Baby Books - how to....

[sept30]

Hi all
I have read lots about pregnancy and now i'm in single figures I think I should start reading about what happens when he actually arrives! Do you recommend any how to... (look after a baby)!
Thanks

[ThePetiteMummy]

I never read any books, and got along just fine. As my mum says, the trouble with baby books is the baby hasn't read them!

Good luck!

[otchayaniye]

I have no problem with people reading books about any subject. And parenting is an interesting subject. I've not read baby books but have read some child psychology books and others on the more UP (that's silly ridiculous middle class lax parenting bullshit to most people ) end of the spectrum. Just out of interest.

However, the one thing I'd caution against is reading books on how to deal with babies. I just think it's one of those situations where it really helps to go with the flow of your particular baby and life set up. Any 'noise' from a book (and by their nature, books are written at the extremes of advice, there's no money to be made from a nuanced and subtle approach) can be unhelpful to people feeling their way through the early days when everything is nerve racking and you feel vulnerable.

Plus some of the more popular books aren't parenting books, they are 'nannying' books. Two very different things!

But then I wasn't into routines for babies, or concerned with sleeping through or anything and I breastfed so bloody often that any attempt at timings or order of doing things would have upset me and been pointless. But other parents will feel differently and I can totally understand that.

[ThePetiteMummy]

Sorry, didn't mean my earlier post to come across as dismissive. Totally agree with Otcha to go with the flow, I really think you can over analyse a situation. I wasn't one for routines or anything either, and dd fed every 2 hours, so I just went with her, and somehow you survive! She's 16 months now and doing fine.

[LifeOfKate]

OP, are you looking for a routines type book, or one which tells you how to change a nappy, give them a bath, that sort of thing?

[stillstanding]

I think you need to take from these books what you want and ignore the rest. Ones that I found quite helpful were:
What to expect the first year
Baby Whisperer

[Cattleprod]

I found the one that the NHS gives you was quite good. I didn't feel the need to read much of it but it was useful for certain things like illnesses, vaccinations, weaning etc.

[Quenelle]

I was going to say the same as Cattleprod. I also found The Food of Love very good for BFing advice.