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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. The poll also found widespread concerns about pressure, settling babies and leaving home, but it does not establish that information overload caused parents’ low confidence.
A survey of 1,000 UK parents found that just 3% said they trust their parenting instincts, while 5% said they can stay calm when their baby cries. The findings, commissioned by baby-care brand MAM and released during National Parenting Week, point to reported uncertainty among parents, though the survey does not prove what is causing it.
The poll was conducted by research firm Opinion Matters from September 18 to 22, 2026. Participants were UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years. MAM said the research reflects a confidence gap amid the volume of parenting advice and pressure parents feel to get things right; that explanation is the company’s interpretation of the survey, not a finding that establishes cause and effect.
Among respondents, 79% said more parenting information is available than ever, and 76% said parents face more pressure today to do everything right. Nearly half, 46%, said they did not know how to settle their baby, while 49% said comforting their baby had proved harder than they expected.
Parents also reported worries about taking babies out: 43% were concerned their baby might become unsettled at a café or restaurant, 36% while shopping, and 30% during car journeys. Twenty-nine percent worried about their first solo outing with their baby; 22% cited air travel and 21% a doctor’s appointment.
Low Confidence Reaches Daily Routines
The results describe concerns that can affect ordinary decisions, from whether to go shopping to whether another caregiver can take over. Almost two-thirds (63%) said their baby settles only, or settles best, with them. Meanwhile, 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.
These figures matter as a snapshot of what surveyed parents say they experience, not as a measure of every family’s circumstances. The poll suggests that having more advice available does not necessarily make parents feel more assured. It does not show that online information itself makes anxiety worse, or that every parent faces the same pressures.
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The Survey Behind the Findings
MAM commissioned Opinion Matters to survey 1,000 UK adults who had become parents in the prior decade. The fieldwork took place over five days in September 2026, and the results were released during National Parenting Week, scheduled for October 19–23, 2026. The source report does not provide further methodological detail here, such as the survey’s margin of error or how respondents were recruited.
The report also accompanied the launch of MAM Pulsi, a company-developed baby-soothing device intended to reproduce the pulsation of the umbilical cord. MAM says it is designed to complement established soothing routines rather than replace them. The company reported testing involving 312 babies across two studies and said 93.3% of 15 participating medical experts said the device calmed babies and that they would recommend it. Those are manufacturer-reported results, not independent evidence that the device works for all babies.
“A baby crying doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.”
— Clare O’Brian, a midwife involved in trialling the MAM Pulsi device
What the Poll Cannot Establish
The results are based on a survey commissioned by a company that sells baby-care products. The source does not report a margin of error, a comparison with earlier surveys, or enough information about recruitment to assess how closely the respondents represent all UK parents. The percentages should be read as responses from this sample, not as a precise count of every parent in the country.
It is also unclear whether information overload causes low confidence. The poll records reported views and concerns but does not demonstrate why parents feel that way. The device research is described by MAM, and the available account does not give enough detail to independently assess its methods or outcomes. The findings do not show that MAM Pulsi will calm every baby.
How Parents Can Read the Findings
The survey’s release is tied to National Parenting Week, October 19–23, 2026. No further independent follow-up research or evaluation of the findings is specified in the source report. Readers should watch for additional methodological details or research that tests whether advice access, parental confidence and soothing experiences are linked.
MAM says its device is intended for use alongside familiar soothing approaches, not as a replacement. The report names cuddling, feeding, gentle rocking and skin-to-skin contact as examples that may suit a baby’s needs and circumstances, but it does not identify one method that works for every child. Parents with concerns about a baby’s crying or care can seek guidance from a qualified health professional.
Key Questions
What did the survey find about parenting instincts?
Three percent of the 1,000 UK parents surveyed said they trust their parenting instincts. The poll was commissioned by MAM and conducted by Opinion Matters.
When and who did Opinion Matters survey?
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.
Does the survey prove that online advice makes parents less confident?
No. The survey reports that many respondents see more information and pressure, alongside low confidence. It does not establish that one causes the other.
What did parents say about settling their babies?
Forty-six percent said they did not know how to settle their baby, and 49% said comforting their baby was harder than they had expected. These are responses from the surveyed group.
What is MAM Pulsi?
MAM describes Pulsi as a baby-soothing device designed to reproduce the umbilical cord’s pulsation and to be used alongside existing soothing routines. Reported testing results come from the manufacturer and do not show that it will work for every baby.
Source: rss
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