*****Competition has now closed and the winner has been notified*****
Shanta Everington is the author of ‘The Terrible Twos: A Parent’s Guide’ and she has just published her second book, ‘Baby’s First Year: A Parent’s Guide’, which has just been published (available from Amazon, Need2Know Books and all good bookstores).
Shanta kindly agreed to answer some questions.
What inspired you to write this book?
When my son was born five years ago, like most new parents, I didn’t know what the hell I was supposed to be doing. I read a lot of parenting books but none of them really spoke to me. I found most guides too prescriptive, instructing parents how to raise their kids without acknowledging that parenting choices are individual and dependent on value systems, culture, personal beliefs and so on.
A few years on, I wanted to write the kind of parenting books that I would have liked to read in the early years and that’s what inspired me to write Baby’s First Year and The Terrible Twos. My aim with the books is to reassure and encourage parents to trust their own judgment. The books are a collection of ideas and contain case studies from a range of families sharing different experiences. The baby book also includes extracts from my own diary. I originally trained as an early years teacher and have been involved with various parenting charities including Home-Start and the NCT, so the books draw on that experience too.
What’s the best bit of advice someone has given you about a newborn?
Keep them close, respond to their cries and don’t worry about spoiling them. You can’t spoil a newborn.
If you’d read this book yourself as a new parent would you have done anything differently?
I think perhaps it would have given me permission to trust my own instincts more and not worry about what I ‘should’ be doing.
Any funny parenting moments?
When my son was six weeks old and I’d just started to find my feet as a new mum, I braved the local baby massage class. We had one of those projectile wee moments when I went to change his nappy and he sprayed all over my jeans AND the mum next to me. I was so embarrassed – I wanted the ground to open up!
You’ve also written about the Terrible Twos? Have you planned a third book?
There isn’t a third parenting book in the pipeline at the moment, although at some stage, I’d quite like to write something about raising vegetarian children. I also write fiction, poetry and articles and have published two novels. You can find out more about my writing at www.shantaeverington.co.uk.
Giveaway:
Do you fancy getting your hands on a copy? Readers of the gingerbread house have been offered the chance to win a copy of Baby’s First Year: A Parent’s Guide.
To enter:
Simply leave me a comment below telling me the best piece of advice you would give a new parent.
For additional entries (please leave separate comments for each action):
- Follow my blog on Google Friends Connect
- Leave a comment on a non competition post (let me know which one you commented on)
- Retweet the competition using the button below
This giveaway will close 17th August 2011 at midnight and is open to UK and ROI residents only. The winner will be chosen at random and contacted using the email address or twitter name supplied. If the winner does not reply within 3 days the competition will be redrawn. Good luck!
Take each day as it comes….and rest when you can 🙂
trust that ‘mothers instinct’…..its always right 🙂
could have done with suchlike as your book many years ago-didn’t know anythin when i had my daughter at 16 tho! shes got kids of her own now 🙂 lovely they are. xoxoxo
Relax
Trust your instincts, you know your baby better than anyone else
Following on Google Friend Connect
Commented on “Orla Kiely board books”
Tweeted @robynlclarke
Cleaning, cooking, ironing, EVERYTHING can wait, except your new baby, rest when baby sleeps, let someone else manage the chores for a while.
Everyone seems so experienced and full of advice, but remember they’ve only had a couple more children than you, and they are all very different. What might be perfect for one baby may not suit yours.
When baby sleeps try to rest. Do what you feel is best rather than what others tell you to do. Don’t panic – it gets easier!
Retweeted – @clairew137
Joined on google connect.
When the baby goes to sleep get some rest yourself. You’ll be able to cope a lot better
my daughter is due her first child in jan 2012, we have told you cant beat a mothers instint
sleep when baby sleeps 🙂
tweeted @isabellee1992
Remember, the baby has not read all the books! ;)0
I follow and have tweeted
Thanks
trust your instincts and what you think is the best!
i have tweeted as @ashlallan
i follow with gfc as mummy24
Sleep when your baby sleeps
I’mpregnant with my first baby, so I don’t have any advice. I am already telling myself to ‘breathe’ though, as mild panic sets in!!
Relax – your baby is tougher than you think!
Your mother-in-law is NOT always right!
This is my favourite piece of advice so far 🙂
I think the best advice you can ever get is to not get carried away with anything. Enjoy the time you have with your baby as it goes all to quickly (although sleeping again is nice lol). As long as you keep your head and use your instincts you will be right 99% of the time.
