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A survey commissioned by baby-care brand MAM found that 3% of 1,000 UK parents surveyed said they trust their parenting instincts, while 5% said they can stay calm when their baby cries. The findings describe parents’ reported confidence and concerns; they do not establish that information overload causes anxiety or that any particular soothing product works.
A survey commissioned by baby-care brand MAM found that just 3% of 1,000 UK parents surveyed said they trust their parenting instincts, while 5% said they can stay calm when their baby cries. Released during National Parenting Week, the results point to reported uncertainty among parents, although the survey does not show that a particular cause is responsible.
Research firm Opinion Matters conducted the survey from September 18 to 22, 2026, among 1,000 UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years. MAM commissioned the research. The results reflect respondents’ answers, rather than a clinical assessment of parental confidence or anxiety.
In the survey, 79% said there is more parenting information available than ever before, and 76% said parents face more pressure today to do everything right. Nearly half, 46%, said they do not know how to settle their baby; 49% said comforting their baby was harder than they had expected. These figures describe the respondents’ views and experiences, not a comparison with an earlier survey or a measured change over time.
Parents also reported worries about outings: 43% worried their baby might become unsettled in a café or restaurant, 36% during shopping and 30% on car journeys. Twenty-nine percent worried about their first solo trip out with their baby, while 22% cited flying and 21% a doctor’s appointment. The survey report does not provide further breakdowns by the child’s age or other respondent characteristics.
How Low Confidence Shapes Daily Life
The findings matter because the concerns described reach beyond choosing among online advice. Parents surveyed reported uncertainty about soothing a crying baby and worries about ordinary activities such as shopping, appointments and travel. For some families, those concerns may make leaving home or sharing caregiving feel harder, though the survey does not measure the effect on day-to-day behavior.
The responses also highlight a tension: parents say information is plentiful, but that does not mean they feel confident deciding which guidance applies to their baby. The results cannot establish that the volume of advice causes low confidence. They do show that, among those surveyed, access to information and a sense of reassurance are not the same thing.
Support from other caregivers is another part of the picture. Sixty-three percent said their baby only settles, or settles best, with them; 29% said they were not comfortable leaving their baby with another caregiver. A further 27% wished someone else could soothe the baby as effectively so they could take a break. Those are reported feelings, not evidence that a parent should or should not hand over care.
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Survey and Product Launch Context
MAM released the survey during National Parenting Week, October 19–23, 2026. The company also announced MAM Pulsi, a rechargeable baby-soothing device intended to recreate the pulsation of the umbilical cord. According to MAM, it is designed for use alongside established soothing routines, not as a replacement for them.
MAM says the device’s development programme involved 312 babies across two studies. The company reports that 15 medical experts tested it with 240 babies in six countries, and 72 families used it 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. These are manufacturer-reported results; the source material does not provide enough study detail to independently assess the findings or establish that the device will work for every baby.
The survey report mentions familiar ways of comforting babies, including cuddling, feeding, gentle rocking and skin-to-skin contact, depending on the baby’s needs and circumstances. It does not identify one approach as effective for every child. Parents with questions about a baby’s care can seek guidance from a pediatrician or other qualified health professional.
“A baby crying doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.”
— Clare O’Brian, a midwife involved in trialling MAM Pulsi
What the Survey Cannot Establish
The figures come from a single survey commissioned by MAM, and the source report does not provide a sampling method, margin of error, questionnaire wording or detailed respondent breakdowns. It is not clear how representative the 1,000 respondents are of all UK parents. The results should be read as reported responses from this sample, not as a precise measure of every parent’s experience.
The survey does not prove that online information or pressure to be perfect causes low confidence. It also does not establish whether parents’ reported concerns have increased over time, because no earlier comparison is supplied. The product testing figures cited by MAM are separate from the survey results and do not establish that MAM Pulsi is effective for all babies.
Further Evidence and Parent Support
MAM’s release ties the findings to its launch of MAM Pulsi, but the supplied material gives no schedule for additional research or independent evaluation. Further information about the survey methods and fuller study results would help readers judge how broadly the findings apply and how the device testing was conducted.
For now, the report’s main development is a snapshot of what surveyed parents say about confidence, crying and outings. Parents seeking advice about their own baby can discuss concerns with a pediatrician or other qualified professional; the survey does not replace individualized guidance.
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 survey was commissioned by MAM and conducted from September 18 to 22, 2026.
Did the survey find that 3% of all parents trust their instincts?
No. The reported figure is that 3% of the survey respondents said they trust their parenting instincts. The source does not establish that the sample represents every UK parent.
Does the research prove that too much online advice causes parental anxiety?
No. Respondents reported that information is widely available and that many feel pressure, but the survey does not establish that either factor causes low confidence or anxiety.
What is MAM Pulsi?
MAM Pulsi is a rechargeable baby-soothing device that MAM says is designed to recreate the pulsation of the umbilical cord and be used alongside established soothing routines. The reported testing results come from the manufacturer, and the source does not show that it works for every baby.
Source: rss
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