Shakira: Parenthood is hard

Shakira didn't expect parenthood to be so 'hard'.

The 36-year-old singer and her boyfriend Gerard Pique welcomed son Milan into the world in January, and though she says he is a 'great baby', she admits her experiences haven't been 'idyllic'.

She said: 'I didn't expect babies to need so many diapers! Nobody told me they needed to be changed so often.

'I mean he's a great, great baby. He's an easy one, I think. But nobody told me it would be this hard. It takes a lot of energy from you. But I love it, I'm really enjoying every bit of it. It's just that it's not as idyllic as everybody tells you, but also not as horrible as everyone tells you.'

'The Voice' coach is also thankful to have Gerard's support as she says the 26-year-old Barcelona soccer star is a very hands-on parent.

She told Us Weekly magazine: 'Thank God the father is very involved. He has been amazing.

'The baby spends as much time with me as he does with his dad. He's the kind of dad who's full hands on. He changes diapers, he bathes him, he enjoys playing with the baby, he enjoys feeding him, all of that stuff. So that's great help for me, you know. I can't imagine doing all of this and not having the father do his part of the job. So that's a huge help to me.'