· Half of new parents compare themselves to the shiny ‘Insta perfect’ version of parenthood
· Two thirds admit they set themselves unrealistic expectations
· Dedicated ‘me time’, chocolate and Netflix are top lifelines for new parents
· Asda Little Angels launches new podcast series, ‘Nappy Natters’ – an honest take on the whirlwind of emotions experienced during bump, birth and beyond
Becoming a new parent brings with it a rollercoaster of emotions and as rewarding as it is, an astonishing 90% of new mums and dads admit they feel like they’re ‘failing’.
According to research* by Asda Little Angels, over half (58%) admit they compare themselves to the shiny ‘Insta perfect’ image of young families portrayed by social media.
But it’s not all coordinated outfits, shiny hair, pristine onesies and endless smiles. Over half (53%) of new parents go months between date nights with their partners, face a never-ending pile of laundry (52%), don’t get dressed before midday (47%), tolerate cold cups of tea (40%) and go multiple days without showering (34%).
When it comes to getting through the early days with a new baby, over a third (37%) of new parents admit dedicated ‘me time’ is their biggest lifeline. This is followed by chocolate (35%), sharing experiencing with other parents (33%), Netflix (33%) and unloading stresses on friends and family (32%).
Upon entering the world of parenthood two thirds (67%) of new parents set admit they set themselves unrealistic expectations. The stark reality is that in the first year of their baby’s life, parents will spend a total of ten whole days changing nappies, 11 days attempting to get their baby to sleep, over 300 hours reading online parenting forums and 15 days doing the ‘airplane spoon’.
When it comes to getting through the early days with a new baby, over a third (37%) of new parents admit dedicated ‘me time’ is their biggest lifeline. This is followed by chocolate (35%), sharing experiencing with other parents (33%), Netflix (33%) and unloading stresses on friends and family (32%).
Top 10 lifelines for new parents:
#1 Dedicated ‘me time’
#2 Chocolate
#3 Sharing experiences with other parents
#4 Netflix
#5 Unloading stresses to friends and family
#6 Having a good cry to yourself
#7 Caffeine
#8 Social media
#9 Online parenting forums
#10 Podcasts
To celebrate all the thrills and spills of parenthood, Asda Little Angels has launched a new podcast series – Nappy Natters. Hosted by parents who have been through it all, the show gives an honest insight into the whirlwind of emotions experienced during bump, birth and beyond.
An Asda spokesperson, commented: “We want mums and dads to know they’re not the only people experiencing the imperfections of parenthood. For 81% of new parents, sharing the ups and downs with other mums and dads makes them feel ‘normal’. We hope that Nappy Natters provides the encouragement and comfort of knowing that they’re not in this crazy journey alone – we’re with them every step of the way.”
The first episode of Nappy Natters, the three-part podcast series, is available to download from iTunes and Acast now acast.com/nappynatters.
*Based on a poll by 4Media of 1,500 parents in the UK with children under five, April 2019