TL;DR
Turn the school run and nap time into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
A survey commissioned by baby-care brand MAM found that 3% of 1,000 UK parents surveyed said they trusted their parenting instincts, while 5% said they could stay calm when their baby cried. The findings describe reported worries and confidence levels; they do not establish that information overload caused them or represent all parents.
A survey of 1,000 UK parents found that 3% said they trusted their parenting instincts and 5% said they could stay calm when their baby cried, according to findings released by baby-care brand MAM during National Parenting Week. The results point to reported uncertainty among parents, but the survey does not show that information overload caused it.
Opinion Matters conducted the survey between September 18 and 22, 2026, among UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years. MAM commissioned the research. The figures reflect respondents’ answers, not a clinical assessment of parenting confidence or a measure of how all UK parents feel.
In the survey, 79% said more parenting information is available than ever, and 76% said parents face more pressure today to do everything right. At the same time, 46% said they did not know how to settle their baby, while 49% said comforting their baby had been harder than they expected. The findings show that respondents reported both abundant advice and difficulty feeling confident; they do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the two.
Parents also reported concerns about ordinary outings: 43% worried their baby might become unsettled in a café or restaurant, 36% while shopping and 30% during car journeys. Nearly two-thirds, or 63%, said their baby settled only or best with them. A further 29% said they were uncomfortable leaving their baby with another caregiver, and 27% wished someone else could soothe the baby as effectively so they could take a break.
Low Confidence Meets Everyday Parenting
The results describe how reported anxiety can extend beyond soothing a crying baby to leaving home, sharing caregiving and taking a break. For families, those concerns may make early outings and asking others for help feel harder, although the survey did not measure effects on parents’ health or daily routines.
The figures also offer a snapshot of the tension between plentiful information and confidence in applying it. More available advice does not necessarily tell a parent which guidance fits their baby or situation. The study does not test whether reducing online information, changing advice or using a particular product would improve confidence, so its findings should not be read as evidence for a specific solution.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Findings Were Collected
The research was commissioned by MAM and carried out by Opinion Matters among 1,000 UK adults who had become parents within the previous decade. The survey ran September 18-22, 2026, and its findings were released for National Parenting Week, listed in the report as October 19-23, 2026.
MAM released the survey alongside the launch of its Pulsi baby-soothing device, which the company says is designed to recreate the pulsation of the umbilical cord and to be used alongside established soothing routines. MAM reported that its development programme involved 312 babies across two studies. The company says 15 medical experts tested it with 240 babies in six countries, and 72 families used it at home for two weeks. MAM also said 93.3% of participating medical experts reported that it calmed babies and that they would recommend it. These are manufacturer-reported results, not independent proof that the device will work for every baby.
“A baby crying doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.”
— Clare O’Brian, a midwife involved in trialling MAM’s soothing device
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Limits of the Survey Evidence
The findings are based on self-reported answers from 1,000 UK adults; the supplied report does not provide details such as the sampling method, response rate or margin of error. It is not clear how representative the respondents are of UK parents overall, or whether results differ by the child’s age, family circumstances or other factors.
The survey identifies parents’ views but does not establish why they feel uncertain, whether the amount of advice contributes to that uncertainty, or how long the reported concerns last. The available material also does not include independent evaluation of MAM Pulsi, and the company’s reported trial results do not show how the device compares with other soothing approaches or how it performs for babies generally.
baby car seat with comfort features
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
What Parents and Researchers Can Learn
The report does not announce a follow-up survey or a planned independent study. Further information about the research methods and the device studies would help readers evaluate the findings, including how participants were recruited, how outcomes were measured and whether results were independently reviewed.
For now, the survey offers a limited snapshot of what respondents said during the early years of parenting. It does not establish that parents should rely on a device or any single soothing method. The report notes familiar approaches such as cuddling, feeding, gentle rocking and skin-to-skin contact, depending on a baby’s needs and circumstances; parents with concerns about their baby can seek guidance from a qualified health professional.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Who took part in the survey?
Opinion Matters surveyed 1,000 UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years. The research was commissioned by MAM and conducted September 18-22, 2026.
What did parents report about trusting their instincts?
Three percent of respondents said they trusted their parenting instincts, while 5% said they could stay calm when their baby cried. These are survey responses, not measures of all UK parents.
Does the survey prove that online advice causes parenting anxiety?
No. Respondents reported that parenting information is widely available and that many found settling their baby difficult, but the survey does not establish that one caused the other.
What is MAM Pulsi?
MAM describes Pulsi as a baby-soothing device designed to recreate the pulsation of the umbilical cord. The company says it is intended to complement established soothing routines; the supplied material does not provide independent evidence that it works for every baby.
Source: rss
Cold & flu season Picks
humidifiers
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
