Things have changed A LOT since I was a new first time mum almost a quarter of a century ago but in many ways I think I had it easier than many parents today.
Having seven children over 14 years I have seen lots of "set in stone" rules change. You must lie baby on their front, then baby on their side, then baby on their back as an example.
Advice on what you could and couldn't eat during pregnancy changed with every new hospital new mum pack and don't start me on weaning! My eldest was offered baby rice at 8 weeks on the advice of my health visitor. Last time I looked 6 months old was the earliest suitable weaning age.
I didn't have half of the gadgets and time saving items people have nowadays. I used tepid water in a top and tail bowl and acres of cotton wool. My midwife would have had a fit if she'd spotted a pack of baby wipes. They've come a long way since then and are now as gentle as water.
We still bought disposable nappies separately for boys and girls and there were no easy-fit reusable nappies only white terry sheets you folded and pinned. We didn't have baby wipe warmers although I'm not sure If they were around If I would have bothered buying one....
There were no weaning food pouches and no video baby monitors but we seemed to have a much better network of supporters to help get us through those terrible/wonderful early days.
I attended a free NHS antenatal group and made friends I still meet with a couple of times a month even now more than two decades later. We had a clinic in our little town and we sometimes met up at after weigh in and a leisurely chat with the health visitor at an under one's club where we could get a drink and compare notes. Often a couple of hours there was all I needed to feel refreshed and reassured.
That clinic has just been bulldozed to make room for luxury homes and a quick internet search shows me there are apparently no free antenatal classes in my area just lots of yoga and pilates classes for preggos. There is a NCT group but I see that sadly my local bumps and babies class is not running for lack of volunteers.
So where do new mums go to get advice and reassurance? You can't always trust relatives - I know my advice would already be outdated so even after having had seven children I don't feel qualified really.
I was pleased to see that ASDA has launched a series of videos online to teach some basic tips and offer advice for new parents and other carers. I know that the Asda Little Angels range of nappies, wipes, toiletries and accessories is immensely popular offering a great range at great prices AND they have a baby and toddler club people can sign up to so it seems natural they should support parents and carers like this.
Featuring real-life GP, TV's Dr Hilary Jones (a dad of 7 himself) the videos offer a wealth of information you can access even when feeding your little one.
I met him at the launch of the new videos and you'll be glad to know that he is eminently qualified, offers bang up to date expert advice you can trust plus he's a very nice bloke to boot!
The short videos cover four topics - Bath time, preventing nappy rash, weaning safely and a beginners guide to nappy changing and feature adorable babies. The videos give simple sensible advice in an easy to access way.
I love that resources like this are available 24/7 so no-one has to wait to find out the answer to their queries. I would have given my right arm to have had this on offer when my older babies were tiny. Apart from we didn't have internet so actually was not possible. Hurrah for 2017!
Disclaimer: I attended a very lovely blogger event to learn about the new videos and was given a goody bag. Views and opinions remain honest and my own.
Having seven children over 14 years I have seen lots of "set in stone" rules change. You must lie baby on their front, then baby on their side, then baby on their back as an example.
Advice on what you could and couldn't eat during pregnancy changed with every new hospital new mum pack and don't start me on weaning! My eldest was offered baby rice at 8 weeks on the advice of my health visitor. Last time I looked 6 months old was the earliest suitable weaning age.
I didn't have half of the gadgets and time saving items people have nowadays. I used tepid water in a top and tail bowl and acres of cotton wool. My midwife would have had a fit if she'd spotted a pack of baby wipes. They've come a long way since then and are now as gentle as water.
We still bought disposable nappies separately for boys and girls and there were no easy-fit reusable nappies only white terry sheets you folded and pinned. We didn't have baby wipe warmers although I'm not sure If they were around If I would have bothered buying one....
There were no weaning food pouches and no video baby monitors but we seemed to have a much better network of supporters to help get us through those terrible/wonderful early days.
I attended a free NHS antenatal group and made friends I still meet with a couple of times a month even now more than two decades later. We had a clinic in our little town and we sometimes met up at after weigh in and a leisurely chat with the health visitor at an under one's club where we could get a drink and compare notes. Often a couple of hours there was all I needed to feel refreshed and reassured.
That clinic has just been bulldozed to make room for luxury homes and a quick internet search shows me there are apparently no free antenatal classes in my area just lots of yoga and pilates classes for preggos. There is a NCT group but I see that sadly my local bumps and babies class is not running for lack of volunteers.
So where do new mums go to get advice and reassurance? You can't always trust relatives - I know my advice would already be outdated so even after having had seven children I don't feel qualified really.
I was pleased to see that ASDA has launched a series of videos online to teach some basic tips and offer advice for new parents and other carers. I know that the Asda Little Angels range of nappies, wipes, toiletries and accessories is immensely popular offering a great range at great prices AND they have a baby and toddler club people can sign up to so it seems natural they should support parents and carers like this.
Featuring real-life GP, TV's Dr Hilary Jones (a dad of 7 himself) the videos offer a wealth of information you can access even when feeding your little one.
I met him at the launch of the new videos and you'll be glad to know that he is eminently qualified, offers bang up to date expert advice you can trust plus he's a very nice bloke to boot!
The short videos cover four topics - Bath time, preventing nappy rash, weaning safely and a beginners guide to nappy changing and feature adorable babies. The videos give simple sensible advice in an easy to access way.
I love that resources like this are available 24/7 so no-one has to wait to find out the answer to their queries. I would have given my right arm to have had this on offer when my older babies were tiny. Apart from we didn't have internet so actually was not possible. Hurrah for 2017!
Disclaimer: I attended a very lovely blogger event to learn about the new videos and was given a goody bag. Views and opinions remain honest and my own.