...

And if I hadn't felt the whole world was staring critically because my baby cried and screamed. And yes I had fed, cuddled, changed, rested or played with her!!!!

Only buy sleepsuits with buttons up the front. As much as the ones with slogans and pictures on the front look super cute you will soon realise when it's the middle of the night and your baby has had an explosive poonami which has gone all the way up its back and you are half asleep trying to change it as quickly and easily as possible whilst he/she is crying full pelt that they are a right pain in the backside to get on and off.

I wish I'd known that children are more resilient than we think. Letting them rough and tumble and get dirty is good for them

Wish is known about all the developmental phases a baby goes through in the first years. There's a lot of ups and downs

That puppy mats are a game changer during night changes! I used them with our second as I just happened to have one spare by the bed (I’d had a section and was still bleeding so slept on a couple, just in case!) It was the best thing I discovered - no more putting baby on a freezing cold changing mat, kept the wipes under the pillow so they weren’t freezing and any accidents or leakages (from baby or me 🤣) meant that the mat could just go in the nappy bag and be thrown away! Pop baby back in the Moses basket and job done!! Best discovery ever!!! I also used them on top of the changing mat once little one was in her own room. Wish I’d thought to go it with our first!

I wish I'd known how to prevent getting piles!