Getting the hang of motherhood

If, after two and a half months, I don’t feel like I’ve completely got the hang of motherhood, it seems I shouldn’t be beating myself up – according to a new survey, it can take two years to get to grips with becoming a parent.

Baby brand Munchkin spoke to 2,000 parents and discovered 58% of mothers feared they would never adjust to having a baby, while two-thirds thought it was as hard for dads to get used to their new role.

Even before the birth, more than half revealed they felt scared but two-thirds said they didn’t feel they could confide in anyone if they didn’t think things had clicked into place. Many didn’t want to make a big deal of their feelings assuming everyone felt the same, although if they did open up to anyone, it was usually their own mum.

On the plus side, the mums surveyed did feel they would eventually get the hang of motherhood once they’d cracked the following:

• Being in a good routine
• Knowing what to do when the baby is crying
• Not worried about dealing with the baby in public
• Not panicking when the baby is poorly
• Leaving the house with a spare change of clothes
• Being able to change a nappy quickly
• Having baby sleeping through the night
• Leaving the house with milk/food and snacks
• Always having a toy to entertain the baby
• Being able to leave the house on time

But it’s also worth remembering, in the middle of new mum panic, that two thirds of parent also said they wished they had been more relaxed and less worried, and enjoyed the experience more.

Image: marsmet525/Flickr