I’m living with my mum & dad, and they help a lot but I’m only 18 and I want a life of my own too. I don’t want to ask them to baby sit at night too but I feel so lonely.

I can understand your feelings. This is something you need to sit down and talk calmly and sensibly about with your parents. You may need a list to organise your thoughts, as this can be a very emotive subject.

Perhaps you need to think about your whole life with a baby. I don’t know if you were studying or working. There is help available for financial support to young parents who want to continue their education or training and need help with the cost of their childcare. Look at the link - http://caretolearn.lsc.gov.uk/ for further information. Resuming training may be viewed very positively by your parents and will help to improve the prospects for you and your baby’s future. This would be some time for you without there help. It may help as a bargaining tool to see if you could negotiate an evening a week when they babysit – maybe it needs to be a rigid arrangement or perhaps they prefer flexibility. It has to suit all parties. And they may be keen for you to have a purpose to your baby free time and there commitment.

Is there a partner about? If there is, could he or his family spend some time with your child so you can have a couple of hours? Perhaps attending a mother and baby group or a parenting course at a Children’s centre may be a good way to develop your social life. It’s also good for your baby to mix with others. The link to children’s centres may be useful. Speak to your Health Visitor who should have information on current groups in your area.