Are you doing 鈥榯he parent thing鈥 right? Is everyone judging how you鈥檙e coping? Is the life you knew pre-baby gone forever? And how can you meet other parents in the same situation?
These are just some of the things TV personality Dani Dyer wants to open up about as part of her new role as a 91热爆 Tiny Happy People ambassador. She hopes sharing experiences from her own journey as a young single mum can help other new parents.
Dani gave birth to her son Santiago in January 2021 at the age of 24.
It was a rewarding first year, but one that also came with challenges.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a bubble that you鈥檙e in鈥
鈥淚 honestly wasn't prepared for the rush of hormones,鈥 Dani says. 鈥淚t was a bit hard for me at the beginning. I really did struggle.鈥
When Santiago - or Santi - was born Dani felt she spent a lot of time comparing herself to other parents.
鈥淚 always used to think, 鈥榃hy can't I breastfeed?鈥 I really, really struggled with that. I put so much pressure on myself.鈥
鈥淚 shouldn't have compared so much. I shouldn't have looked online. I should have just enjoyed my baby bubble and just gone with it.鈥
Looking back, Dani worries that she didn鈥檛 enjoy Santi when he was a newborn.
鈥淚 do say to my mum, 鈥楧id I enjoy him being a newborn?鈥 I think, 鈥楧id I?鈥 And my mum says, 鈥楧an, You did. You loved it!.鈥 But I honestly can't remember.鈥
It was in lockdown, so it was hard for me because I felt like I didn't have other mum friends that I could go and see and talk to.
鈥淏ut eventually I did find some lovely baby groups, which I honestly think are amazing.鈥
Dani finds comfort in the advice that members of her parenting group share.
鈥淵ou want to talk to other mums, you want to know how they're getting on, and just having that positive support around you is so important.鈥
鈥淵ou sometimes need to offload and go, 鈥榊ou know what? I鈥檝e been up all night. Have you got any tips? Is there anything I can do?鈥欌
鈥淏eing a mum can sometimes be really lonely鈥
Having a good support system has really helped Dani, especially as a single parent.
鈥淚 think being a mum can sometimes be really lonely, and it is important to speak out and share that.鈥
Being honest about when you鈥檙e having a bad day, or feeling lonely is something Dani thinks parents should do more often, because it鈥檚 something that every parent can relate to.
This is one of the reasons Dani is so excited to become a Tiny Happy People ambassador.
鈥淚 just love that it's such a positive online platform for you to go to for guidance,鈥 she says. 鈥淭here's a lovely community on there and I鈥檓 just really excited to be a part of it.鈥
鈥淢um and Dad have been there for me鈥
A major part of Dani鈥檚 support system is her mum. Whenever she鈥檚 needed advice or reassurance, she鈥檚 been there to lend a hand, just as Dani鈥檚 nana looked after her when she was younger.
鈥淚f my mum doesn't see me for a few days, I genuinely really miss her."
We鈥檝e got such a lovely relationship. She was only 18 when she had me, so she's like my best friend, and she absolutely loves the baby. We spend so much time together.
鈥淓ven if it is just sitting there with a cup of tea, I really do need her. And I'm grateful that I've got my mum.鈥
That鈥檚 not forgetting Dani鈥檚 dad either, and his new role as grandad. Dad Danny may play some tough roles on TV, but becoming a grandparent has shown how sweet he is.
鈥淭he way they鈥檝e been there for me is honestly, just such a dream,鈥 she explains. 鈥淭here have been some long nights, if Santi鈥檚 not been well, where I really struggled and I鈥檝e just needed to have a chat or a sleep in the afternoon. And they鈥檝e been there for me.鈥
鈥淜nowing I've got them, I am blessed with that.鈥
鈥淚 am a lot stronger than I thought鈥
While Dani has found support from her fellow mum friends and her family, she has also found strength within herself.
鈥淚鈥檝e definitely learned that I am a lot stronger than I thought I was,鈥 Dani shares. 鈥淎t the beginning, I really did doubt myself being a mum, but now I've definitely changed and grown as a person.鈥
Although there were times when Dani felt out of her depth, she found she was able to adapt.
鈥淚 remember sitting there thinking, 鈥業 don't know how I'm gonna do this?鈥 鈥楬ow am I gonna look after this baby?鈥 He was still so little, but you just find your own thing.鈥
She continues: 鈥淚t's actually so surprising how we can adapt to change because there was a point for me where I was struggling. I didn't really know what to do. And now, I've really fit into my own routine. I love it!.鈥
鈥淚 try and go out every day for a walk, go to the park or meet friends. I feel like you really do need that鈥 having that time is so important for your mental health.鈥
Finding that support system of friends old and new, as well as family, is one of Dani鈥檚 biggest tips to new parents.
鈥淗ave a little bit of you time鈥
The more we get used to a new situation, the more likely we are to find our own short-cuts through it. It鈥檚 no different for Dani, who has a few tips of her own to share with the Tiny Happy People community.
鈥淢y day-to-day tips,鈥 she begins, 鈥渁re when Santi goes to bed, I get everything organised. I get his outfit ready and his meals prepped for the next day if I need to.鈥
She continues: 鈥淥nce your baby鈥檚 in bed, have a little bit of you-time, watch telly, have dinner鈥 and have a nice little bath. I feel like that has been so important for me. Once my baby鈥檚 in bed, then it鈥檚 me-time.鈥
Since being involved with Tiny Happy People, Dani has found the website a useful tool when it comes to learning more about child development. She often plays activities like 鈥楶eekaboo鈥 with Santi.
鈥淗e copies me,鈥 she says 鈥渁nd all of a sudden he's sort of doing it to me. It's actually amazing how much they're learning, how much they're developing without you even realising.鈥
鈥淚 think the content is brilliant! There are short, easy to do activity ideas that you can fit into your everyday routine. It鈥檚 all about talking to your little one, just talking about what you're doing can really help. If you're washing up, tell 'em, or talk about what they're having for dinner.鈥
It's so, so important to just chat to your baby because it really does help with their language skills.
When it comes down to it, for Dani, there鈥檚 no greater reward than having this brand new little boy in her life, who鈥檚 been life-changing in his own special way.
鈥淓verything is for Santi and I feel like that's just been really, really important for me. Everything I've done is for him, he鈥檚 everything to me. He鈥檚 completed my life.鈥