Coping with Early Parenting

Dr Hannah Guzinska is a Clinical Psychologist with a special interest in the well-being of babies and very young children and their parents. With extensive experience in working with families, she currently mainly supports practitioners, offering training, consultation, supervision, and reflective practice. She is a passionate advocate for providing emotional containment, co-regulation and compassion to family practitioners, and for helping them make sense of difficult experiences, to create a culture of support which filters down to parents and their babies and children.

'A beautifully honest and grounding guide for new parents. Rooted in evidence and empathy, it invites us to care for ourselves as we learn to care for our children.'Dr Emma Svanberg, Clinical Psychologist and Author of Parenting for Humans'Coping with Early Parenting is an insightful and empowering guide for parents. Hannah draws on psychological research and therapeutic approaches to offer compassionate tools that help parents meet the challenges of family life and savour the tender moments. She captures the real complexities of parenting, while encouraging readers to tune out cultural pressures and instead trust themselves as the true experts on their child. This book is a wise and supportive companion for anyone wanting to feel more resourced and understood on their parenting journey.'Dr Caroline Boyd, Parenting Clinical Psychologist and Author'Coping with Early Parenting: The Magic and Mess of the First Few Years is a beautifully written blend of science, lived experience, and deep compassion. It invites parents to reflect on their own upbringing and how it shapes their relationships and parenting journey today, while offering warmth, understanding, and practical insight. A book I wish I’d had when I first became a parent. This book reminds us that good parenting isn’t about perfection, but about connection, curiosity, and repair. A truly empowering and reassuring read for every parent.'Dr Jade Redfern, Clinical Psychologist, Founder of Inside Out Parenting and Permission To Be Human

• Introduction 1. My Parenting Journey Part 1: The Big Picture 2. Parenting in Context 3. The Baby’s Developing Brain 4. The Adult Brain and the Stress Response Part 2: Taking Meaningful Care of Yourself as a Parent 5. Realistic Self-care 6. Meaningful Self-Care Part 3: The Science of Parenting 7. Behaviourism 8. Learning through Relationships Part 4: Getting Practical 9. Seeing the World Through Your Child’s Eyes 10. Managing Big Feelings 11. Playful Parenting Part 5: You Do You 12. What Matters to You? 13. Getting to Know Your Baby Part 6: Embracing the Mess 14. Rupture, Repair and Resilience 15. A Compassionate Approach to Parenting Differences Epilogue: Parenting is Messy