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A survey commissioned by baby-care brand MAM found that 3% of 1,000 UK parents surveyed said they trusted their parenting instincts. The results also point to difficulty settling babies and pressure around getting parenting decisions right, but the survey does not establish that information overload causes low confidence.
A survey of 1,000 UK parents found that just 3% said they trusted their parenting instincts, while 46% said they did not know how to settle their baby. The findings, commissioned by baby-care brand MAM and released during National Parenting Week, point to a gap between the abundance of parenting advice and parents’ reported confidence, though the survey does not prove that one causes the other.
The survey was conducted by Opinion Matters between September 18 and 22, 2026, among UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years. According to the results, 79% said more parenting information is available than ever, and 76% believed parents today face greater pressure to do everything right. Nearly half, 49%, said they had expected comforting a baby to be easier than they found it.
Only 5% said they could stay calm when their baby cried. The findings also describe concerns about ordinary outings: 43% worried their baby might become unsettled in a café or restaurant, 36% while shopping and 30% during a car journey. Twenty-nine percent worried about their first solo trip out with their baby.
Parents also reported difficulty sharing care. Nearly two-thirds, or 63%, said their baby settled only or best with them. Twenty-nine percent said they were uncomfortable leaving their baby with another caregiver, while 27% wished someone else could soothe the baby effectively enough to let them take a break.
Advice and Confidence at Home
The figures describe how parents in this survey experienced early caregiving: having more information available did not necessarily mean they felt able to interpret a baby’s needs or respond with confidence. That can matter in daily life, from settling a crying infant to deciding whether to go out or ask someone else to take over.
The results are a snapshot of self-reported views, not a clinical measure of parental wellbeing or evidence that online advice causes anxiety. Still, the reported pressure and difficulty asking for help highlight why reassurance and practical support may be important alongside information. The survey does not establish which forms of support would improve confidence.
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How the Survey Was Conducted
Opinion Matters surveyed 1,000 UK adults who had become parents within the previous decade. MAM commissioned the research, and the results were released during National Parenting Week, which the source dates to October 19–23, 2026. The survey findings reflect respondents’ answers; the supplied report does not give a margin of error or additional methodological detail.
MAM released the survey alongside the launch of its Pulsi baby-soothing device, described by the company as designed to recreate the pulsation of the umbilical cord and to be used with, rather than instead of, established soothing routines. MAM says its development programme involved 312 babies across two studies. The company also reports that 93.3% of 15 medical experts who tested the product said it calmed babies and that they would recommend it. Those figures are manufacturer-reported; they do not establish 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 a baby-soothing device
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Limits of the Reported Findings
The findings are based on parents’ own responses, and the supplied report does not state the survey’s margin of error, response rate or full question wording. It is also unclear whether the results represent UK parents as a whole. The survey cannot show that the volume of advice caused low confidence, or explain why respondents gave particular answers.
The available information also does not provide independent evidence on the soothing device’s effectiveness. MAM’s reported expert feedback is a company claim, and the supplied details do not include study results sufficient to judge how the device performed across all babies or compare it with other soothing methods.
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Support Beyond the Survey
The survey was released during National Parenting Week, but the source material does not announce a follow-up study or a public response from health authorities. Parents seeking help with a crying or unsettled baby can discuss concerns with a midwife, health visitor or clinician who knows their circumstances. Familiar soothing approaches mentioned in the report include cuddling, feeding, gentle rocking and skin-to-skin contact, depending on the baby’s needs.
MAM’s device launch is a separate commercial development accompanying the findings. Further independently reported evidence would be needed to assess its effectiveness. For now, the survey establishes what respondents said about confidence and caregiving; it does not settle why they feel that way or which intervention would make the most difference.
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Key Questions
What did the survey find about parents’ confidence?
Three percent of the 1,000 UK parents surveyed said they trusted their parenting instincts. Five percent said they could stay calm when their baby cried.
Who conducted and commissioned the survey?
Opinion Matters conducted the survey between September 18 and 22, 2026, among 1,000 UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years. Baby-care brand MAM commissioned it.
Does the research show that online advice causes anxiety?
No. The survey reports that many respondents perceived more advice and more pressure, alongside low confidence. It does not establish that information availability caused anxiety or reduced trust in instincts.
What did parents say about settling and caring for their babies?
Forty-six percent said they did not know how to settle their baby, and 63% said their baby settled only or best with them. These are self-reported survey results.
Has the accompanying soothing device been proven to work for all babies?
No such conclusion is supported by the supplied information. MAM reported positive feedback from experts involved in its development programme, but those are manufacturer-reported findings and do not show that the device will work for every baby.
Source: rss
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