Don’t compare yourself to your friends. some may seem like super woman and you feel inadequate compared to them. Believe me they find it difficult at times too
After having my baby boy seven years ago ending up in hospital for a long period time, and expecting my next baby this september, the best advice i coulf give is dont ever take time for granted enjoy your time with you baby and don t rush back to work…
To pick & choose the myriad of advice given to you & just take what works for you. Realise that you know your baby best, not your midwife, not your neighbour & not your mother-in-law.
@Isis1981uk
Baby wipes are your best friend
That’s so true! Thanks for entering.
sleep when the baby sleeps
We are expecting our first so we welcome all this good advice… the best advice I’ve been given is you can never love a baby too much!
Enjoy every second as they grow up too fast
Always trust your instincts
I am following on your blog 🙂
I tweeted the competition 🙂
do what feels natural, dont worry what others think , if your happy your baby will feed off this and be more happy and content. if your unsure of something, ask someone you trust ie, your mum! and enjoy!!
My advice would be ‘Don’t expect to be the perfect Mum, there’s no such thing. Sometimes you’re going to have good days, sometimes bad. It’s not all picture perfect like the movies would have us believe.”
For an additional entry, I follow by GFC (Emma Clarke)
For a third and final entry, I have tweeted a link to the giveaway (@emma1111111)
Trust you instinct about your child, read about basic growth and development and what the child needs at each stage, look at for the special uniqness spark in your child and work with that spark
Forget the shudda, wudda, cuddas! When you have your first baby every man and his dog will give you advice on what their baby did or didn’t do. Accept all advice with a warm smile and then sift through it and work out what works for you and baby! Everyone is different!
I am following your blog via Google :0)
I breastfed each of mine for a year and saw close friends beat themselves up for not being able to feed for long (for any number of reasons). DONT feel guilty. It isnt the end of the world. Your baby will be fine!! Breastfeeding is not easy and not for everyone….but if you do breastfeed make sure you get them out anywhere u like and do not feel embarassed or pressured by the general public to hide away in toilets to feed!
Tweeted 🙂
@french_caroline
Following on GFC
ps, would love to win this book to give to my good friend who is expecting her first. I’m sure she would rather have this than be bombarded by mine and others opinions left right and centre as i’m sure she will ask me for the more ‘personal’ advice! everyone needs just one or two good books to pcik their way through 🙂
Quite simply, do what feels right for you, when it feels right and in whatever way it feels right. And enjoy it, everyone says it but time really does fly!
Go with your heart and gut feelings, you know when your baby wants something, don’t watch the clock, count the hours or stress unecessarily, and as soon as possible get baby into a regular routine.
Make sure your well prepared for backup if required such as a good babysitter.
Don’t cuddle your baby too much to sleep every night even if they cry for hours else you will start a habit that goes on forever!
tweeted @noconawolsk
stick to common sense and gut feeling and u wont go far wrong
stick to your gut feeling and take waht advice u feel u can handle
Relax, and remember your baby doesn’t need you to be perfect, he/she just needs you
give your baby lots of cuddles
Enjoy your baby, they do grow up very fast.
never wake a sleeping baby!!!!
I follow with GFC xx
Have tweeted. @Dwerrycat
Loads of people will give you advice, listen and smile then do what you want to do!! Different things work for different people and some things are worth giving a go!!
Our niece is expecting her first child and we can only advise her to enjoy her baby and follow her motherly instincts.
I agree with the advice given by shanta -trust your own instincts. We expect that as we grow up we will all be individual – why should babies be any different? Treat your baby as an individual and respond to what YOUR baby needs, not to what anyone else’s baby needed.
Don’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help everyone needs a break sometimes, life soon fits into a routine
I have tweeted @HannahBeadle
I follow your blog also 🙂
Hold your baby as much as possible. And routine is very important!
Have tweeted also @freyamae1
enjoy every minute of it!
Sleep when your baby is asleep, don’t worry over housework and don’t be afraid to make noises when the baby is asleep
Kitchen towel… a mum’s best friend!!
Don’t be embarrassed to sing to your baby. they will love it no matter how bad at singing you are!
There’s plenty of time for cleaning and cooking but children grow up when we’re not looking!
Don’t read too much information on the internet, as you’ll feel overwhelmed by differences of opinion. Use your own instinct and judgement.
Enjoy every second – the early days may seem long but it passes too quickly!!