The most common questions Googled by new mums are ‘How can I get my child to sleep more’, ‘how to clear my baby’s nose’ and ‘why is my baby crying’, a study revealed today.
Researchers found thousands of mums turn to the internet to answer questions or concerns they have after having a baby, with health worries, sleeping habits and a child’s development, the most popular search topics.
Almost two thirds of mums even went as far as to describe Google as their ‘best friend’ during this time.
It also emerged as many as 85 per cent of mums felt they had no idea what they were doing after giving birth to their first child.
And almost three quarters described having a baby as the ‘biggest shock of their life’.
A spokesperson for Cussons Mum&Me Voice of Mums, which commissioned the research, said: ‘’Becoming a mum is a massive life-changing event, and it’s natural to feel unsure or apprehensive at times.
‘’The study results show that while mums often feel like the only one in the world worrying about a particular thing, more often than not it’s something really common that most mums will have experienced and asked for advice on.
‘’When you first bring your baby home, it can feel pretty daunting knowing you are responsible for this little person, who doesn’t come with an instruction manual.
‘This can be especially true when dealing with their first cold or illness.
‘’But every mum you know will have been there, so you don’t need to feel alone about asking them for advice.’’
The study, of 2,000 mums, also found that 82 per cent admit they feel constantly worried about their child.
And to put their mind at ease, during their pregnancy and in the weeks and months after giving birth, three quarters regularly turned to Google for answers to any questions or worries they had.
‘How can I help my baby sleep more’ is the most common question asked by new mums followed by ‘How do I clear a baby’s nose during a cold’.
‘How to treat a teething baby’ is third in the list, along with ‘how do I treat a baby’s cold’ and ‘when should I wean my baby’.
Other questions to feature include ‘why is my child crying’, ‘how much milk should my baby have’ and is my baby’s rash normal’.
‘Are my baby’s nappies normal’ and ‘how long should my baby sleep for’ completed the top ten.
The list also included questions such as ‘what is colic’, ‘how and when to potty train my child’, and ‘when should my child crawl or walk’.
As well as Googling answers to their questions, the study also found 26 per cent of mums have asked friends for advice on Facebook, while another 12 per cent have turned to Twitter.
Just over half have browsed parenting sites for the answer they are looking for, with 19 per cent actually posting their question on parenting forums.
Researchers found for some mums though, the questions start immediately, with more than one in ten turning to Google on the day they found they were expecting.
Another 17 per cent did so within a few days of a positive test result.
One in twenty even searched the internet to the answer to a question they had on the day they gave birth.
But 87 per cent of mums found they worried less as time went on and they adjusted to becoming a mum.
And eight in ten reckon they spent less time googling things and worrying with second or third children.
Top 20 most Googled questions:
1. How can I help my baby to sleep more/better?
2. How do I clear a baby’s nose during a cold?
3. How can I help a teething baby?
4. How do I treat a baby’s cold?
5. When should I wean my baby?
6. Why is my baby crying?
7. How much milk should my baby have?
8. Is my baby’s rash normal?
9. Is my baby’s poo/nappies normal?
10. How long should my baby sleep for?
11. What is colic?
12. How do I to potty train my child?
13. How often should my baby go to the toilet?
14. Does my baby have colic?
15. How do I get my child into a bedtime routine?
16. When should I start potty training?
17. My baby is constipated. What can I do?
18. When can I start to give my child water to drink?
19. When should my child start to crawl?
20. When should my child start to walk?
