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Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

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Original poster

About to have first baby what book should I buy as a good overall reference?

44 replies

Dotty38 · 17/02/2009 17:38

I want to get a book but nothing to heavey going with strict routines and extreme ideas. Just something I could read now and use after the birth if I needed.

Can anyone recommend one?

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Notquitegrownup · 17/02/2009 17:42

I really enjoyed Desmond Morris's "People Watching". It helped me feel that there was some logic in how my baby behaved.

I also really valued another book of which I will remember the name soon . . . . .

And there was "How not to be a perfect Mother" by Libby Pervis - good reassuring stuff, with helpful advice like "do invite every double glazing salesman who wants to sell you windows to come around for a quote. Babies love visitors!"

However, I hadn't found MN at the time. Not sure if I would bother with books now - apart from the MN guides, of course - oh and my fabulous "A - Z Guide to Children's Health" by David Haslam, which has been very very useful.

Itsjustafleshwound · 17/02/2009 17:42

Look left!!

Itsjustafleshwound · 17/02/2009 17:43

Sorry - look to your right!!

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woodenspoon2 · 17/02/2009 17:44

Only the toddlers MN guide is out though...

Miyazaki · 17/02/2009 17:45

I like the Yehudi Gordon one...

MrsMattie · 17/02/2009 17:45

'What To Expect When You're Expecting' and/or 'What To Expect the First Year' are the most comprehensive, I'd say.

Pollyanna · 17/02/2009 17:45

Penelope Leach is the best imo.

I did have the what to expect book too though, but I think mn fulfils the same purposes as that book.

Itsjustafleshwound · 17/02/2009 17:47

I found child rearing books really unhelpful and at times quite contradictory ...

Miyazaki · 17/02/2009 17:47

Birth and Beyond, Yehudi Gordon. great.

extremelychocolateymilkroll · 17/02/2009 17:56

The First Time Parent Lucy Atkins was great. Really easy to read and written with a sense of humour.

kingfix · 17/02/2009 17:58

Have you got a library nearby? You could read through a few and see which one gelled with the way you think you want to do things and go with that one. I have got Penelope Leach for reassuring me that being a softie mum is ok (I paraphrase) and Gt Ormond St baby and child care for when to call the doctor. And MN for embarassing stuff.

poppy34 · 17/02/2009 17:59

I really liked this one - sadly discovered it in week six as a guide to getting through the first six months..its not preachy/routine etc but does give you guidelines on what to expect (right down to nappy changes etc) and was a great source of comfort

baby week by week

PeppermintPatty · 17/02/2009 18:01

I liked the "What to expect" books too.

TheCrackFox · 17/02/2009 18:24

I never really found a baby book that I gelled with but IMO Miriam Stoppard's books where crap. Avoid.

mrsmcdreamy · 17/02/2009 18:56

the 'what to expect...' books

Ohforfoxsake · 17/02/2009 19:00

I loved Miriams from Conception to Birth! In fact, the one PG I didn't have it for, I really missed it. I poured over it every night. Used it for all four and was the most useful, but quite old fashioned now I suppose. Had loads of useful stuff and pictures. Very important to have loads of pictures of developing baby IMO!

hodgepodge · 17/02/2009 19:45

The Baby Book by the Sears couple is really good on all sorts of things - especially the section on changes and development of your baby month by month.

They are very big on attachment parenting but you can ignore all the stuff about co-sleeping and so on if you want to ( I did).

Also I REALLY hope you have a fantastic experience with your first baby, but as the mum of a now three and a half month old who has had the most horrible time for three of those months, I have to just warn you that you might really really hate it - and also hate all the people who tell you 'it gets better' - but it DOES get better!!! And fingers crossed you love it all anyway

gemmiegoatlegs · 17/02/2009 19:47

I liked the Kaz Cooke one "rough guide to pregnancy and birth"

Had a small ruler at the beginning of each week to show how big bubba is, and lots of ironic fruit-size comparisons

Tangle · 17/02/2009 20:17

If the baby books were always right there'd only be one.

Using the library to look at a few and see which you like is a good idea - just be aware that even if it sounds like your perfect method, your DC may not agree (they can be contrary like that!)

Ambi · 17/02/2009 20:24

I have the what to expect first year one, its very informative, but my favourite was how to enjoy the first year by rachel waddilove, I always dipped back to that one and I liked the routines, they worked really well for us.

TotalChaos · 17/02/2009 20:26

What to Expect has lots of useful Q and A bits , and covers a lot of topics.

The Yehudi Gordon book, birth and beyond is nice too.

dustbuster · 17/02/2009 20:26

IMO Penelope Leach is the best - very reassuring and non-doctinaire.

Ambi · 17/02/2009 20:26

though if you're not bothered by routines, you can skip that chapter. It didnt seem preachy to me, just a good run through of the basics.

Pitchounette · 17/02/2009 20:30

Message withdrawn

macherie · 17/02/2009 20:36

I love Penelope Leach, I give her book to all my pregnant friends

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