Best books for first time mum?

[IamJob]

Hi all, not too far into pregnancy but realised I know nothing - like literally nothing - how to clothe baby (layers?), temperature, winding baby, how often babies feed, how to bathe a baby and how often and so on!!

Is there a book that covers this or how do you find out!!??

I liked your baby week by week, very handy to just dip in and out when you need it. It's more for when the baby is here rather than pre baby prep though.

Pretty sure it covers layers, how often to feed, winding, sleeping etc

I highly recommend What to Expect: The First Year (the follow up to What To Expect When You're Expecting) - we dipped in and out of it each month as baby grew to check on what she should be up to, and what we could expect in the coming weeks.

Have you checked whether there are any antenatal classes running locally? I know it's all a bit odd in COVID but there might be something. There are apps as well that will send you notifications. And the NHS website is great for basics.

Books are useful but be careful to check against the NHS advice. I seem to remember one of the mainstream books suggests weaning early - there's quite a lot of research now saying that's a bad idea. I would also say try to read a couple of different things just to get alternative views and then make a decision on which way you want to go with things like sleep, feeding etc - everyone has a view but there are differing approaches that are valid.

We never read any books - we were also totally clueless but found that the info we got from the midwives/antenatal classes etc covered what we needed to know. The midwives used to hand out hard copies of the Ready Steady Baby booklet up here in Scotland which covered everything but you can get all the info online now: www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby - it has all the info you need on feeding, bathing etc

One book I did read though and would absolutely recommend to all new mums is Nobody Told Me by Hollie McNish. Not so much for practical advice but I was completely unprepared for how motherhood would affect me emotionally and this book made me feel normal and not so alone! It's a lovely and funny read - cannot recommend it enough.

I'm the same. Neither my partner or I have a clue how babies work! We've booked NCT classes. I know they have mixed reviews but I think any sort of information will help.

Thanks all, I didn’t think about the antenatal classes. I guess that’s the kind of thing they need to cover! I’m surprised someone hasn’t written ‘babies for dummies’ or how to do all basic parenting tasks 🙈 I feel that’s the level I’m at!!

Hi OP! FTM as well and felt pretty much the same. My trust offers great classes free of charge, you just need to book them and you will be placed with other people with similar due dates and you can attend together. We had it online of course as you can imagine right now. But they were amazing anyway covering what I wanted to know and more. I feel a lot more confident now. Ask your midwife whether your trust provides free classes as well because sometimes you need a "code" from them to register to their learning hubs online or similar. Enjoy! Xx

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Ladies-Club-Indispensable-Pregnancy/dp/0141017015/ref=mpssa111?crid=3I8BATUFEZDST&keywords=the+fat+ladies+club&qid=1644358437&sprefix=the+fat+ladie%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-1

The funniest but most truthful baby book I ever read! Cant recommend it enough!

First Time Parent by Lucy Atkins is quite good and also Your Baby Week by Week. Remember that your midwife and health visitor will still be there to support you once baby arrives too!