Let’s Talk to Mummy’s Tummy by Helen Lacey and Carla Moreno

Let’s Talk to Mummy’s Tummy by Helen Lacey, illustrated by Carla Moreno and published by Storychum Publishing is a wonderful guide to pregnancy for any family with children who are expecting a new baby.

The prospect of a new baby arriving can be daunting and confusing for soon-to-be big brothers and sisters and there are many books out there that can help prepare them for this huge transition. Let’s Talk to Mummy’s Tummy is by far the most comprehensive book we’ve read; detailing each week of the pregnancy, the book not only features information about the baby growing inside the mummy’s tummy and what they will be like once they’re born, it also focuses on the feelings and wellbeing of the older children it’s aimed at.

Designed to guide you through the entire pregnancy there is a double page dedicated to each week so you and your child can track how the baby is developing. There’s even some stickers to add in as you pass milestones that compare the size of the baby to different foods (just try not to think too much about that huge pumpkin at week 40).

One of the nicest features of this book are the questions that are directed to the children who are waiting for their new sibling. Some of them are practical to do with how the baby will travel in the car or what their nappies are like, while others help to explore the thoughts and feelings around a new baby arriving in their lives. It can be easy for us, as adults, to forget how much little minds can’t process changes and emotions in the same way we do, especially when they’re able to hold full conversations with you. The questions are a perfect way to encourage and assist children in being able to find the words about how they are really feeling.

When I first read this book with my boys I was surprised at how much they told me about what was going on in their heads, my six year old especially. Asking them the questions and giving them the space to talk opened my eyes to the things they’d been thinking or worrying about and it provided an opportunity for us to talk about them that we may not have had without the prompts from this book.

There is a huge amount of content and information covered in this book using a gentle approach that makes it engaging but not overwhelming. The book is filled with beautiful and calm illustrations with a whole range of families represented; it’s wonderful for children from all backgrounds to see themselves in books and be able to relate to them and for children who are in the mainstream to see families that look different to them but sharing the same life experiences. One small thing that could improve the representation would be for the baby in the womb on the right hand pages to not always be a white baby.

A huge amount of research has gone into making this book; as well as holding focus groups with parents, Helen Lacey consulted a team of midwives, health visitors and a child psychologist who works in social services during her writing process. A new baby is a very delicate time for little ones so it’s encouraging to know how carefully this book has been created. If you’d like to hear more about the suitability of the book there are some reviews from medical professionals on Helen’s website in the testimonial section.

This book is perfect to help young children understand the change that is about to happen in their lives and bond with their new sibling before they’re born. A must have companion for any expanding family to guide and support you throughout pregnancy and the newborn stage.

Buy Let’s Talk to Mummy’s Tummy from Waterstones

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Disclaimer – We were gifted a copy of Let’s Talk to Mummy’s Tummy for review but all opinions are our own.

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