*****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!
76 Comments
becky
August 10, 2011 at 4:13 pmTake each day as it comes….and rest when you can 🙂
jaycee2
August 10, 2011 at 5:46 pmtrust 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
Ruth Lines
August 10, 2011 at 5:47 pmRelax
Robyn Clarke
August 10, 2011 at 5:48 pmTrust your instincts, you know your baby better than anyone else
Robyn Clarke
August 10, 2011 at 5:49 pmFollowing on Google Friend Connect
Robyn Clarke
August 10, 2011 at 5:51 pmCommented on “Orla Kiely board books”
Robyn Clarke
August 10, 2011 at 5:51 pmTweeted @robynlclarke
Pammy
August 10, 2011 at 7:11 pmCleaning, cooking, ironing, EVERYTHING can wait, except your new baby, rest when baby sleeps, let someone else manage the chores for a while.
Karen
August 10, 2011 at 7:27 pmEveryone 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.
claire woods
August 10, 2011 at 8:59 pmWhen 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!
claire woods
August 10, 2011 at 9:00 pmRetweeted – @clairew137
claire woods
August 10, 2011 at 9:00 pmJoined on google connect.
suan watts
August 11, 2011 at 10:45 amWhen the baby goes to sleep get some rest yourself. You’ll be able to cope a lot better
kieranwalsh1949@googlemail.com
August 11, 2011 at 11:07 ammy daughter is due her first child in jan 2012, we have told you cant beat a mothers instint
isabelle smith
August 11, 2011 at 8:03 pmsleep when baby sleeps 🙂
isabelle smith
August 11, 2011 at 8:04 pmtweeted @isabellee1992
Karen
August 11, 2011 at 8:18 pmRemember, the baby has not read all the books! ;)0
I follow and have tweeted
Thanks
ashleigh
August 11, 2011 at 8:19 pmtrust your instincts and what you think is the best!
ashleigh
August 11, 2011 at 8:19 pmi have tweeted as @ashlallan
ashleigh
August 11, 2011 at 8:20 pmi follow with gfc as mummy24
Lucy Robinson
August 11, 2011 at 8:49 pmSleep when your baby sleeps
Lisa Morrow
August 11, 2011 at 9:30 pmI’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!!
karen
August 11, 2011 at 9:31 pmRelax – your baby is tougher than you think!
Martina
August 11, 2011 at 9:36 pmYour mother-in-law is NOT always right!
jenny
August 11, 2011 at 9:37 pmThis is my favourite piece of advice so far 🙂
zoe milsom
August 11, 2011 at 9:55 pmI 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.
simontink@aol.com
August 11, 2011 at 10:11 pmDon’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
price.jemma@yahoo.co.uk
August 12, 2011 at 12:29 pmAfter 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…
Laura Pritchard
August 12, 2011 at 12:31 pmTo 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
Solange
August 12, 2011 at 1:38 pmBaby wipes are your best friend
jenny
August 12, 2011 at 3:05 pmThat’s so true! Thanks for entering.
laura stewart
August 12, 2011 at 6:38 pmsleep when the baby sleeps
Jennifer
August 12, 2011 at 10:30 pmWe 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!
Kim
August 13, 2011 at 5:07 pmEnjoy every second as they grow up too fast
Lindy hamilton
August 13, 2011 at 8:00 pmAlways trust your instincts
Lindy hamilton
August 13, 2011 at 8:01 pmI am following on your blog 🙂
Lindy hamilton
August 13, 2011 at 8:01 pmI tweeted the competition 🙂
jane steels
August 13, 2011 at 8:27 pmdo 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!!
Emma L Clarke
August 14, 2011 at 3:36 pmMy 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.”
emsiecov@aol.com
August 14, 2011 at 3:38 pmFor an additional entry, I follow by GFC (Emma Clarke)
emsiecov@aol.com
August 14, 2011 at 3:39 pmFor a third and final entry, I have tweeted a link to the giveaway (@emma1111111)
Sherilan Francis
August 14, 2011 at 4:09 pmTrust 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
Donna Bailey
August 14, 2011 at 4:32 pmForget 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!
Donna Bailey
August 14, 2011 at 4:35 pmI am following your blog via Google :0)
Caroline French
August 14, 2011 at 6:47 pmI 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!
Caroline French
August 14, 2011 at 6:48 pmTweeted 🙂
@french_caroline
Caroline French
August 14, 2011 at 6:49 pmFollowing on GFC
Caroline French
August 14, 2011 at 6:52 pmps, 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 🙂
katie richards
August 15, 2011 at 5:39 pmQuite 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!
Ann Willers
August 15, 2011 at 8:20 pmGo 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.
Sheila Maxwell
August 15, 2011 at 9:06 pmMake sure your well prepared for backup if required such as a good babysitter.
emmawolski@hotmail.com
August 15, 2011 at 11:33 pmDon’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!
emmawolski@hotmail.com
August 15, 2011 at 11:33 pmtweeted @noconawolsk
George Brown
August 16, 2011 at 8:26 amstick to common sense and gut feeling and u wont go far wrong
George Brown
August 16, 2011 at 8:27 amstick to your gut feeling and take waht advice u feel u can handle
Jo Guest
August 16, 2011 at 11:04 amRelax, and remember your baby doesn’t need you to be perfect, he/she just needs you
lorna anderson
August 16, 2011 at 11:30 amgive your baby lots of cuddles
Katherine Coldicott
August 16, 2011 at 1:16 pmEnjoy your baby, they do grow up very fast.
katherine grieve
August 16, 2011 at 1:16 pmnever wake a sleeping baby!!!!
katherine grieve
August 16, 2011 at 1:17 pmI follow with GFC xx
Katherine Coldicott
August 16, 2011 at 1:17 pmHave tweeted. @Dwerrycat
Angela Green
August 16, 2011 at 1:18 pmLoads 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!!
Lona Jones
August 16, 2011 at 2:13 pmOur niece is expecting her first child and we can only advise her to enjoy her baby and follow her motherly instincts.
sue willshee
August 16, 2011 at 2:24 pmI 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.
Hannah Beadle
August 16, 2011 at 8:49 pmDon’t be afraid to ask friends and family for help everyone needs a break sometimes, life soon fits into a routine
Hannah Beadle
August 16, 2011 at 8:51 pmI have tweeted @HannahBeadle
Hannah Beadle
August 16, 2011 at 8:52 pmI follow your blog also 🙂
helen watson
August 16, 2011 at 9:13 pmHold your baby as much as possible. And routine is very important!
helen watson
August 16, 2011 at 9:14 pmHave tweeted also @freyamae1
mel b
August 16, 2011 at 11:45 pmenjoy every minute of it!
vicky haddock
August 17, 2011 at 8:47 amSleep when your baby is asleep, don’t worry over housework and don’t be afraid to make noises when the baby is asleep
Claire Tillyer
August 17, 2011 at 10:13 amKitchen towel… a mum’s best friend!!
Gary M
August 17, 2011 at 12:44 pmDon’t be embarrassed to sing to your baby. they will love it no matter how bad at singing you are!
Jolene
August 17, 2011 at 1:41 pmThere’s plenty of time for cleaning and cooking but children grow up when we’re not looking!
Josie Coltman
August 17, 2011 at 3:16 pmDon’t read too much information on the internet, as you’ll feel overwhelmed by differences of opinion. Use your own instinct and judgement.
Rebecca ford
August 17, 2011 at 10:40 pmEnjoy every second – the early days may seem long but it passes too quickly!!