New Mum Advice: 45+ Tips from Real Mums & Parenting Experts You’ll Actually Use

New Mum Advice: 45+ Real-Life Tips from Mums Who’ve Been There (and Parenting Experts Who Get It)

Being a new mum is a whirlwind.

One moment you’re soaking in that newborn smell, the next you’re wondering if you’ll ever sleep again.

Everyone – your mum, your best friend, the cashier at Tesco, has advice, and it can feel like too much.

So, I went straight to the source. I asked real mums who’ve lived through those exhausting, magical, messy first months,and parenting experts who work with new parents every day, to share the advice they wish they’d had.

Whether you’re looking for reassurance, practical tips, or a little “you’ve got this” boost, this is for you.

This is the wisdom they shared.

Take what feels right for you, leave the rest, and remember: you’ve got this!

Quick Takeaways (for sleep-deprived skimmers)

• Trust yourself: you are the expert on your baby.

• Lower the bar: a messy house is a sign of a loved baby, not a failing mum.

• Fed is best: choose what works for you and your baby.

• Ask for help: it really does take a village.

• It’s all a phase: the tough bits pass; a new stage always follows.​

New Mum Advice from Fellow Mums

I’ve grouped everything into themes so you can jump to what you need most right now.

All quotes are from real mums, used verbatim.

1. Trust Yourself & Your Instincts

• “Trust your instincts, you have the right to not listen to advice and opinions, even from the closest family, be kind to yourself and remember that whatever is your struggle now, it’s only a phase and it will pass.” — Ada, Mum of 3
• “Believe in yourself, you are doing an amazing job!” — Angela, Mum of 2
• “YOU are the EXPERT of your child! Trust your instincts.” — Lisa, Mum of 5
• “Whatever decision you make at a given time is the right decision for that moment. Don’t beat yourself up with regrets or guilt about how you should/could have done things differently.” — Catherine, Mum of 4
• “Trust your gut instincts and do what works for your family.” — Lisa, Mum of 2
• “Don’t listen to unwanted advice.” — Natasha, Mum of 1
• “Your baby, your rules.” — Natalie, Mum of 2
• “Trust your instincts, everything will be fine. You are worried about your baby and that means you are a very good mother. You don’t have to keep up with everything. Be as rested and relaxed as possible.” — Fatma, Mum of 1
• “Don’t be too hard on yourself. Things don’t have to be perfect and rarely are. Enjoy your precious time – it goes so fast. Make your own choices. You are the mum you know best .” — Sarah, Mum of 2
  

2. Feeding & Baby Care

• “Fed is best, do not pressure yourself to feed in a way that doesn’t suit you.” — Sophie, Mum of 3

• “Try to breastfeed if you can, if you can’t, don’t fret.” — Sara, Mum of 2

• “Enjoy it. Google breastfeeding holiday and enjoy it. You can still watch whatever you want either in bed or the sofa whenever you want. Let the housework slide; nothing matters now but your snuggles with you suckling baby.” — Venus, Mum of 1

• “Familiarise yourself with how to deal with colic, reflux, trapped wind, and another baby discomfort. I attended a number of anti-natal classes and was not ready when my newborn dealt with all of the above! Was a hard few months until I understood and knew how to help!” — Valery, Mum of 3

Recovery & “It’s a Phase”

• “For many women (me included) it will take much longer than 6 weeks to feel they are starting to recover and that is ok. The new mum advice that kept me going through the tough times during the first 4/5 months was that everything is a stage – it doesn’t feel like it at the time but it will end and a new phase will start soon enough.” — Rhiannon, Mum of 1

• “You will never have today back, good or tough. Also, trust your instinct.” — Meredith, Mum of 3

• “Some days it’s OK to ‘just survive’ there will be other days where you’ll thrive.” — Irini, Mum of 3

Rest, Self-Care & Sanity Savers

• “Rest, rest, rest after baby is born. Even if you have other kids. Rest, turn the TV on, get help from friends and neighbours so you can rest and recover with new baby. Drink lots and lots of water and don’t stress. The house will be messy and things will go undone but it’s ok. Just enjoy your tiny one being tiny and take care of you.” — Lauren, Mum of 3

• “Make sure you take time out for yourself.” — Dawn, Mum of 2

• “Make time for even the smallest act of self-care everyday. Don’t feel guilty/bad for feeling overwhelmed at times. Don’t compare yourself to other mums or your baby to other babies. Know that you are perfect for each other.” — Emma, Mum of 2

• “Put you first, without you nothing will work.” — Ellie, Mum of 2 & childminder

• “Look after yourself so you can look after others. Sleep whenever you get a chance. Simplify everything to make life easier.” — Natalija, Mum of 2

• “Don’t beat yourself up if you can’t be super mum and some days can’t even manage to get showered! Just do what you can delegating jobs to those who offer!!!” — Alison, Mum of 2

Find Your Village

• “Get out to baby groups when you can and make new mummy friends. I’ve made great friends through going to groups with my daughter who’s 4 now. They’re a great support system.” — Lisa, Mum of 2

• “Rest as much as possible and make some other new mum friends in the area. Having people going through the same stuff and being able to talk about it all with them creates such a good support system.” — Kate, Mum of 2

• “Please PLEASE never feel ashamed to ask for help. ‘It takes a village!’” — Lily, Mum of 1

• “Accept every bit of help.” — Fiona, Mum of 3

Savour the Sweet Bits

• “Enjoy the cuddles and when they don’t backchat. Follow your maternal instincts. You know more than you think!” — Pana, Mum of 3

• “Don’t spend time trying to please everyone. Accept help. Enjoy your baby if you can. Have lots of naked baths together. Fall asleep in your bed together. Don’t stress about what they are eating. Play them your favourite songs. Dance with them. Let them bite your nose. Taste their tears. Hold them close whenever you can. Don’t worry about what you look like (you have plenty of time for that). Share them with your friends and family. Sleep when they sleep (don’t hoover). Lay on the floor with them. Just cherish every moment. It is brief and you can never get it back!” — Nicola, Mum of 2

• “All us mums wing it every day. Mine is now a teenager and we are still feeling and finding our way. You will know what is right for you and please don’t let others tell you what is right. We bought second-hand everything, apart from mattress, because they grow so quickly and won’t mind if you have top-of-the-range pushchair or not. Buy a dummy if you need one! I sent my hubby out at midnight lol. Try to breastfeed if you can, if you can’t, don’t fret. When baby is born you will feel guilty that you should be doing something or other and folks will delight on telling u what you should be doing. Deep breath and just go with it, chuck.” — Sara, Mum of 2

Give Yourself (and Your Baby) Time

“Take time to get to know your baby and for them to get to know you. It takes around 6 weeks for your baby to adjust from the womb environment and to establish breastfeeding (if this is your chosen way of feeding your baby). Taking time to recuperate from your birth will be of such benefit. Love then, cuddle them and bring your baby up the way you want to, no one will know your baby better than you do.” — Maria Marsh, NCT antenatal practitioner & birth doula

You’re Not Alone – Reach Out

“Be kind to yourself & don’t be afraid to reach out for support. Having a baby fills your life with challenges so treat yourself kindly, some days you’ll be too tired to keep on top of things like housework and that’s okay, reach out for help if you need it! Also remember you’re not alone, there are so many other parents out there who can relate, connect with other families to give you some moral support, groups like this one are so great to help you find new friends!” — Elaine, Early Start Team at St Albans Family Centre Service