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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, while 5% said they could stay calm when their baby cried. The survey describes parents’ reported experiences; it does not establish that information overload caused low confidence or represent all UK parents.
A survey of 1,000 UK parents found that just 3% said they trusted their parenting instincts, while 5% said they could stay calm when their baby cried. Commissioned by baby-care brand MAM and conducted by Opinion Matters, the findings highlight reported uncertainty among parents, but do not establish why confidence is low or represent every parent in the UK.
The survey included UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years. Opinion Matters conducted it from September 18 to 22, 2026, and the results were released during National Parenting Week, October 19–23. MAM commissioned the research, a detail relevant when weighing the findings alongside the company’s product launch.
Among respondents, 79% said more parenting information is available than ever, and 76% felt parents face greater pressure to get everything right. Nearly half, 46%, said they did not know how to settle their baby; 49% said comforting their baby was harder than they had expected. These are survey responses, not independent measures of parenting skill or evidence that online advice caused the difficulties.
Respondents also described worries about taking babies out: 43% worried about a baby becoming unsettled in a café or restaurant, 36% while shopping, and 30% during car journeys. A further 63% said their baby settled only or best with them; 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.
How Low Confidence Affects New Parents
The figures point to a reported gap between having access to advice and feeling sure about what to do. For parents of young babies, uncertainty around crying and settling can affect routine activities, including shopping, appointments and leaving home. The results also suggest that some parents feel strongly responsible for being the person who can calm their baby, which may make accepting help or taking a break harder.
These findings may help frame conversations about support for new parents, but they should not be treated as proof that parents generally lack confidence. The survey reflects the answers of a particular group, and the supplied report does not provide details on the sampling method, margin of error or how respondents were recruited. Nor does it test whether a particular form of advice or support improves confidence.
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Survey Released Alongside MAM Device
MAM managing director Damian Butler said the findings showed a confidence gap and argued that more advice does not necessarily reassure parents. His comments describe the company’s interpretation of its commissioned survey; the results themselves record respondents’ views and do not establish a cause.
The report was released alongside MAM’s launch of Pulsi, a baby-soothing device designed to reproduce the pulsation of the umbilical cord. The company says the rechargeable device is intended to complement established soothing routines rather than replace them. It reports that development testing involved 312 babies across two studies: 240 babies were involved in testing by 15 medical experts in six countries, and 72 families used the device at home for two weeks.
MAM says 93.3% of the medical experts involved reported that the device calmed babies and said they would recommend it. That is a manufacturer-reported result, not an independently established finding that the device will calm every baby or work for every family. The supplied material does not give further study methods or independent evidence.
“A baby crying doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.”
— Clare O’Brian, midwife involved in trialling the device
Limits of the Survey Findings
The survey is a commissioned poll of 1,000 UK adults who became parents within the previous 10 years. The available report does not specify its sampling or weighting methods, margin of error, or the breakdown of respondents by the age of their children. The results therefore cannot show how common these experiences are among all UK parents or whether they differ between new and more experienced parents.
The suggested link between plentiful advice and parental anxiety remains an interpretation, not a demonstrated cause. The source also gives no independent assessment of the Pulsi device’s reported results, and its testing description does not establish that the product works for all babies. No information is provided about longer-term use or comparisons with other soothing approaches.
Further Evidence and Parent Support
The supplied report does not announce a follow-up survey or a scheduled independent evaluation of the device. MAM’s launch is the next stated development; the company describes Pulsi as an addition to familiar soothing routines, not a replacement for them. Any broader conclusions about the product would require evidence beyond the manufacturer’s summary of its testing.
For readers trying to interpret the survey, the key distinction is between reported concern and proven cause: the poll documents what respondents said, while questions about what drives low confidence and which support helps remain open. Parents can use established sources of support and speak with a midwife or other qualified professional about individual concerns.
Key Questions
What did the survey find about trusting parenting instincts?
Three percent of respondents said they trusted their parenting instincts. The poll surveyed 1,000 UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years.
When was the survey conducted?
Opinion Matters conducted the survey from September 18 to 22, 2026. MAM released the findings during National Parenting Week, October 19–23, 2026.
Does the survey show that online advice causes parental anxiety?
No. Respondents reported that information is plentiful and that many feel pressure or uncertainty, but the survey does not establish that one causes the other.
What is MAM Pulsi?
MAM describes Pulsi as a rechargeable baby-soothing device designed to reproduce umbilical-cord pulsation. The company says it is intended to be used alongside established soothing routines; the supplied material does not establish that it works for every baby.
Source: rss
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