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

For me when i had my first i used so many bibs weaning and always found them pointless because they only covered underneath the neck. With my 2nd I discovered coveralls and wearable aprons and it was a life changer

Just how slippery they are in the bath - and how tiny and fragile they feel in your hands. You have so much responsibility for a little life - don't be overwhelmed by it.

Just how many nappies you go through until you get onto solids !

When is the draw for this taking place? I can't see a date in the OP. The start date was more than 4 weeks ago.

A clip on highchair which meant DS could sit with us at the dining room table at 6M and start on solids which we were eating - and a LARGE mat at the bottom to catch all of the stray bits of carrot/cauliflower/broccoli .......

That a cheap hand towel to lay on the plastic changing mats are worth their weight in gold for catching those sudden surprise wees when you take their nappy off!

Say NO to visitors you don't want.The day after I give birth i was home making them cups of tea and cake.The same goes with people wanting to babysit,take your baby out or my (un)favourite-I will come over and help with the baby.Translation-i will hold your baby while you get on with the house work.Just say no.And don't feel guilty about it

You don't have to be perfect. You don't have to get everything right first time. You'll make mistakes and it will be okay. Also you might not feel connected to the baby straight away but that doesn't mean you won't absolutely adore them when you've got over the shock!

I wish I'd known earlier about white noise baby night lights - it made such a difference to my unsettled baby - gave him something to focus on x

Those envelope-neck vests can be removed down over the body, the don't need to be pulled up above the head. Invaluable when nappies leak!

You don't have to fill every single day with baby groups, soft play, baby massage, play dates, etc and it's ok if you only have 1 or 2 "mum friends" rather than a whole gang.... you do you and don't feel guilty or like you're letting your baby down by not being a social butterfly.
The hours and days I wasted worrying and feeling guilty...!

Breathe, admit when it's hard and any stage that just feels relentless will pass.

And that with hindsight the memories of those hard days will soften and not seem as bad.

You can’t buy your way out of the difficulties of parenting! All the products which claim to miraculously address whatever, most of them are rubbish, most of the difficulties just need time to resolve.

It’s okay to miss the old you, it doesn’t mean that you don’t like your baby, but your life drastically changes and it’s okay to miss the times before.

Just how annoying my MIL can be - telling me how to do everything - wish I'd had the courage to stick up for myself and tell her to keep her beak out !

Actually, I did know this when my baby was born, because my sister in law told me, and it was revolutionary! If you know you're going to bottle feed, use room temperature water from the beginning. Baby knows no different, and you're not faffing around at 3.00 a.m. trying to cool a bottle down.

How shocked I was when the belly button stump came away - and it was natural

That becoming a parent doesn't always go smoothly. Being the parent of a very sick baby will make you find strength you never knew you possessed and lastly babies don't need all of the "stuff" you buy before they are born! They need love, a few clean clothes, to be fed and warm. That's it!

I wish someone had told me that all babies are different, and so to not compare my baby to others.
And also that some babies just don't sleep well no matter what you try, and everything gets easier with time.

That most of the parenting books are written by people without children. You know your baby / child so trust your intuition.

However, if you are used to seeking external validation, it might be a good time for counselling to help you build that confidence to do that.

That daylight (it doesn't even have to be sunny) bleaches poo stains from pale clothes. Good to know for the baby stage but also when toilet training.

I wish I'd remembered that none of the stages last forever. So when things are really challenging, it feels like it will be that way forever. In reality it's a very short time. That would have helped me cope better

Be kind to yourself. You are a good enough Mum - your baby thinks you are the best Mum in the world! It can be very hard so it’s important not to forget that.

Buy very little. You don't need most of it.

I wish I knew not to buy many clothes from 0 to 3 months old, as they don't last 3 months.