Parenting books, websites and advice are often the ‘go to’ resources for first time parents, but their ‘gut instinct’ is what they should listen to most, according to experienced mums. In a recent survey commissioned by BabyLove Nappies, more than 1,000 mothers of children aged from 1 month to 3 years were asked to nominate their top tip for first time mums.
The number-one tip:
Listen to your instincts. No one knows your baby as well as you do.
“Intuition often lets us know as parents when something isn’t quite right, and yet often first-time parents may not have the confidence to listen to their gut feeling, so it’s great that so many mums – especially second and third time mums – are sharing this advice with new parents,” says Midwife Cath Curtin, a midwife and maternal and child health nurse. “As a midwife, I often advise new parents’ not to overthink the newborn stage and discourage them from logging onto countless websites and blogs as it can lead to confusion and anxiety.”
The top 12 tips:
- Listen to your instincts/No one knows your baby as well as you do
- Relax/Don’t stress the small stuff/Go with the flow
- Enjoy every moment because it is over in a flash/Enjoy your moments with the baby
- Don’t worry about what other people think
- Do what is right for you/your family
- Everything is going to be okay/Hang in there/Take it a day at a time
- Every child is different/What works for one won’t work for the other
- Ask health experts for advice/ Consult with other mums/ Seek/Listen to advice
- Be patient
- Rest when you can/Get enough sleep/Sleep when baby sleeps
- Be kind to yourself/Be gentle with yourself
- 12. Ask for help/Don’t be afraid to ask for help