You can read an entire library of parenting books but sometimes the most important information can only be learnt on the job.
But thankfully, the Mumsnet community is on hand to help.
User SharingMichelle started a message thread on the site, which attracts over nine million views a month, to encourage mums to share the parenting hacks they ‘learned years too late’.
Her own included ‘headphones for long car journeys’ and peeling ‘the negative space off the sticker sheet’ so your youngster can remove the stickers themselves.
Her honesty received 278 responses with many agreeing or thanking the Mumsnet member but it also sparked other mothers to share their own tips and tricks for handling parenthood.
One user, known as ClearEyesFullHeartsCantLose, wrote: ‘Lift the flaps on the sides of juice cartons so the kids can use them as handles and not squeeze juice all over themselves.’
While another added: ‘Mine was put a muslin square down at the baby’s head end of crib/moses basket/cot then when or if they spit up just remove that and fresh one down. No sheet changing.’
User RattieOfCatan was particularly grateful for the hacks, writing: ‘I love this thread. I’m a nanny and have been for 6 years, you’d think I would have worked some of these out by now! Oh well, in time for my own kids at least!’
Maybe it’s time to bin the books and just hang out on Mumsnet instead?
