Welcome arrivals bring unexpected visitors
The arrival of a new baby into the family is an emotional time, full of joy and excitement for what the future will bring, but it can often be a tough time for some. New parents get dropped into a bewildering world of nappies, nap-times and not nearly enough sleep, while freshly appointed grandparents, uncles and aunts eagerly await an opportunity to meet the latest addition. The temptation to pop by unannounced to see the little one is often too great to bear and it’s not uncommon for well-meaning family members to turn up just as baby is nodding off or in the middle of a feed.
The pitter patter of too many feet
At Ring, we wanted to find out what impact these unexpected visits had on people with newborns. So we commissioned a new parent study that asked 1,000 mums and 1,000 dads with babies under 8 months old to reveal their biggest bugbears when relatives dropped by without warning. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 99% of parents surveyed agreed that unplanned visits were an inconvenience, with 57% of them saying that the biggest problem was the disruption of sleeping and feeding routines. Considering 80% of them admitted having to deal with unexpected visitors at least once a week and with a very tired 13% of them experiencing the issue on a daily basis, it’s easy to see why this is such a common issue!
A smarter helping hand
Anyone who has been a new parent will recognise the desire to find something, anything, that will help navigate the early days of parenthood. While at times, a helping hand from a relative might be welcome, for the parents we surveyed, that helping hand quickly becomes a hindrance when it arrives at an awkward time. Naturally, this leads many mums and dads to seek out other ways to ease the pressures of parenthood. In recent years, the rise of smart home technology has provided a welcome solution to everyday problems and many of the parents we spoke to felt that smart devices could help them. Of all the available smart technology, 40% of those surveyed said that devices allowing them to speak to visitors at their door, or to view their home and garden from their phone would be the most useful. Parents under 24 years old were the most likely to use smart technology and 49% of them went a step further, expressing a desire to be able to use hands-free voice commands to control smart tech around their home.
Take the pressure off with tech
To make life with a new baby a little easier, many new parents are turning to smart technology like video doorbells and security cameras. These clever devices let parents see who is dropping by without dropping what they are doing, speak to visitors using built-in two-way talk and control it all hands-free with Alexa-enabled devices. They can even get motion notifications that let them know someone is approaching so they can mute doorbell chimes or notifications before they wake the baby. If they’re busy settling the little one, a quick replies feature that automatically plays a pre-recorded message helps them let visitors know they can’t come to the door, without disturbing nap-time.
Let Ring do it for you
As our research suggests, unexpected visits from well-meaning friends and family can create extra pressure for new parents but let’s face it, unexpected visitors can cause unwanted disruption to any of us. If you’re like 30% of new parents that would benefit from a Ring Video Doorbell or Security Camera, then why not check out Ring’s range of products that let you see, hear and speak to visitors from wherever you are? To learn more about our full range, including indoor and outdoor Security Cameras, a customisable Alarm Security System and much more, just head to www.ring.com.