Social media can be an incredibly useful tool for new parents. By following accounts of organisations and support groups dedicated to providing advice and resources to new parents, you can have a wealth of knowledge right at your fingers tips and also connect with other parents that are going through the same or similar situations as you.
It’s also a nice idea to follow the accounts of celebrities and influencers who have had babies at the same time as you. They are often very honest about their experiences and can be another avenue for reassurance and help if you just need a boost or to remember that you are doing a GREAT JOB as a new parent.
However, sometimes social media can be an unhealthy place to seek advice and following accounts that make you feel inadequate, sad or lonely is not a good idea!
Unfollow anybody who makes you feel bad about yourself or your parenting as this will not do anything to help your mental health and wellbeing.
Many of us try to project what we want people to see via our social media accounts and the images and stories you see on your screen might not be the reality of that person’s life.
It’s difficult, but social media should not be used as a way to compare ourselves to others but instead a way to network and find like-minded people who can bring positives to our lives.
It’s also a way that we can share our own journeys – and whether you want to only show the good, the bad or a mixture of the two is completely up to you but you must remember that everyone has the right to do the same thing on social media and feel unjudged.
Some parenting sites are ‘moderated’ and may ask you to agree to a set of standards and expectations of your language and behaviour to encourage everyone to be respectful of one another. Some may also have input from professionals such as psychologists, midwives or health visitors so it may be useful to check where the content or advice is coming from.
Be aware also that anything you post is likely to be in the public domain and can be viewed widely.
Sometimes parents will use social media as a way to ask health-related questions about their baby. This can sometimes result in conflicting, and even unsafe, advice being shared. If you have any concerns about the wellbeing of your baby please refer to the NHS website, or speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsupported by fellow parents on social media, ask yourself the following questions so that you can get the best out of the platforms and not the worst.
Does this account make you feel bad about yourself?
If the answer is yes – UNFOLLOW
Do the comments from other users on this account make you feel unhappy or worry about your own parenting?
If the answer is yes – UNFOLLOW
Do you find yourself obsessively checking this account and thinking about how your life does not match up to the images on your screen?
If the answer is yes – UNFOLLOW
Have you received negative messages from other users either in your comments or via private message?
If the answer is yes – UNFOLLOW and then report the account and if necessary block the account
If you are able to ask yourself these questions and unfollow those accounts that do not make you feel happy, you will find that social media can and will be a positive space for you to share, learn and support others.
Useful accounts to follow
Without endorsement, here are some useful accounts to follow if you are a new parent:
