Four Ways To Be A Happy Mum

Life as a new mum is hard! Fact! So here's four key ways to make life simpler and have time to relax with your baby.

1 - Stop worrying! So long as your baby is happy, healthy and growing steadily, why worry whether you're doing it right with your menu selections, employment situation or musical taste. Don't compare yourself to other parents. Trust me, there are very few mothers who are not wearing a spit-stained tshirt and odd socks, whilst they try to cobble together some semblance of a dinner from yesterday's leftovers. Despite what they may say, no one else is growing organic salads to accompany the home cooked cuisine they have just knocked together whilst reciting Shakespeare to their awe-struck offspring! Interestingly, Netmums conducted a survey which revealed how many outright lies about their domestic arrangements are told in the playground by the so-called 'perfect mothers'. That's tragic! It never ceases to amaze how cruel women can be to other women when we should all be working together to help each other?!

2 - Do it online. Whether it's researching and comparing buggy prices at the many baby shops online, keeping up with the news or checking whether something in you or your baby is normal, the internet is your best, 24/7 friend. Make sure you order online groceries for delivery when your partner is home to put them away. If you have storage space you can search for bulk deals on things like nappies/diapers and save money too. Use social media, as well as website parenting groups and forums to become part of a group of people who know what life as a parent is like at the sharp end. Learn the acronym 'NAKB'. It stands for "Nursing at keyboard' and is proof that mums are the greatest multi-taskers ever.

3 - Learn to love portable. With the need to ferry children here there and everywhere and the shortage of storage space in all homes, baby accessories need to be multi-functioning as well as taking up the minimum of room. The other benefit of such things is that you can take them with you on visits or outings and baby has a safe, familiar item with them no matter where you are. Can you say win/win?

4 - Look out for cool new ideas. Backpack reins in the shape of an animal with a tail that you can hold onto rather than having to fight to get your toddler strapped into a regular set of reins, an apron that becomes a baby towel for easy bath time drying; a baby bath step that turns into a toddler step that turns into a treasure box. There is a wealth of products out there designed specially for littles that will make your life easier, you can search for them at baby shops online whilst you're NAKB!


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Ashley J Downs has been at the sharp end of parenting for over a decade and is well versed in the joy and pain of childcare.
For baby shops online
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