When your baby turns one, a few things will happen. You’ll look at the photos you took a year ago and wonder how your baby was every that tiny, you’ll spend ages planning a party he/she definitely won’t remember and you’ll think about how far you’ve come.
We asked some mums to share the lessons they learnt in their little one’s first year. This is what they said (get the tissues ready):
1. It’s OK not to be OK. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and support when you need it – none of us are super women.
2. Trust my instincts. I know my baby best and should have more faith in that.
3. The housework can wait – missing moments with my family definitely isn’t worth a tidy home!
4. This is the hardest, most challenging thing I have ever done, but I’m loving every second of it.
5. Relax – it’s more important to enjoy things than constantly worrying about whether you’re doing them right.
WATCH This doctor shows new parents how to instantly calm a crying baby. Article continues after video…
6. Nothing is impossible!
7. Make plans, but don’t beat yourself up when you don’t sick to them.
8. Stop attempting to do everything on your own, build that support network and call on them when you need it.
9. Stay calm and try and enjoy, these early years pass by so quickly.
10. I can actually survive on a lot less sleep than I ever thought.
Looking for parenting advice, new mum Chrissy Teigen once tweeted: “I am having a very rough day and it would help me a lot if any mums would like to share stories of their kids being mean to them.”
11. Not to compare myself to other mums – being a mother is not a competition.
12. Enjoy all of it and that you never know when the ‘last’ time will be; the last time you hold their bottle because now your baby is independent enough to do it on their own. The last time they nap on you before they get too big. The last time they stay lying on the mat before they learn to crawl (and never stay where you left them ever again!)
13. To keep a baby bag ready by the door so you don’t forget those all-important nappy wipes.
14. That I didn’t know what love was until I held my baby for the first time.
15. To buy that bottle of wine (we’ve all been there).
WATCH All the times Chrissy Teigen was the definition of #mum goals. Article continues after video.
21. Not everything will go your way. Motherhood is the most challenging and emotional experience.
22. To go with the flow. There’s no one size fits all approach for raising a child – you need to find what works best for you.
23. That I’m stronger than I ever thought I could be.
24. My makeup routine involves a lot more concealer these days.
25. That almost everyone you meet will have an opinion, but at the end of the day, you need to trust your gut.
Actress Kristin Bell gets real on motherhood: “In the age of social media…It’s important to remind mums that all of us are wearing yogurt and all of our hands smell like urine.”
16. That baby poo stains.
17. Not to sweat the small stuff.
18. That my little one will hit milestones in his own time, whether that’s before or after his peers.
19. That I could make a sandwich with one hand, whilst holding a baby in the other.
20. Coffee is my best friend.
26. That all new mums will spend most of their time thinking ‘am I doing this right?’ – support each other!
27. How to be patient.
28. It’s nothing like the books of experts said it would be.
29. That the pram will never go smoothly into the boot like it does on the adverts.
This story originally appeared on Mother&Baby
