Five years ago, I wasn’t a parent. Now I’m a mother of 3 delightful darlings. It’s easy to say, that by far the easiest baby has been the third one. He is easy going and relaxed. He behaves like that perfect baby they must have used to write all the parenting books. But apparently, this is more to do with how relaxed I am as a mother the third time round, and the baby following suit. I’d like to think his personality type plays a big part too.

It is true, I am certainly more relaxed this time round, and here are a few things I’ve learnt about parenting along the way that I wish I knew from the start:

Babies bounce (a little bit)

Now I’m being totally honest. I’ve dropped two of my children. Not off balconies or anything. My first ‘incident’ was in the early hours of the morning, feeding my first born child, who was – oh say 3 months old. In fairness, a GIANT huntsman (I’m talking the size of your palm s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out) attacked me. I was on the lounge in our bed room, loving gazing at baby when this MONSTER climbed up my leg and ON TO MY FACE. True story. The next part horrifying: I screamed, THREW THE BABY to the floor, clawed at my face whilst my husband sustained carpet burns in his haste to wake up, get out of bed and to us on the floor. Needless to say, I was traumatised for months after. So was our neighbourhood.

The second ‘incident’ occurred with baby number three, just home a day or so from hospital and I fall asleep on the couch after feeding him. Next minute, the whole house awoke to a THUD! Waaaahhh! Baby had rolled off (Mother let go of?? Unsure) onto the floor. Our reaction this time? Hubby ‘thought’ he heard something, but didn’t get up and I scooped up baby and lay back down with him. See experience!

They talk to you

Babies are always trying to communicate with us. It just takes a bit to figure it out. I’m no baby whisperer, but I am definitely more in tune third time round as I’m spending a lot less time being anxious about everything I’m doing.

Disposable nappies and television are awesome

There are loads of things I was dead against as a first time mum. Why? My reasons weren’t always clear, but boy did I have some conviction. But some things I thought I’d hate, I find so much love for these days. The sweet sound of Dora keeping the kids happy during witching hour while I cook dinner. Or a bag of disposable nappies for a big day out or bout of gastro. Believe me, I don’t think I thought through three kids in MCN’s very well.

Heaps of stuff doesn’t matter

Like cleaning all the time, they’ll only mess it up again in a minute. I save the big tidy for when they go to bed, that way I’ve got more time for them during the day. I had to work to let go of this, and to my surprise friends still come round if the house isn’t perfect. On big weeks I just put out a washing basket for each person and fling their clean washing in there. If everything is crazy then we just have fish fingers for dinner. They are actually really nice in a burrito.

Bibs are the best

Bibs save LOADS of washing. Enough said.

Bathing = Optional

Unless they are visibly dirty, they are staying that way. I must have nearly washed my eldest son’s skin off as a baby, I tell you.

Activities to induce exhaustion

This is my number one tip for having more than one child. Do stuff that makes them really tired every day. Other than going to the park or riding our bikes, we go out on bush or beach walks. We put things we find (obviously I’m thinking sticks, leaves and shells rather than rubbish or used condoms) in a bag, bring them back an hour or two later and spend another hour or two sticking them in books, colouring them, painting or taking photos of them or ripping them to tiny pieces all over the kitchen floor. My kids love this and they never seem to get bored of it. With any luck the baby will sleep the entire time. And hopefully everyone will sleep the entire night with exhaustion.

What are your best parenting tips you wish you had from the start? Please share with us!