It's been a week since Kate was in labour and while, clearly, she doesnt need any advice in the hair department (with a hairdresser on hand to to create that blow dry) now that shes back at home with little George Alexander Louis, Kate Middleton could well be feeling like a lot of first-time mothers: a tiny bit lost.
The Duchess doesnt need to worry though, as a little digging around the ELLE office uncovered a goldmine of parenting advice, from those who have children and those who just remember being one, which is qualification enough in our eyes.
Read on for parenting pearls of wisdom from team ELLE (note: some are more useful than others):
Advice from the ELLE mums:
Eat everything everyone offers you. Especially muffins and hobnobs
Lorraine Candy, mum of four aged two to ten
Tell him what you are doing as you do it. 'Hello baby, I am going to lie you on your back, lift your legs, remove your nappy, wipe your bottom' etc. Its only polite'
Annabel Brog,Editor at large
If I had a child, I would advise you. I have a cat: 'feed it just to shut it up'*
Fern Ross, Chief Sub Editor
*Please don't tell the RSPCA
Forbid anyone from visiting unless they bring food
Emma Sells, Fashion Writer
Advice from the team who dont have babies:
Things my mom did that I think were good:
Never locked me out (though she'd always wait up to yell at me for being so late).
Let me climb trees/play in the creek/throw rocks with the boys.
Accepted that I was never going to listen to anything she had to say, until I was an adult, when I now listen to everything she has to say.
Let me lick the spoon/beaters when we were making cake
Miette L.Johnson, Art Director
My mum taught me how to make cheap dinners. Stovies were her classic Edinburgh Uni staple (potato and onion stew with any kind of leftover meat), made popular during the war. This could remind Kate and Wills of their Scottish relationship roots and help boost the trust fund when times are tight
Sophie Beresiner, Beauty Director
If the baby is crying it probably wants something. If you give it everything you have and it's still crying, it's probably evil
Jamie Spence, Picture Assistant
Put your shoulders back, your boobs won't grow in the shade
Lara Ferros, Picture Editor
Im childless so I have no advice but from watching my friends who are mums I would say that 1) you cant worry about getting your baby into routine, theyll dictate that. 2) Sleep/rest when they are sleeping. 3) Make time for yourself and your partner/husband, it cant all be about the baby even if you might want it to be
Amy Lawrenson, Senior Beauty Writer
Dont feel like you have to be some kind of supermum who hand-knits organic woollen booties, never lets him watch cartoons past his bedtime or succumbs to his demands for tooth-rotting sweets. Everyone does it. Seriously, its fine
Fiona McKim, Beauty Intern
