One year after receiving a Bookstart Baby pack for her newborn daughter, Gemma reflects on the joy the book has brought their family
A year ago, Gemma and Andy welcomed their baby daughter Eden to the world.
“I remember feeling like it was all a bit of a whirlwind,” says Gemma. “That feeling of: ‘I’ve just come home from hospital with a newborn: ‘How are we meant to look after this?’
“Then, the next day, the health visitor came round and gave us our Bookstart Baby pack. I know it’s just a pack with a book, but in the blur of everything, it felt like this reminder for us to just to do this simple thing: take the time to read this book to her.”
Bookstart Baby – a free, expertly chosen book for all new babies
Every child in England, Wales and Northern Ireland aged 0 to 12 months is eligible to receive a Bookstart Baby pack, which is designed by BookTrust to help families read and share stories with their child from as early as possible.
Depending on where they live, new parents might be given their Bookstart Baby pack at their local library, from their health visitor or when they register their baby’s birth.
Inside each pack is a fun book specially selected to support healthy development in babies, along with a colourful finger puppet and a helpful leaflet about how reading can change as a baby develops.
“It was such a sweet thing to receive,” says Gemma. “I didn’t know about BookTrust and I didn’t know babies are given these book packs when they’re born. I was so excited to know that the book was age-appropriate and recommended by experts.
“It’s also the fact you’ve got something for free that your baby’s going to enjoy. It’s a relief to know that all families can get this.
“We’re new to the area as well, so we didn’t know where our local library was. The leaflet inside the Bookstart Baby pack encouraged me to find out. We went and signed Eden up for a library card at Selby Library, and now going there is a fun activity for us each week.”
Daily reading leads to ongoing progress
“How this book is still held together, I have no idea!” Gemma says. “It’s been a staple for Eden every single day. When there’s a meltdown, or we’re waiting for a bottle, we get it and read it to her. I can memorise it from start to finish. Honestly, she just loved it from day one.
“It was the only book we’d got at first that had felt flaps. I remember the first day that she actively grabbed and pulled a flap down. I rang my mum and said: ‘Is this a super baby? How does she know how to do that?’
“It wasn’t something that I had considered. I didn’t know whether it was something meant for older babies. When we started reading it regularly, it was like she was competing in The Guinness World Records for pulling the flaps down in the fastest time!
“Her pulling the flaps down has helped with things like her being able to co-ordinate her hands when she’s eating. I genuinely think this is from the repetition of sharing the book. There was this really tangible progress for me to see – I loved it.”
When the time came for Eden to start nursery, Gemma found her enjoyment of books really helped the transition. “It made it so much easier,” she says. “When she’s been struggling with settling in sessions, the nursery staff have said: ‘Oh, we get some books out and she instantly calms down.’
“She really enjoys sharing a book. Later down the line, I think we’ll see that reading with her early on has made a big difference because she’ll be comfortable and familiar with books.”
Reflecting one year later
Gemma recently got in touch with BookTrust for some more book recommendations for Eden.
“I thought, who better people to ask to build her first birthday library than the people who provided her favourite book?” says Gemma. “BookTrust got back very quickly with a lovely set of recommendations for Eden.
“It made me feel so relaxed to know they’re all age-appropriate, engaging, researched and well-written. These books are definitely going to be on a wish list we’ll share with family and friends. Knowing that they’ve come from a team of people who genuinely care about this means a lot.”
What has reading meant to Gemma and Andy during the first year of Eden’s life? Gemma says:
“Reading together has just been some of our favourite moments as a three. It’s really connected us together, and brought so much joy and happiness, not only to me, Andy and Eden, but to the wider family too. It just makes such a massive impact.”
