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ONLINE NETWORK: Alison Manning, with her one-year-old daughter Beth, checks out the online community which is offering

THERE was a time when the only advice new mums sought when tackling the latest baby-related quandary was that of their own mothers.

Drawing on their own experience, and the old adage that Mum Knows Best was how generations of children were raised back in the day.

But it seems mums, sisters and any other family member you care to mention is being side-lined in favour of a new oracle - known as the Internet.

In a recent survey by communication company BT, figures showed that 47 per cent of new mums would go online as a first port of call for advice compared with 38 per cent who would turn to their mum or sister.

The survey, published last month, also found that 63 per cent of mums use the Internet while 42 per cent have made new friends online with almost one in four following that up with meeting them in person.

"Twenty years ago, mums had a limited number of options when it came to help and advice," said BT Futur-ologist Lesley Gavin. "Being online now opens up so many opportunities.

"No matter where they are or what time they log on, the Inter-net can help mums to seek advice and reliable information about a hundred different things at the click of a button.

"To me, the Inter-net is all about em-powerment and in-creased choice for mo-dern mums."

Health advice, tips on getting them to sleep, weaning worries or just somewhere to have a moan, the Internet is the place that more and more new mums are turning to get all the advice they need.

Particularly in the first few weeks when getting out of the house is a major achievement, having an online chat room to compare notes or just talk to like-minded parents can be a social lifeline for first-time parents.

Aside from the social aspect, just using online advice to check whether your child is progressing normally, or whether that shade of green in a nappy is something to be concerned about can be just what parents need to reassure them they are doing a good job.

Southampton mum Alison Manning agrees that the Internet is one of her first ports of call to check out any concerns.

Mum to Beth, who turns one this month, Alison said she often looks to the Internet for help and advice.

"I signed up to a website that gave me weekly updates during my pregnancy and when Beth was born about her development.

"It was really handy and useful information and also gave me ideas on activities and games to play with her."

Alison, a stay-at-home mum from Sholing added: "I also go online if I have any concerns or questions like things to do with breastfeeding and tips on weaning.

"It is good to see what other parents are saying about things I may be concerned about."

And it's not just advice and chit-chat being exchanged between mums in cyber space, more recently it's money-saving tips.

In a bid to beat the credit crunch, parents are joining forces to exchange ideas on how to tighten their belts.

One of the more widely used online parenting support network Netmums recently set up an online notice board for parents to swap money-saving tips - and received an overwhelming response.

In the first three days of it being posted, the new board had 113,000 views, one of the biggest responses ever.

Mums are going onto the board to share shopping lists and meal ideas in a bid to cut back on the cost of the weekly food shop.

It's not just food shopping that is the focus of discussion. The finance forums are also being used to swap discount codes and tips on how to find the cheapest energy and utility suppliers.

Netmums director Siobhan Freegard said: "With all the talk of the credit crunch and rising food and fuel costs, mums are filling our forums with budgeting tips.

"The £50-a-week shopping list has been doing the rounds and mums are pooling resources so they can all find ways of cutting back on the cost of living.

"It's an example of how a community of people can work together to help and support each other to everyone's benefit. It's exactly what Netmums is all about."

Visit Netmums at netmums.com to join the online community.

2:19pm Tuesday 15th July 2008

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