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New Mummy Blog: The Best Parenting Advice I’ve Ever Received

Our mummy blogger shares the top piece of parenting advice that anyone ever gave her

Sleep. Me time. Non-maternity jeans you can do up. All things you’re likely to be short of when you have a baby.

One thing you are definitely not short of: advice.

Unsolicited or desperately sought, it doesn’t matter. It’s still going to be coming your way in abundance.

Your friends will all throw in their tuppence worth [Rex]
Your friends will all throw in their tuppence worth [Rex]

Which is brilliant, quite frankly, when you’re flitting between blind panic and sheer terror as you come to terms with being fully responsible for a new, and extremely fragile-looking, little person.

I am fortunate, surrounded by supportive family and many friends who have gone before me into motherhood. Friends who don’t judge, and have offered some absolute gems of advice that have been invaluable to me.

Most of them revolve in some way around a general theme of ‘don’t be so hard on yourself’. This, I feel, is no bad mantra for most parts of life, but none more so than parenthood, which can so often be filled with self doubt and judgement.

Some of the best bits of parenting advice I’ve ever been given are:

Don’t Rule Anything Out
You’re “never” going to use chocolate as a bribe or resort to daytime CBeebies to entertain the toddler while you feed the baby.

I have NO IDEA how my baby got covered in chocolate...honest. [Rex]
I have NO IDEA how my baby got covered in chocolate...honest. [Rex]

You’re “never” going to fall into the trap of feeding the baby to sleep because it’s a quicker, easier route to you getting a few hours sleep than teaching him to self soothe.

The truth is, whatever you think you’ll never do, the chances are that at some point you most probably will. And it’s really okay if you do.

Ignore The Haters
In the immortal words of Ms Swift, they’re gonna hate. Or rather, in this case, judge. At times it feels like everyone has an opinion on your parenting choices. And it’s not a positive one. It doesn’t matter. Ignore it.

As long as you’re happy and your children are happy, why worry?

I'm not listening... [Rex]
I'm not listening... [Rex]

Put Yourself In Your Child's Shoes
There’s one particular bit of advice that for me has been hands down the best ever, that has kept me sane, helped avoid countless toddler stand offs and also given me a very happy newborn.

This miraculous game changer? These four little words: How would you feel?

How would you feel if, having been carried inside somewhere warm and safe for nine months, you were suddenly expelled with force and left out in the open? Not great, I’m guessing.

Would you want to be kept as safe and warm as possible, preferably in the arms of the person who had been doing all the carrying? Yes, probably.

Therefore, if I am holding Henry a lot in these early weeks, I’m not “making a rod for my own back”, “stunting his development” or “spoiling him”. I’m just doing what I would want in his situation, to help him feel secure and loved and to ease his transition into this big scary world.

When faced with a toddler tantrum, try and put yourself in her shoes [Rex]
When faced with a toddler tantrum, try and put yourself in her shoes [Rex]



When faced with a toddler meltdown at the breakfast table, those four words help too.

Well how would you feel living with a bunch of giants who dictate what and when you eat every day and you don’t yet have the words to communicate that you really don’t want Weetabix today as that toast that Daddy’s eating looks way better?

Okay, it doesn’t always work. I have neither an unlimited supply of patience nor the insanity to think a toddler or a newborn should always get their own way. But as a general rule, asking myself this question has been at the heart of my parenting since the very beginning.

And my fun, happy, well behaved toddler and my smiley, laidback newborn tell me we’re doing OK.


[Controlled Crying: The Pros And Cons Of This Baby Sleep Training Method]

[New Mummy Blog: Five Unmistakable Signs My Child Is Ready For Potty Training]

What's the best piece of parenting advice you've ever been given? Let us know in the comments box below.