Tell us something you wish you knew when you became a new parent - £200 Boots voucher to be won

[MaddyMumsnet]

We totally get that raising a little one can be a roller-coaster. Ever wish you had a secret guide to navigate this adventure? We want to know what you wish you knew earlier, whether it be your go to products or life changing tips…

• Post your products/stories/challenges/tips in the thread below to be entered into a prize draw
• One lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice.

Here’s what Boots has to say: “The new parent & baby event is back at Boots! Welcome yourself to parenthood with incredible offers and expert advice. Whether you’re restocking your changing bag, looking for a new car seat or trying to get your little one to sleep, Boots has products and advice to support you along your journey. You can also enjoy 8 Advantage Card points for every £1 spent on Baby when you join Boots Parenting Club*

*T&Cs apply. For full terms and condition, please visit here”

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Insight T&Cs apply

Baby vests can be pulled down over the shoulders - that's what those funny necks are for - it means after you've had a poonami you don't have to pull a pooey vest over their head. No-one told me that until I'd had baby number two!

I wish I’d known that sleep deprivation is so dangerous and damaging to you…I wish I’d asked for help, even if just for an hour so I could nap.

Don't be embarrassed over breast feeding - it's natural - I took mine in various 'out of the way' places to feed - you can do it discreetly with scarfs and clothing. I wish I'd been prouder and less embarrassed

That your baby is unique - there’s no point in comparing them to any other baby. You will worry about things that with hindsight seem really trivial - but don’t beat yourself up about that any more than you should beat yourself up about the other “mistakes” you will make.

When it feels like the whole world wants to come and have a cuddle with baby but there's sick in your hair, milk on your top, house is a mess and you want to sleep, it's ok to say no.

That when the books say that babies start sleeping through the night at three months. They only mean that after three months you might be lucky enough to get 4 or 5 hours consecutive sleep, not that you'll tuck them in at 7pm and be back at 7am

Small babies are portable - use that!

Your anxious constantly crying anxious baby is going to become a beautiful brave confidant funny young woman.

That as babies are born, simultaneously mother's are too and you grow together.

Do what works for you and your baby, and ignore all those who tut or make you feel bad. You want to feed to sleep, go for it, cuddle them whilst they sleep rather than pop them in a cot, your choice! Allow your toddler/pre schooler l into your bed to sleep-so long as you are both happy with it great!

Do what feels right to you and you'll be fine. Mama's gut is all powerful!

No one actually thinks they are doing well as a new parent. However, I do believe we parents bring up our babies into walking, talking potty trained, competent adults, so we must be doing something right. Be kind to yourself and never underestimate the power of a nap.

Strange as it sounds, it took me ages to realise babies were little people, as in, they're not a homogeneous blob but just like people with their own preferences and personalities and quirks...but smaller
This means what works for baby X down the road might or might not work for yours and even the same things that worked for DC1 might not be to DC2s liking
It's all trial and error and getting to know each other

Check if your council offers dirty nappy collection - they deliver specific bin bags you can put nappies in and will collect in addition to your rubbish bin!

When I was childfree, I grabbed a quick breakfast, or a muffin from a cafe, then had a Boots or Sainsbury’s Meal Deal for lunch. In the evenings I’d cook maybe 4 or 5 times a week - simple delicious meals like prawn chilli & coriander stir fry; asparagus omelette with a rocket salad; pesto pasta with toasted pine nuts; blue cheese melted onto a toasted pitta bread with walnuts, rosemary, and black grapes on the side; or whatever. Quick, simple, tasty.

Now that I have a child - and oc the lockdown days made this 3 x worse - I feel as if I’m cooking all. the. ruddy. time. Boring food, that goes uneaten, or ends up on the floor, or that I end up eating. I’ve put on tonnes of weight and I hate the sight of my kitchen! And of course my son pull apart the inside of the dishwasher, so that’s not working either.

Cathartic rant over. Enjoy your salad days, ladies!

The time when you get nap trapped on the sofa is really short, and much easier than being on the go with a moving child, so line up that telly and properly enjoy it!

I wish I'd known how quickly they grow out of nappy sizes so not to stockpile too many packs!

I wish I'd known that I could take a breath and let some days just be messy and chaotic, sod plans/classes and routines and not feel the need to do it 'right'. It's impossible to get it right, you're just setting yourself up for a fall and a neverending game of catch-up. Giving myself permission for a few do and achieve nothing days in the early years to just be together and just be would have made a big difference.

For me, and everyone is different I found these my best tips!

• Enjoy the contact naps - embrace them! They don't last forever and you will miss them when they stop! Warm cup of tea and a breakfast bar to hand!
• Shower everyday to wash away a bad night - baby bouncer permanently in our bathroom was my solution!
• Fresh air everyday (even 10 minutes down the road)
• 'prep' the easiest meals you can - even if it means pizza and chips!
• an iced coffee a week was my 'treat'
• and my final tip - if bubba is totally unsettled try a bath!

Every baby is so different though but I was you could freeze moments! Best and hardest job in the world!

I wish I’d known that although in theory adoption is a wonderful thing, in practice raising an adopted child can be bloody hard. DH & I have sometimes said that we regret it, which sounds awful, but we can be pushed to our absolute limits!

I wish I knew it's ok to tell people we are not ready for visitors on the same day as we came back from hospital , it's ok to put you and your baby first instead worrying about others and what would they think

I wish I'd known that just because a product seems to be the 'it' product, it's not necessarily a must! We spent HUNDREDS on an all-singing-all-dancing Mamaroo... only for DS to hate it and prefer the cheap £25 rocker from Argos 😆. We sold the Mamaroo and plan to have a cheapie around for the next baby!

This is just one example, this happened to us with so many products... 🫣

I misread this as the top bit were your meals now you have children but all became clear and very familiar 😂.I used to love cooking, now I despise it with a passion, we've just tucked into a mix of nuggets, fish fingers and chips...again

I wish I had known that some babies teeth MUCH much later than others and it's completely fine and normal! Ds2 didn't get even a hint of a tooth coming through untill he was 13 months and then 4 came through at once with lightning speed during one weekend (lots of cuddles and Calpol needed!)

That breastfeeding would be really hard. I didn't manage more than a few days with any of my children. Also, that it goes so quick. When the years flew by with DC 1 and 2, I promised myself I would pay more attention, live more in the moment. Nope, flew by just the same.

To do what feels right for you and your baby. Sleeping was much easier for us both once I decided co-sleeping in a safe a way as possible was the right way forward for us both.