If you could recommend one book to a first time mum...

[bumperlicious]

Due in about 5 weeks or so and I have read a few comments on MN about people who wished they had read a little bit past all the pg and labour stuff to the bit at the back of the books that tells you what they hell you do with the baby when you get home!

In light of this was having a look at some parenting books e.g. Contended little baby, the Sears Baby book and a miriam stoppard one and was wondering which to get. Don't want to spend loads at this stage so was just wondering if you could recommend one book to a first time mum what would it be?

"Kidwrangling" by Kaz Cooke. I always rave about it to everyone. She also wrote the"Rough Guide to Pregnancy" which I loved too.

It is not a book that tells you what to do, more a guide to "so-and-so says this, but you could also try so-and-so's suggestion if you think it would suit you better". for example the title of one chapter is " Possible routines for babies" (my bold) - the emphasis is definitely on each child being an individual so really emphasises what suits one won't necessarily suit another (hurrah!). Also, written with BAGS of humour, and has fab book suggestions at the end of each chapter if you want to explore something in more depth.

It's also huge! 772 pages - covering pretty much everything you could think of from birth to starting school.

It really is a great book - I could go on for hours about it!

I recommend 'the continuum concept' by jean lliedloff
it changed my life
the author visited a tribe deep in the south american jungle and observed that the babies didn't cry
she went back for a year to live with them to find out how and why.....
see continuumconceptwebsite
and the reviews on amazon continuumconceptbook
this is the one book i give to all expectant friends

Hi Bumperlicious, I haven't forgotten your books, I'm on a work trip at the mo and didn't get round to weighing them before I went. I'm home on Friday and will e-mail you then.
Re The Continuuum Concept, DP is really keen on it and I read it before I had DS - I did find it interesting and it reinforced my feeling that holding DS close to me as much as possible when he was a little baby was a good thing to do. There is one slightly worrying bit in it where she describes picking up a friend's/sister's baby by one arm!

No worries muminbrum, whenever you get a chance. Thanks!

I loved the "Best Friends guide to the First Year of Motherhood" (which i now have for sale on Amazon g) and also "The Yummy Mummy's survival guide" by Liz Frazer

Both of those books were a godsend to helping me feel normal and like i wasn't going nuts those first few months of motherhood, they're funny, informative, and the BFG was great because DH actually read it and has been SO much more understanding of whats going on since.

morningpaper posted >> The only baby books you will like will be the ones that confirm the way that - in your heart - you REALLY want to parent.

how very wise and astute!

'Three in a Bed' by Deborah Jackson

'Bestfeeding'

the best books i've ever read.