7 things new mums shouldn't feel guilty about

The first time I left my baby in my helper's care, I felt the guilt haunting me everywhere I went – in the office, at the bistro, when I was out in a meeting.

The guilt follows you but you've got to learn to adapt to juggling time with your baby and work.

Not having the luxury to be there for my child whenever I wanted to made me felt hopeless as a parent, but I've learnt to get over it. As long as you set specific times of the day for your child, it'll all be okay.

Back then, I'll panic if he is constantly at home playing with only me and/or the helper. I'll feel like I'm not doing enough in getting him to socialise with other kids.

Little did I know that not having playdates doesn't really mean you're failing them in terms of social development. As years passed, I realised that my other children who spent less time socialising with others developed almost perfect social skills.

At times when I've ran out of activities to entertain the little ones, I'll switch on the TV. These were the times I thought I deserved a little break from reading 50 children's books and singing 10 nursery rhymes to them. Even then, I'd still feel a little guilty.

There were times where I ignored it when my son started sucking his thumb. He took comfort in pacifiers when he was a toddler and I just decided to turn a blind eye thinking he'll grow out of it sooner or later. And when it was time to get him to break the habit, he just wouldn't budge. I only stopped blaming myself once I realised my second child didn't have the same habit.

There were plenty of times I felt too guilty for having a scroll through my Facebook feed while my baby boy just lies in his cot staring at his elephant mobiles.

I remember thinking to myself: "Why does it feel like I'm ignoring my baby? What am I supposed to do now that he is quiet? Do I just do my own thing? Omg am I supposed to read to him or sing him to sleep?"

But as time went by, I realised I was stressing for nothing. Sometimes, mums just need that time to themselves, and there's nothing wrong with it at all.