became a single mum to Santiago in 2021 at the age of 24, and while the experience has been rewarding, she has also found it challenging.
The former star, now 25, shares her firstborn with Sammy Kimmence, who was.
She is now happily , but brought her son up by herself for most of his first year.
The TV personality says she questioned herself a lot when she became a new mum, constantly asking, ‘Are you doing the parent thing right? Is everyone judging how you’re coping? Is the life you knew pre-baby gone forever? How can you meet other parents in the same situation?’
Dani – who is joining BBC’s as an ambassador – wants to share her experiences as a new mum to help other new parents, admitting it can be a lonely experience.
During , Dani says she spent a lot of time comparing herself to other parents.
‘I honestly wasn’t prepared for the rush of hormones. It was a little bit hard for me at the beginning. I really did struggle,’ she said.
‘I remember when Santi was born, all I did was compare, and I always used to think, “Why can’t I breastfeed?” I really, really struggled with that. And I put so much pressure on myself.
‘I shouldn’t have compared so much. I shouldn’t have looked online. I should have just enjoyed my baby bubble and just gone with it.’
Being in lockdown only added to the challenges for Dani, because she ‘didn’t have other mum friends that I could go and see and talk to.’
She says ‘having that positive support around you is so important,’ as ‘being a mum can sometimes be really lonely,’ which is one of the reasons she is so excited to become a BBC Tiny Happy People ambassador.
A major part of Dani’s own support system is her own mum, Joanne, as well as , who has been relishing his new role as a grandad.
The reality star says their support has been ‘such a dream,’ whether that’s on ‘long nights’ or ‘if Santi’s not been well.’
‘Knowing I’ve got them, I am blessed with that.’
However, w Dani has found support from her fellow mum friends and her family, she has also found strength within herself, as she’s learned that she is ‘a lot stronger’ than she first thought.
‘At the beginning, I really did doubt myself being a mum, but now I’ve definitely changed and grown as a person.’
