"I speak to my mum every day whereas he speaks to his mum once a week and so as a result mine are more involved."

Both sets of grandparents live two hours away in the same town, yet when Maria and her family visit, she insists on staying with her parents because that is where she is more comfortable.

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Wanting to replicate our parents' parenting methods could mean we turn more to mothers than mothers-in-law.

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Indeed, a recent study by Pampers found that six in 10 women turn to their own mother for advice on getting baby to sleep.

As Maria says, "It helps that my mum is a health visitor and breast feeding counsellor, and breast-fed me and my brothers so has influenced me and is very supportive of the parenting choices I've made.

"My husband's mum is more old fashioned and bottle fed him and I often feel she thinks I'm a bit odd with my home birth, cloth nappies, breast feeding and baby-led-weaning."

And it's not just grandmothers who seemingly show preferences. Lucy, mother to one son and one daughter, wonders if grandfathers prefer grandsons. "I have got embarrassed in the past as my dad dotes on my son and gets told by my mum when we are all together to give more attention to the other grandchildren," she says.

Mum of two Kate adds, "My brother is definitely my paternal grandfather's favourite. Perhaps it's because he was the first grandson after three granddaughters; the first guaranteed to carry on the family name."

Despite her sons being just three years old and six months, Maria admits to already worrying about being a grandmother. "I worry that when my sons have children I might end up being excluded as the paternal grandmother. I know it doesn't always work that way and often depends on distance and location, but it's crossed my mind. Although I've always wanted three children I guess part of me is hoping number three will be a girl."

Do you think you pull your mother in and push your mother-in-law out when it comes to the children?