Looking for a Christmas or baby shower gift for a new parent? South Leeds Mumbler loves ‘Baby Daze’ by Sarah Davis.
If you attended the launch of the Baby Week Leeds 2019 launch event, you’ll already know Sarah Davis, author of ‘Baby Daze’ – a light-hearted yet poignant poetry selection about the rollercoaster of parenting a newborn baby.
Sarah spoke at the event on the importance of making connections, incorporating some of her poems within the talk:
“When we become parents, our established connections change. It’s important to be adaptable and open to making new connections. The poem, ‘Getting to know you,’ reflects the first connections with our child:
Getting to know you
The scan and seeing the beating of your tiny little heart,
Knowing that it’s really only just the very start.
***
Growing ever bigger as you struggle to find room.
Feeling kicks and hiccups as you move inside the womb.
***
Hearing your first cries just as you come into the world
Beginning your life’s journey – soon to be unfurled.
***
The gripping of my finger with your tiny little hand
The feelings and emotions only parents understand.
Sarah wrote the poems unexpectedly while up for the 3am feeds, reflecting on her whole journey from first scan to the end of maternity leave. Familiar topics include roly-poly nappy changes, weaning, feeling like a human milk machine, trips out and endless washing cycles.
At Leeds Baby Week, Sarah described how before we become parents, many of us are reasonably comfortable with our place in society. She said: “We may have a strong sense of self. Our connections are often well established with our partner, family, friends and colleagues. It’s easy to see where we fit in.
“In becoming parents, things change. Much of our focus, quite rightly, is on how we will bond with our child. But the importance of making connections as new parents goes much deeper than that. It’s a bit like trying to add an extra piece to an already complete jigsaw – it isn’t possible – you have to create a new jigsaw.
“Our first priority has to be our child. We need to find ways to make connections with them, to understand what they are trying to communicate and to show them unconditional love. While doing this, we are often bombarded with conflicting advice from well-meaning onlookers:
A Mum’s Lament
Oh whatever can I do?
Up to my eyes in nappies and poo!
Baby has been up all night!
Will I ever get it right?
***
Tried to sing a lullaby
My Auntie Jean says “Let him cry!”
Not the same from Auntie Jo
Who’d pick him up and not let go!
***
It isn’t that I mind advice
Consistency would just be nice!
Peace at last…there is a lull
Life with a newborn’s never dull!
Humorous and sentimental, ‘Baby Daze’ has been described as ‘like a portable mums and babies group’ and is an easy read, even for sleep-deprived new mums.‘Baby Daze’ has also been recommended in ‘Mother & Baby’ magazine’s ‘3 of the best funny books’ feature.
‘Baby Daze’ is available from Waterstones, WHSmith & Amazon and from local independent bookshops including:
Find Sarah on social media:
**Please note: South Leeds Mumbler did not receive any payment for this feature – we just met Sarah at Baby Week Leeds, thought she and her book of poems was lovely, and wanted to share the love!
