Any books on having your 2nd baby?

[rouge]

Recommendations appreciated - thanks!

[Twiglett]

I just read the chapter at the back of "What to Expect the first year" about bringing a new baby into the house

don't think you need a particular book

[Gobbledigook]

I don't think you need a book either. Or do you mean one to show your 1st child? As I said on other thread - we didn't bother - they are too little really and ime and from watching others, they are too small to really display any jealousy about it either. They just get on, unless you've a particularly clingy child. I've one friend who was in that position but everyone else has had no problems.

[Tommy]

Also, you don't have time to read them

[rouge]

Just saw a few on Amazon when following up the board-book recommendation for DD on the other thread - "When 3 become 4" or something, etc. - wondered if anyone had read any of them - obviously not!

[xmascaroltygirl]

Well, I read one called "Three Shoes, One Sock and No Hairbrush" and wouldn't recommend it at all. In fact, if I hadn't been pregnant already it might very well have put me off as it was very negative in its attitude.

To be fair, I think I can see the point that it was trying to make: most parenting advice and many of the ideals of parenting assume that the relationship is between the mother and one child. When you add more children into the equation it's bound to get much more complicated and you do feel torn in different directions much of the time. Having said that, however, I feel that the book laboured the point in rather a negative way, focusing heavily on the downsides and stress of having more than one whilst ignoring or skimming over the benefits.

So I'd be with the others in reckoning that you don't really need a book - it's better just to wing it!

[rouge]

That's good because Tommy's right - I don't have time to read one and no. 2 isnt even here yet!

[Twiglett]

I'd just like to say from my perspective that having 2 children is wonderful and far easier than having one

DS entertains DD

DS chats to DD

even when DS ignores DD she just watches him in amazement at the things he can do

to begin with he used to help me by bringing wipes and taking away poo nappies (in bags) but that gets dull

now there's nothing nicer than looking at your children interacting and realising how wonderful it can be

[rouge]

That's lovely Twiglett thanks!!

[Tommy]

I agree with Twiglett (as usual)
Just don't expect to be able to do anything for the first few weeks, then expect only to be able to do one thing a day, then it's fine...until they're both poorly and then it's bloody awful

[rouge]

I only do one thing a day as it is

[Enid]

I won Three socks etc on mumsnet! I swear it made me utterly depressed.

Two is better than one, mine are 3 years apart and love each other, don't worry xxxxxxxxxxxx

[suzanneme]

I've had #2 three months ago and ditto advice about Three Socks, etc. - the gloomiest book of all time, and utterly wrong about everything I've experienced. I'm finding it all so much easier 2nd time round. You have insight this time and know that the hard sleepless bit doesn't go on forever, and that eventually feeds space out, etc. Plus you have inbuilt amusement for both children in their sibling. Just wing it, you'll be absolutely fine. Haven't found anything written that's much help, and I did look.

[KatieinSpain]

I read "Three socks ..." and it depressed me as well. I think I also read "The Fat Ladies Club" and its follow-up, during my second pregnancy and liked both for their honesty and positive attitude to life.
I tried reading books with big brothers and new babies in to DS1, but he was not a bit interested, so we gave up and went back to his usual favourites.
Some of the baby magazines were good reading too and I found a friend to swop them with, so I got to read/flick through them all, without a huge bill .
Since using MN, I've got a copy of Christopher Green's book and reading the chapter on sibling rivalry will happen one day.

[WideWebWitch]

Agree about the 2 socks book, I disliked it too. And I was scared before I had #2 but it's great, really.

[santaclary]

that bloody three socks book, the woman said she didn't venture out of the house with the two of them until the second was a year old...wtf??? we would have gone bonkers.
two is wonderful, three is even better

[ssd]

Sorry, but I disagree with everyone - I liked the 3 socks etc. book! I liked the fact she admitted it was hard work,although of course it does get easier....But although my two of 3 + 6 now get on great, at the beginning I found it bloody hard going and I wanted to slap anyone who said it was easy!

[fisil]

Surely buying childcare books is nothing to do with need, that's certainly not why I bought them first time round! There's a very slim book called siblings which was cheap and easy to read (and gave me the pleasures that only buying a shiny new book can give me!) You can't go out and buy new clothes, after all, surely that's why we buy parenting books?

[rouge]

fisil I relate!!

[rouge]

fisil I can't find your book on Amazon. Who's it by?

[fisil]

Siblings by Dr Richard Woolfson. Published by hamlyn, seems to have some connection with Practical Parenting. I bought it from Books etc., though, so it is available commercially. ISBN 0-60-60663-5, cost £5.99.

[rouge]

Found it! Thanks

[fisil]

here

[fisil]

ooops, too slow!