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

[joggingrunning]

I wished that I learned about using zipped baby sleep gowns instead of using ones that have poppers. The zipped ones make over night changes so much easier and quicker to do.

[Clementine8]

It’s ok to not be ok and when you are worrying about your baby being the crying unsettled one other mum’s don’t even notice because they’re too focused on their baby being unsettled.

I really struggled with DS until a super kind mum at baby group pointed this out to me. She’s now one of my closest friends.

[goldenretriever1978]

I would say to go with your gut and to ignore most people's opinions.

[Pimmsypimms]

Definitely don't sweat the small stuff! Don't worry about a messy house and a sink full of dishes, it doesn't matter. Just do what you can do and leave the rest later.
Also, everyone will have an opinion and they will all be different! Do what feels right for you .

[linerforlife]

Everyone will spend most of your pregnancy telling you that your downstairs will be ruined, you'll never sleep again and saying "how are you going to cope when the baby gets here". What they don't tell you is how absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful your baby will be, how fantastic the cuddles will feel and how bittersweet watching them grow is. Treasure every day with them because it goes so so fast.

[Teabird]

That doing your best, is the best you can do. Not to judge yourself by other peoples impossible standards and things like housework and cleaning will always be there.

[Smile13]

Be prepared for sleepless nights and broken sleep. Don’t be ashamed to go to bed early to catch up on sleep when you can, it’s so important and makes a huge difference to your quality of life.

[KANNET]

That they will always eventually go to sleep. Just remember that

[Frolicacid]

Not to listen to others’ advice

[Ashton08]

I wish friends and family told me to sleep 😴 as much as i could before my son arrived.
He is now 2 years old and I haven't had a full nights sleep since giving birth!!😒

[Twigaletta]

I'd tell my brand snob self to get over it quickly! I thought Pampers and branded nappies and wipes were the only things I should use on my PFB. I was wrong. Mamia nappies and wipes absolutely rock! My youngest only ever wore Aldi nappies as they were excellent for her poonami big sister. Literally the only brand that contained her poos and kept her very sensitive bottom rash free.

We haven't needed nappies for over 3 years but we still use Mamia wipes for everything. I've told so many mums the Mamia secret I should be on commission!

Weaning I would have just given my PFB what we had because even though we introduced so many different vegetables now she'll only eat frozen sweetcorn. My youngest just ate what we ate and her favourite vegetable is broccoli!

[CrocodileFondue]

That when your waters break, it's not just one gush like on tv, sometimes it keeps coming for ages, I used a whole pack of maternity pads before I even had the baby!

[AltheaThoon]

I wish I'd known that I didn't have to stop the crying. As long as all the usual things were checked - temperature, nappy, hunger, check for rogue thread stuck around toes (!) etc - it's okay just to allow baby to cry whilst rocking / comforting. I put a lot of pressure on myself with my first and got so stressed because I couldn't stop the crying. By the time I got to my third I realised that, as long as baby was 'well', the crying was okay. So I'd make a cup of tea, put subtitles on the TV and watch it whilst rocking and patting baby, reassuring him that everything was okay. I was far calmer which, in turn, probably helped my baby.

[ChocolateChipMuffin2016]

I wish I had realised sooner that my child was a small human! I realise how stupid that sounds, but "the book" said they should eat every x hours, sleep for Y hours, have Z amount of naps, they would only cry for ABC reason etc etc, and it took me a while to realise that my tiny baby was in fact a small person and we all have off days, we all have days when were starving and days when were not etc etc. I began to stress a lot less when I realised that.
Also, don't bother with anything other than sleepsuits for clothes for the first 6 months.

[Hollieh89]

how quick they grow, enjoy every minute, sleepless night walking up and down the hall are at time unbearable but they do pass! The housework will wait!! Have some you time when the baby sleeps

[JustineBMumsnet]

Thanks all for your comments! The winner of the prize draw is @EvilHerbivore

[Quietvoiceplease]

To worry less, and enjoy more. I spent so many of the early years worrying about them, and worrying about whether I was good enough at parenting - and I just wish I had relaxed more and enjoyed the moments. They go so fast.

[flowerpower32]

Everything passes, and quickly! Sometimes I look back and wish I could have realised that when I was getting so stressed about things like not wanting to take a bottle which utterly consumed me at the time

[Sleepybumble]

Bed sharing can mean everyone sleeps more and is perfectly safe if following appropriate advice/guidelines

[lolly2011]

Your baby will do everything when they are ready, there is no late walkers, they sometimes cry for absolutely no reason and that is ok. Its ok to ask for help.

[caravandreamer]

You really don't need the latest gadgets/products eg motorized swinging crib, self emptying bath ! You'll use them once or twice.

[Stej7]

I wish someone had told me that no matter how many baby manuals you read, your baby will not have read any. All babies are different and a mother’s instinct will serve you better than anything else.

[vickyors]

I wish I had been told that you could mixed feed. I breastfed my first child, until she was one, and it worked brilliantly. With my second, I had post natal anxiety really badly, and feeding wasn't great. I was struggling to get any sleep because of the anxiety, even though our little one was sleeping, and I tried a bottle occasionally. My health visitor said that my supply would drop, and she would end up being bottle fed. I got myself into a right state. Thankfully, my amazing GP was really kind and said: whatever works for the whole family. He said to do what I needed. Anyway. I have her a bottle before bed, and one in the night, and mixed fed till she was over one! My supply was just right. I loved it. I would lie with her in the mornings and felt such love. It took a while, but we mixed fed happily for so long. Why is so little known about it? If you want to keep breastfeeding, you can.

[PeaceAndHarmoneeee]

I wish I'd known

Not to try and force a routine on them if they are resisting
Co sleeping is ok if it means you all get more sleep
You don't need to purée everything
You will worry about everything, all the time!

[picklemewalnuts]

Get a small sturdy baby bag rather than the huge tote often marketed. Keeping a small amount of essentials in a bag, topping up/checking each time you go out is much easier than trying to carry loads of nappies, extra clothes, food etc.

A strong toiletries type bag can hold three nappies, a mat, a bottle/formula/(whatever the rules are now) a jar/pouch of baby food and a spare baby grow. The strength of the bag means you can compress it slightly and zip it closed. Really efficient.

If you ever see a small wipes holder, get it! mine came free with a pack of wipes and was the envy of everyone! Small metal shampoo bar tins from lush were good for creams, cotton wool etc.

Sometimes the bounty pack contains sample size items- save them for the nappy bag.