Truths about parenthood you only know once you’ve had kids…
From nothing quite comparing to the pain of standing on a LEGO brick with bare feet, to quiet not always being a good sign and hangovers becoming the absolute WORST – there are many things that you only know once you become a parent.
Anyway, a nationwide survey of new parents has revealed some of the pearls of wisdom we only become aware of after having our first child.
Among the many truths about parenthood that you only learn once you have kids, the study found that becoming a parent means never finishing a cup of tea again, eating most meals with one hand becoming a regular occurrence, and going to the bathroom in peace being a thing of the past.
Almost half (43 percent of parents) admitted they weren’t expecting that leaving the house would become such a military operation, and 17 percent of parents didn’t realise that their back would always hurt.
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Other shocks for new parents included always feeling tired (according to 39 percent of parents), and assuming that they would be able to take their child anywhere.
Things you only learn when you’re a parent…
1. Leaving the house becomes a military operation
2. You feel complete, unconditional love for the first time
3. Baby wipes are not just for baby’s bums
4. You will always be tired
5. Going to the bathroom in peace will be a thing of the past
6. You can function on four hours sleep
7. Quiet isn’t always good sign
8. Never forget the changing bag
9. You will never tire of staring at your baby
10. You will eat most of your meals with one hand
11. Your child’s skin is the best smell ever
12. Your carpets and sofas will have permanent stains
13. Staying at home with a baby IS harder than being in the office
14. Worrying will become your new hobby
15. You care about someone else’s bodily functions
16. You know who your real friends are
17. You’ll know how much everything costs
18. Your baby will have better cosmetics and clothes than you do
19. Nothing compares to the pain of standing on Lego with bare feet
20. Everything will get covered in sick
21. You will turn into your mother or father
22. You will never finish a cup of tea or coffee again
23. You end up Googling EVERYTHING
24. You will regularly be embarrassed in public
25. It’s impossible not to put on a ‘baby’ voice
26. Some spills are worse than others
27. You have to rely on catch-up TV
28. You ring your mum before a doctor
29. Your back will always hurt
30. You can get by with showering three days
31. A strong coffee will get you though most things
32. Single friends will stop inviting you to dinner parties
33. Sometimes a glass of wine is the only answer
34. Hangovers get way worse
35. Your Instagram feed will be 90 percent pictures of your child
Despite NCT classes, Google and self-help books, the research revealed we still rely on our mums for advice over anyone else, with 45 percent of parents saying they could not have managed without the advice of their mum.
Overall, 71 percent of those polled felt social media made parents more competitive, with 22 percent saying they feel constant pressure to be the “perfect parent”.
In addition to which, the main concerns for new parents were development (which worried 27 percent of people), feeding (22 percent) and sleeping (9 percent).
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The poll of over 1,500 UK parents, commissioned by AVEENO Baby, found the importance of baby wipes cannot be understated, with 41 percent of parents taken aback to discover they are not just for baby’s bottoms but can make life easier with many other uses.
Speaking about the study, AVEENO Baby skin expert, Rebecca Bennett said: “Becoming a parent is an amazing experience, but we understand that entering this new chapter of life can also bring with it a great deal of stress and worry, so we wanted to discover more about what new parents experience in the first few years, what they wish they had known and how best we can support them.
“From what you put in your baby’s mouth to what you put on their skin, every small decision becomes much bigger and you worry you might not be making the right choice, or are being judged by others.
“We want to give new parents the confidence to feel they are making the right choices for their baby’s skin, so they feel more in control of this element of their new path of discovery.”
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