Being a new parent can be exhausting and overwhelming.

We are so thankful to have a community of women within Hampstead Mums that are supportive of one another. But as a new mum it can be difficult to make that initial step forward, to ask questions or even to know what questions to ask!

To help welcome all the new mums in the area we asked the members of our community to share with us their tips about early motherhood and navigating the local area with a child in tow. We are so thankful to have been inundated with words of wisdom, kindness and practical tips -

“It’s ok to cry, its ok to be scared. It’s ok to ask for help. And to smile, laugh, love and BREATHE!”

“Invest in a small lightweight buggy to help you get out and about! Nothing worse then the moment you realise your amazing buggy system doesn’t fit or fold up easily when trying to get on the 268 bus!”

“The Sherriff Centre is a hidden gem, its a soft play/cafe/church/post office in west hampstead. Breastfeeding friendly, comfy and lovely coffee”

“Get some fresh air every day even if just for a moment! We are so lucky to have the heath on our doorstep to stroll around. I found being stuck in the house so difficult and I would just watch the clock until my husband came home. When I made the choice to leave the house, even just to walk to the end of the road and back, it broke the day up and really helped my sanity”

“If it matters to you, it matters. Everyone told me to sleep when the baby slept, to not worry about the washing up etc. But actually I would just lie in bed thinking about the washing up! So counterproductive, just doing the washing up instead of spending an hour doing what I thought I should, made me feel so much better and then I could rest properly”

“Antenatal classes are great, but actually I wish I had invested more time educating myself about the postnatal period.”

“Golders Hill park is my favourtie place, animals, cafe and brilliant playground. They even have a butterfly house! My little one loves it”

“Hampstead community center have some amazing drop-in classes. Just as good (actually some even better!) as the ones you pay a fortune for.”

“The best buggy friendly cafe’s - Kojo on Rosslyn Hill, Roni’s in Belsize village and Euphorium in West Hampstead”

“Don’t stress so much about the sleeping thing … Just go with whatever works best for you and your baby. But if you are super stressed and finding it hard invest in a sleep consultant! Ask the Hampstead mums group for recommendations. I had my baby years ago, so not so up to date on latest recommendations”

“There are no ‘shoulds’: they ‘should’ be sleeping through the night by now, they ‘should’ self settle, they ‘should’ not fall asleep on the boob. Every baby is different”

“I invested in some therapy for myself in my postnatal period. I was finding it really hard and getting some extra support to understand what I was feeling was the best thing I could have done. I saw an excellent hypnotherapist who was recommended to me by another Hampstead Mum. Ask on the group if you are struggling or just do a quick search in the group and I am sure you will find her contact details, loads have used her (not sure if I can share here her name?)”

“Swiss Cottage toy library is amazing and somewhere I went often”

“Primrose Hill playground was my god send, made so many lovely friends and just enjoyed being outside”

“Invest in a doula for the birth or postnatal period. Antenatal classes are great for making local friends but feeling positive about your birth and support in those first few months (especially when typically dad’s go back to work) really helps how you feel during the postnatal period”

“Put on some nice clothes! It honestly makes such a difference to your confidence.”

“Ignore all horror stories of other mothers and all boasting stories of other mothers. Congratulations! Welcome to a world where you no longer put yourself first – every decision you will now make you will automatically think of how it will effect your little person first, not you. And it is OK.”

Things I wish I knew - tips for a new mum from the Hampstead Mums community

Being a new parent can be exhausting and overwhelming.

We are so thankful to have a community of women within Hampstead Mums that are supportive of one another. But as a new mum it can be difficult to make that initial step forward, to ask questions or even to know what questions to ask!