Recommendations for a good "baby" book - please?

[CupcakesHay]

I'm wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a general "baby" book - the kind that explains about baby things such as collic, or if it cries you can do this, etc. Kind of like a vague manual!

I'm going to be first time mum, and we live abroad, away from friends and family and I can't always get internet access, so would rather have a "manual" around - IYSWIM!

My friend bought me Penelope Leach's 'Your Baby and Child' at Christmas and it seems really good - practical (DH and I are slightly afraid we won't know how to keep the baby alive ) and commonsense, and divided into age categories up until the baby is school age. It just gives the information you need very simply without much ideological crap with it.

On the other hand, someone else bought me 'The Contented Little Baby Book' or some such old tosh, and the first few pages frightened the life out of me with its strictures about feeding times and routines, etc. It probably works for some people, but it seemed too laden with value judgments for me. I just want practical advice, and the Leach book seems great ...

I haven't actually had a baby yet (nearly 16 weeks pregnant with DC1) though, so God knows if I'm actually right!

What to expect: the first year.

I found it invaluable with my first baby.

the 'what to expect' series is good- a manual for practical stuff rather than a philopsophy- IYSWIM.
you would get 'waht to expect in the first year'

Another one who loved What to Expect. I'm still using my toddler one for our second child but I found both that and the First Year one invaluable.

The Mumsnet one's good (but then I was quoted in that so it's to be expected [preen] . To be honest Penelope Leach is, IMO, one of the best ones out. I was given a copy and have found it to be a useful reference. A word of warning though - her breastfeeding advice isn't the best you'll get.

It completely depends on your parenting philosophy/style.. and of course it's quite possible you may not have yet decided what your style will be! (I hadn't until a good few weeks after my first baby was born and I realised I was more of an attachment-parenting style mother!)

For pure facts, there's "The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-shooting Tips and Advice on First-year Maintenance" Okay, so it's a tongue-in-cheek technical manual but it's easy to read, factual and so easy to dip into when you have just one simple question to ask. I don't think it's particularly biased towards any parenting style from what I recall.

For things like colic, a book I liked as a more crunchy parent was "Happiest Baby on the Block". Similarly lots of the Sears books are good as well.

Not necessarily a manual, but a book I would recommend for you is "What Mothers Do, Especially When it Looks Like Nothing" which is fantastic for your self-confidence. It's something you should read when baby is a few weeks old and you're sure you're doing it all wrong and baby hates you

Above all, find a good forum. That's where I got most of my tips from!

I really liked "First-Time Parent: The honest guide to coping brilliantly and staying sane in your baby's first year" by Lucy Atkins.

It covers everything from birth to 12 months and is a good sensible practical guide which covers all the basics in a non evengelical way.

It also doesn't have any unrealistic routines for you to follow.

Best one I had was 'Your baby week by week' - here on amazon - it's very practical and tells you things like how many hours a day (!) it is normal for your baby to cry for.

Right, sorry to gatecrash post but just putting What to Expect on my list (of one!)

Practical stuff and not a philosophy is exactly what I want ...

What isn't good advice about Leach/breastfeeding?

Brill - i think i'll get a couple! I'm planning to keep asking my annoying questiosn on mumsnet - but it's for those times i can't get internet! Thanks everyone!

I agree with Bicnod, the best book I had was Your baby week by week. I hated What to Expect, it was so intense and just made me feel stressed and overwhelmed. Full of dire and to be honest somewhat bizarre warnings.

I can't reach it just now (BFing!) but there's stuff about needing to rest and eat properly and stuff, something about your milk disappearing because you've done too much housework which is nonsense (not that I'd be at any risk of that, you understand). There are much better references for breastfeeding. The Scottish/Welsh Health Board one called Off to a Good Start is available as a PDF online and is fab.

I second mousesma - I have just been bought the Lucy Atkins book and I love it. I don't actually have a baby yet, so can't talk about its accuracy, but I'm finding it reassuring and practical (step by step photos for changing a nappy, both disposable and reusable!) and whatever-the-opposite-of-preachy is.

I'm also reading Lucy Atkins's book and would second everything said above! Really reassuring, practical advice.

What Mothers Do, Especially When it Looks Like Nothing

We've got Miriam Stoppard's New Babycare book, which looks fantastic.

Even DH has read it! It's all nice step-by-step practical stuff. Not a lot of routines/opinions.

But we haven't got a baby yet, so no idea realistically how practical it is.

Good luck!

ditto "Your Baby Week by Week" - v good

I've just started reading "Your Baby Week By Week: The ultimate guide to caring for your new baby" by Dr Caroline Fertleman - so far it is excellent. It gives you the info in bite size chunks week by week and it doesn't read like a mums manual. It seems practical and balanced and goes up to 24 weeks of age. I'm glad I bought it.

Ah thanks stickersarecurrency ... glad to see you're BFing and not attempting the housework, too

I would go for Kaz Cooke " a rough guide to pregnancy" I am currently reading it for the second time and makes me laugh so much!
Good for girls who have a sense of humour! A lot of books out there are just so dull ;-( xx

Agree with recommendations for "your baby week by week" best book I had when I had ds and I bought a lot of books!!

what to expect series is brilliant!! there are so many crappy books that just cover what you can read on every baby website for free.........

I am eagerly awaiting my delivery of Kaz Cooke's Rough Guide to Pregnancy (Rubbish Amazon are taking ages).

With my first, I'd snuggle up to my hubby in bed and read out pages of my borrowed copy. Loved it so much I've ordered my own copy this time.

It doesn't have much on after the baby arrives though.

Another vote for Penelope Leach.

I found the 'what to expect' books a bit neurotic and joyless tbh, but they're best sellers so probably a minority view.

Wow - my amazon order arrived this morning - so quik on super save delivery - and I got the "what to Expect" book and the week by week guide - and both seem great - so thank you all for recommendations!