Starting a family! Advice?

[Fireywoman]

My fiance and I have decided to start a family, it's always been something we've wanted, he would have years ago but career wise I wanted to do a few things first. With everything going on at the moment I have seen what really matters in life and that we don't want to put it off any longer. I am currently a nursery nurse in a primary school so from 3 years up I'm great with kids. But have had very little experience with babies, but have loved every second and I am so lucky as my fiance is so great with kids and I know is going to be an amazing dad.
I'd love to know what books people found helped them get prepared for a baby, knowing what to do, what they need and routines and all of that. Even any online articles you found really great. Thanks :D

I had no experience at all with babies but I found I knew what to do with my own.
They are all so different.
My advice is to do what works for you, whether that be breast or bottle feeding etc.
You'll naturally fall into a feeding schedule.
Stuff like nappy changing and dressing becomes second nature after a while.
They really just need food, warmth and cuddles!

I second what Liverbird said. Your instincts really do kick in (mostly) with your own. Its a bit like learning on the job, just go with baby's flow regarding feeding and changing and speak/sing/read to them.
My little one is 2 and so far we've structured our play around eyfs and the asq questionnaire questions since he was 6ish months in order to provide the right level of stimulation.

Try googling ‘the forth trimester’ for a good overview of the first few months.

Takingcarababies was amazing for us. We did the newborn course a few weeks before the birth. I have experience with babies but my husband didn't know a thing. After doing the course my husband was so confident in settling the baby from the beginning and I learnt a lot of new things from it too. The course covers things like sleepy cues, wake windows, nap routines, night feeding but most importantly you are actively encouraged to cuddle and hold your baby often and are allowed to hold them for some of their naps which was very important to me as they are only little and snuggly for so long. It sets a great foundation for good sleep and a good routine. I have had a clingy, high needs baby and a chilled out, settled baby and both of them have been and are good sleepers and I credit this course completely!

@nameisnotimportant that sounds great! Thank you!
I get depression and anxiety so a good way I handle it is to be prepared and obviously I know kids aren't going to follow the rules of a book but it's gives me peace of mind and that confidence going into the most amazing role of my life

I read First Time Parent to get the basic gist of things as OH and I have no baby experience! I also read loads of Bounty/Emma's Diary/NHS online articles and went to antenatal classes although don't think they'll be offered until the situation changes.

I found the midwives showed us how to do basic things once he was born such as changing/feeding but most things we worked out for ourselves and went with what he wanted. The best things to do is remind yourself that they don't know if you don't know what you're doing and despite looking really fragile, you won't break them, even if you do put a nappy on wrong or a vest the wrong way 😂

We're 8 weeks in now, the most advice I can give is to be open minded, learn from your baby as you go and take time for you because it can be overwhelming, don't put too much pressure on yourself - you'll be great

That's great advice thanks @SparkleUK. Good luck with your little one!