Personally I disagree that it’s all completely instinctual and natural, its not for everyone plus there are certain things that parents need to know for baby’s safety.
I’ve come across incidents in real life, seen on tv and certain posts on here have shown that some people are unaware of some important info.
This has included but not limited to:
Not knowing about sids guidance
Not knowing the potential dangers of salt in a baby’s diet
Not knowing how to safely make up a bottle
Not understanding normal baby development - seen a lot of threads of this type recently on mn new parents expecting VERY young babies to behave in ways that they’re simply incapable of and it being attributed to the baby being “naughty” in some way, babies especially those less than 3 months old have no concept of “naughty” or “manipulation” they’re just trying to get basic needs met.
I’ve a LOT of experience (eldest child and grandchild both sides, babysitting since 12 paid since 14, nanny before having dd) and I STILL panicked when her dad went back to work after we were home!
Where I’m a bit at a loss is recommending sources, dds dad found what to expect the first year helpful and some leaflets the midwife gave us.
Now it is so much easier to find info online BUT check the source and check if it’s up to date. Generally the nhs’ own page is pretty good if basic.
You will make rookie errors, I did when I was first looking after babies, did my share of backwards nappies and vests and not being quick enough at times.
Ex learned the hard way about dodging pee while nappy changing, making sure the changing bag is properly prepped
What you will learn through experiencing your own child and getting to know them is things like what each cry means, their hungry and tired signs, what temperature they like things, what temp they run at (I’ve a dd who runs hot so a temp that would be a fever in another child was her normal, my sister has one that runs cool so a “normal” temp in another child means they actually have a fever), how they like to be treated when tired/bored/in pain (right from the start dd preferred as little fuss as possible when in pain/feeling unwell and she’s still the same now). It’s not really “instinctual” it’s from you spending a lot of time with them so you know them very well, plus they can be personality traits handed down (I also hate being fussed when in pain/sick, her dad wants 6 nurses and 2 drs and his mother wiping his brow 😂)
Speaking of ex - he’d never even held a baby before dd, had zero experience and yes made a fair few mistakes and found it challenging to learn about development etc but he now has 6 and they’re all alive and thriving 😉 just nobody can really quite figure how 😂
Ask your midwife for recommended resources too? And check out loads of threads on here, the “what I wish I knew...” ones are hilarious!