Moms reveal what parenting advice they would give themselves if they could go back in time

Nine successful 10 moms said being a mother is some nan hardest and nan astir rewarding point they’ve ever done, according to caller research.

The study of 2,000 moms pinch a kid betwixt nan ages of 1–6 recovered 93% of respondents agreed pinch this sentiment, recognizing nan joyousness and nan challenges that travel pinch being a mother.

To thief arsenic they navigate motherhood, respondents were asked what proposal they’d for illustration to springiness themselves if they could spell backmost to erstwhile their babe was born.

“Be brave,” “be patient,” and “the kids request a happy mom, not a cleanable one” are each things moms wish they could spell backmost successful clip to show themselves. Other adjuvant tips included a reminder “that your babe loves you unconditionally and you are doing great” — and “it is going to beryllium okay, and nan deficiency of slumber will beryllium worthy it.”

Another shared, “Give yourself grace — perfection isn’t nan goal. Ask for help, slumber erstwhile you can, and cognize this chaos is emotion successful its purest form.”

Commissioned by Sunsweet Growers Inc. and conducted by Talker Research up of Mother’s Day, nan study recovered this proposal whitethorn travel successful handy, arsenic 9 successful 10 moms agreed — no 1 tin ever beryllium 100% prepared to beryllium a parent.

When asked what amazed them astir being a parent, astir a 3rd weren’t expecting nan emotion of isolation that tin travel from being a caller mom (35%) aliases really difficult it was to support up patient habits for themselves (33%).

Part of why it mightiness beryllium difficult to support patient habits is because of really different mealtime looks pinch a small 1 astatine home: About a 3rd of respondents’ fare is made up of nutrient primitively for their kid.

Moms surveyed said astir 16% of their fare consists of leftovers from their kid (the sandwich crusts near connected their plates, different foods they don’t want to eat, etc.), while 17% is made up of snacks they purchased for their child.

After having a child, it’s not only their ain patient habits that respondents are worried about: 91% said they want to group their kid up for patient habits astatine a young age.

Parents are encouraging these patient habits by giving their small ones different kinds of foods to effort (61%), encouraging them to play extracurricular (58%), and trying to instill a emotion of learning successful them (58%).

That’s successful summation to school them astir different emotions (55%), ensuring they person a patient fare pinch plentifulness of fruits and veggies (54%), and limiting nan magnitude of sweetener and treats they person (50%).

“Starting patient habits astatine a young property creates a regular that erstwhile your assemblage feels good, everything other feels good, too,” said Sunsweet’s CJ McClellan, Vice President of Marketing, North America. “We perceive often that eating well, for example, including veggies and fruits for illustration prunes and prune juice successful diets, began astatine childhood, and we admit seeing this instruction instilled successful nan adjacent procreation too.” 

To promote patient eating habits, moms surveyed are giving their kids different patient options and letting them person a prime (57%), ensuring their favourite patient snacks are ever connected manus (47%), and making patient options “fun” (43%).

Moms are apt modeling these patient habits, too. The study recovered that 63% of moms surveyed often bask nan aforesaid snack arsenic their child, possibly to guarantee they instill patient habits from nan beginning.

When they prime snacks for their children, moms are looking for definite qualities: it has cardinal nutrients (fiber, potassium, vitamin K) (21%), is easy to hole (18%) and has “clean labels” (no artificial sweeteners, colors, etc.) (17%). Another point moms look for is foods that will thief their child’s digestive wellness (79%).

This is besides existent for juice. The immense mostly of kids portion juice, and erstwhile picking juice for their children, immoderate of nan factors moms look for see 100% juice options (78%), nary artificial flavors (38%), and different functional benefits (such arsenic digestive health) (17%).

“Research shows that some kids and adults don’t devour capable fiber, yet only 21% of moms are looking for these nutrients successful their snacks,” said McClellan. “Prunes and prune juice are cleanable for moms and families who are looking for saccharine and tasty options that connection truthful galore benefits.”

Survey methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 moms pinch a kid betwixt nan ages of 1–6; nan study was commissioned by Sunsweet and administered and conducted online by Talker Research betwixt April 10–18, 2025.