MUM'S THE WORD

Founder of Mother Pukka, Anna Whitehouse is a writer at Shortlist Media and mother of Mae.

#1 Odd names you use for your kid?

Mae Bug, Bug, Buglet.

#2 Day or night?

Day. I've come to fear the night as a mother. 3am is the darkest hour.

#3 Worst mothering moment?

When I had to fashion a nappy out of toilet roll in a country pub. Oh, and when my daughter's first word was 'Apple' **as she points at the iPad**

#4 Best mothering moment?

Teaching my daugter to clean. She's obsessed with sweeping and polishing. Happy days.

#5 Dinner party or play date?

Dinner party.

#6 Biggest mothering tip?

My friend Allison introduced me to the boldly-named Miracle Blanket (Miracleblanket.com). For a baby that flails its arms around it was the only thing that got my daughter to sleep through the night.

#7 Best place to take an urchin?

I can't get enough of the Baby Gym at Westfield Shopping Centre. They also have great family rooms with Disney on loop. Oh and for any Amsterdammers, I love the mini sofa they have for kids at Lavinia (Laviniagoodfood.nl)

#8 Home or away?

I like getting out of the house. If I'm at home too much I start trying to rearrange sock drawers and think I'm capable of making granola from scratch. Both aren't good for me.

#9 Who did you last call?

My Dad. I asked him the other day if kids ever really leave home and he said 'you'll see'. The man has spoken.

#10 What's the last thing you bought?

Plasters. Rock and roll.

#11 Most pukka thing you own?

An iPad with Peppa Pig on repeat. And a pair of Stella McCartney heels that I never wear.

#12 Biggest mothering myth?

That everything will be OK. It won't always, but that's part of it I suppose.

#13 Mothering is...

Manning up.