When you have a baby the whole world and his wife will give you parenting advice. Much of it is just not for you or even a bit annoying but in amongst it all there are some pearls of wisdom that can help you along your way. We asked mums for the best parent insight they were given that made a difference.
Perhaps they will help you too?
Babies
It’s just a phase
This is my mantra, whenever I’m in the trenches. Whether it’s colic, teething or toddler tantrums I remind myself it’s just a phase and it won’t last forever. I sometimes mutter it out loud. It helps me to remind myself that the really tough bits won’t last forever and if I can just keep going then I’ll get through. Holly
Lower your expectations
One of my mum friends actually said this joking around. She was laughing about having only got dressed at 2pm the day before but that it was fine because since having a baby she coped by lowering her expectations. But actually that turned out to be the best advice ever. I aimed low each day and if me and my baby achieved more than both being fed and dressed then it was a bonus. It made me less stressed. Katie
The best things to buy for a baby are muslin squares
They are just brilliant for everything. I used muslins to mop up baby spit-up, as bibs, as a comfort blanket even as a makeshift sun hat one day. Carry them wherever you go! Iona
You’re not the only mum pacing the floor with a crying baby at 2am
Not advice really but it made me feel better and less alone. Jenny
Sleep when the baby sleeps
I remember I was so annoyed at this and was thinking ‘you got any idea how little would get done if I slept every time the baby closed her eyes?’ Thinking back I did get a lot done during her nap times but during her longer sleeps I was so exhausted I would have to lie down. And it helped…I needed some rest after all the awake time during the night! Lori
Try to get out of the house every day
I remember feeling so cooped up in my flat with the baby. We didn’t leave the room for weeks at a time after she was born. Later though I managed to get out, just for quick walks and it made such a different. Everything felt that bit easier when we got back home. Maddie
Don’t worry if other mums do things differently
Some breastfeed, some bottle feed, some co-sleep, some do baby led weaning. We all do things differently and that’s OK. Don’t stress about it, just do what works for you. Nicky
Babies love white noise
A mum at a baby group was telling us how her baby went to sleep really easily when she played white noise on an app on her phone. I tried it that night and it worked! Best tip ever. Hannah
Toddlers
Get in the photos with kids
After I had my baby my phone was soon chock full of photos of my baby and my baby with dad, nan, aunty Susan. But I was hardly in any of them. One day my child will want to look back on all the memories and so will I. Get in the photos, Mamas. Sanghita
Buy a gro-clock
My toddler used to get up and come through to wake me up at 5am or even earlier. It was exhausting. I read an article about Gro-clocks, bought one and it was one of the best things I ever did. The clock had a blue light and a moon picture when my toddler was sleeping and a countdown to a yellow screen with the sun rising and little stars that went out one by one, set to the time he could get out of bed. He used to watch and wait each morning before he got up and woke me. No more dawn starts. It was like magic. Eilidh
Don’t wish her life away
I spent so long wishing time away. I couldn’t wait until she could walk or could feed herself. It was my mum who told me to start just enjoying the moments because, before I knew it, time would have flown by. Sam
Look at how much food they eat in a day not at each meal
My little boy was a fussy eater and I used to get so stressed. My health visitor told me to look at what he ate over a day or even a week instead of stressing about each meal and it was really good advice. Alex
If something is a battle, they’re probably not ready
It could be weaning, potty training, sleeping through the night…we’ve all had something we’ve struggled with. If it’s a battle then stop, wait and try again later. Siobhan
He’ll do it when he’s ready
So true. It made me stop worrying so much. When I was despairing about potty training and the fact that my son showed zero signs of getting the hang of it my Dad also told me ‘No one walks down the aisle in nappies’. Wise words. Lauren
Teenagers
Pick your battles
My mum reminded me that I don’t have to enter into every argument you’re invited into. I tried to brush off the smaller things and only react to the bigger issues. Otherwise me and my teen probably would have been fighting all day. Susan
You don’t have to try and fix everything
This was absolutely the best advice i have been given as a mum of teens. When your teenagers are sad, angry or stressed, they don’t want you to fix things or to start offering suggestions or to tell them about how you felt the same way once upon a time. What they really want is just for you to stop and listen. They just want you to care. Harpreet
Mums
It’s OK not to be OK
Being a mum is really hard. It’s worse if you feel you are rubbish at it or that you have to hide the fact that you’re struggling. Be kind to yourself and get loads of hugs! Sally
Keep on keeping on
In the tough bits just concentrate on making it through today because tomorrow you get to start over. Put one foot in front of the other and just keep at it. Nicola
There’s no such thing as a perfect parent
No one is perfect and that means it’s OK if you’re not perfect either. All you can do is your best. Being good enough is good enough. Cali
Happy mums make happy babies
So don’t forget to look after yourself too. Alison
