Can anyone recommend a book to help me?

[TinaFay]

I'm 22 weeks pregnant with my first baby, and it's finally beginning to dawn on me that I know absolutely nothing about babies! I don't even know how to hold one properly, let alone change a nappy, breast feed, bath it, wind it... I've been looking on Amazon at the various books available and it's a minefield! I've also had a quick look at the customer reviews on Mumsnet but I'm still at a loss. I've no idea where to start. Can anyone recommend anything that would help a complete beginner?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Tina

do any of your friends have babies

as the words in books are simply that and practise will come soon enough

tons of luck with your pregnancy

My favourite is 'what to expect the first year'. It tells you almost everything and it's not preaching to much - leaves a lot of scope for improvisation and personal touch.

I remember once finding black stripes in DD poo and paniking, went to look under stool and there was the answer: banana!!

I recommend it.

mostly you'll learn the hard way true but it good to have something at home where you can look up anything that you are unsure of. sometime you will be too enbarassed to ask your friend unfortunately.

alternatively there's always Mumsnet which has got the best answers.

Personally, i loved the "Best Friends Guide" i found it informative, funny and down to earth, although its more geared to you than baby.
For baby stuff, the What to Expect ones are good.

I was the same as you, don't bother with a book. I had never held a baby, changed a diaper, or anything that mothers are "supposed" to do. Somehow when it came time to do everything I just did it.

Try to find a real person with a real baby. Just watching them is really informative. The National Childbirth Trust will help put you in touch with other mums-to-be.

I picked one up by miriam stoppard - it is fab. Covers first three years and breaks it up into sections of birth to one year, 1-2 years etc. Covers everything including having a first aid section in the back. I am a complete bookworm and have bought quite a few - this one is really good. The best friends guide and guide to yummy mummy are good/ lighthearted reads.

I think MN do a book. I have the preg one (am 11+2 with my first)
here you go

I don't know of any books to help you with after the baby is born but a good pregnancy-related book is called 'What to expect when you're expecting'

I am also a first time mom to be with no experience. People say it will just come to you...
But I suppose practice would be a good idea too if there is a way for you to do that.

My favourite is the Rough Guide to Babies, really funny but informative - and I loved the Rough Guide to Pregnancy too. Didn't buy anything else.

If it helps, TinaFay, I'm 36 + 3 and in a similar boat !

Have my first ante natal class on Saturday so am hoping that helps! And relying on friends with kids a lot, I think....

Best of luck!

I have this, this and this
All helpful, although I don't think I've looked at any of them since DS was about 6 weeks, since then I've gone with instinct, with knowing DS well and talking to other mums.
When choosing what books to buy I just went into a bookshop and browsed the parenting section and picked out the ones that looked helpful or written in a style I could relate to.

I knew nothing either, but the midwives show you how to change nappies and bath, they help with breastfeeding too. Plus your Health Visitor comes round to see you and the midwives come every day after the birth for a while - between the MW and HV, you'll find out everything you need to know. As for holding babies, I had literally no clue how to do this and had always felt really uneasy holding other peoples' babies - but as soon as you hold your own you just sort instantly know what to do, it's weird.

I'm another first timer, and got the Sears' Baby Book on a friend's recommendation. It seems pretty thorough, a bit crunchy, but not extreme.

I had miriam stoppard and "what to expect when you're expecting". I liked the latter as it had quite a lot of detail and almost every scenario was covered.

Good luck!

Birth & Beyond by Yehudi Gordon is pretty good - covers the first 9 mths