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A survey of 1,000 UK adults who became parents in the past 10 years found that 3% said they trust their parenting instincts and 5% said they can stay calm when their baby cries. Commissioned by baby-care brand MAM, the survey also found widespread concern about settling babies and leaving home; it does not establish why parents feel this way or show that the findings represent all UK parents.
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. Released during National Parenting Week, the results describe respondents’ reported experiences; they do not establish a cause for low confidence or show that the findings represent every parent in the UK.
The survey was conducted by Opinion Matters between September 18 and 22, 2026, among 1,000 UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years. MAM commissioned the research. The company presented the findings as evidence of a gap between the abundance of parenting advice and how confident some parents feel in practice.
Among respondents, 79% said more parenting information is available than ever, and 76% said parents face greater pressure to do everything right. At the same time, 46% said they did not know how to settle their baby, while 49% said comforting a baby had been harder than they expected. These are survey responses, not clinical measures of parental anxiety or confidence.
Parents also reported worries about ordinary trips out. In the survey, 43% worried about a baby becoming unsettled in a café or restaurant; 36% had concerns about shopping, 30% about car journeys, and 29% about a first solo trip out with the baby. Twenty-two percent cited flying and 21% a doctor’s appointment.
How Low Confidence Affects Daily Life
The figures point to a practical tension for some parents: having more advice available does not necessarily make it easier to decide what to do when a baby cries. Survey respondents reported concerns not only about settling their babies at home, but also about outings and asking another person to take over. That matters because these pressures can shape whether parents feel able to seek a break or leave the house, although this survey does not measure those effects directly.
The findings also call for care in interpreting a striking headline statistic. The 3% figure reflects answers from this particular sample, not a verified national rate. The material provided does not include a margin of error, detailed demographic breakdown, or information about how the questions were worded, so readers cannot assess how precisely the results apply beyond the participants.
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Advice, Soothing and the Survey
The research was released alongside MAM Pulsi, a baby-soothing device the company says is designed to recreate the pulsation of the umbilical cord. MAM describes it as an addition to established soothing routines, not a replacement. The commercial setting is relevant: the company commissioning the survey also sells the product promoted alongside its release.
MAM says its development programme involved 312 babies across two studies. The company reports that 15 medical experts tested the device with 240 babies in six countries, and that 72 families used it at home for two weeks. It also says 93.3% of the medical experts involved reported that the device calmed babies and that they would recommend it. These are manufacturer-reported findings; the source material does not provide the study methods, comparison groups, or independent evaluation needed to judge how well the device works generally.
“A baby crying doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong.”
— Clare O’Brian, a midwife involved in trialling the device
What the Survey Cannot Establish
The results do not explain why only 3% of respondents said they trust their instincts. The survey figures show responses to questions, but the information provided does not establish that online advice, pressure to do everything right, or any other factor caused those responses. Nor is it clear whether parents’ experiences differed by the age of their child, family circumstances, or other characteristics.
The survey’s representativeness cannot be fully assessed from the available details: no margin of error, sampling method, or respondent breakdown is supplied. The device results also remain claims reported by MAM, and the available material does not set out enough study detail to independently evaluate them. The findings should not be taken as proof that the device will soothe every baby.
Support and Product Evidence Ahead
The survey material does not announce a follow-up study or give a timeline for further results. The immediate next step for readers seeking to assess the device is to look for fuller study methods and findings, including information about how outcomes were measured and whether the results have been independently reviewed.
For parents, the survey’s figures do not determine what will work for an individual baby. MAM’s source material lists familiar approaches such as cuddling, feeding, gentle rocking and skin-to-skin contact, depending on the baby’s needs and circumstances. Parents with concerns about a baby’s crying or wellbeing can seek advice from a midwife, health visitor or clinician. Whether the survey’s reported confidence gap reflects a wider trend will require evidence beyond this single commissioned poll.
Key Questions
What did the survey find about parents trusting their instincts?
Three percent of the 1,000 surveyed UK adults who had become parents in the previous 10 years said they trust their parenting instincts. The figure describes this survey sample, not necessarily all UK parents.
Who conducted and commissioned the survey?
Opinion Matters conducted the survey from September 18 to 22, 2026. Baby-care brand MAM commissioned it. The respondents were UK adults who had become parents within the previous 10 years.
Did the survey prove that online advice lowers parents’ confidence?
No. Respondents reported that parenting information is more available and that many feel pressure, but the results do not establish that those factors caused low confidence.
What is MAM Pulsi, and are its results independently confirmed?
MAM describes Pulsi as a rechargeable baby-soothing device designed to recreate the pulsation of the umbilical cord and to be used alongside established routines. The effectiveness figures in the source are reported by MAM; the supplied material does not include enough study detail to assess independent confirmation.
Source: rss
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