Advice on baby books

lynsiloo

Hi guys, i am looking at buying a baby book or two. I am 37 wks pregnant and have had a book which has helped me through. I am looking at getting a book with general info, as this is my first baby i feel like i hope most do!! i am woerried about getting her to sleep and eat and everything else that comes along with her. Have any of you got any advice on good books?? My fiance is really interested too so something we can both have a good read at. Many thanks:beer:

poohzee

This was / is my bible!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Baby-Whisperer-Connect-Communicate/dp/0091857023/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205319594&sr=8-1

Nicki

I'd be wary to be honest! New babies really don't come with a manual, and there are a plethora of books out there all with different theories, and you end up feeling like you are doing something wrong if your baby doesn't respond how the book says they should.

You should be shown enough by the midwives to enable you to look after the baby in the first few weeks, and after that there is the Health Visitor who will give advice on all the stuff like eating, sleeping, play, etc. You'll also find once the baby makes their appearance that there is no shortage of people wanting to offer advice (for which read criticism)! And there is always forums like this where a question tends to get a quick answer whatever time of day or night it is posted.

Mrs_Pepperpot_2

I'm a Gina Ford (contented little baby) girl but only becauswe it suited me and suited DS1. Am expecting no2 in July and may have to do things differently because as Nicki says they don't come with a manual!!!

Lots of people will hear the word Gina Ford and diapprove heartily - just goes to show. You have to read stuff with an open mind and ask yourself whether it fits how you want to bring up your baby.

Best of luck!!

freda

Instead of buying a book, why not just order what you are interested in from your library.

I read the Gina Ford book, and the Baby Whisperer one, and by far the most useful was the Baby Whisperer (although I hated the style in which it was written). I couldn't have done Gina Ford at all, her techniques (to me) seem way over the top for a tiny new baby. The baby whisperer is all about learning to understand your baby's body language and fitting in with its own natural rhythm to begin with, which I found backed up my instinctive gut feelings as to how I should be looking after LO. A friend of mine tried the Gina Ford routine for 2 whole weeks and ended up a nervous wreck (struggling to leave the house due to the limitations of the routine) and very unconfident in her mothering skills. On the other hand, I have occasionally come across people who know people who had success with it.

Babies don't conform to what books say - what suits one baby won't suit another. Don't think you can get it all from a book! I'd just get as many books as you can from the library and read up on it all, making note of things that you think will suit you and your lifestyle.

agme28

Hiya

For a general guide on the month to month changes and routines associated with your baby I would recommend What To Expect: Your Baby's First Year, as well as the Baby Whisperer book and The Yummy Mummy's Family Handbook!

Good luck xx

Welshlassie

I'm a fan of the Baby Whisperer and Jo Frost Confident Baby care.

Pick and choose what you use from each of them. To be honest I found I didn't have enough time to read anything in the first few weeks and so muddled through, anything I read before baby arrived I forgot. Once you have got to know your new arrival and settled down for a few weeks then think about looking at a book if you feel you still need them.

I found them more useful for weaning and sleeping issues than general babycare.
Useful to have to hand but could have survived without.

skylight

I haven't bought any books for any of my four - I stuck with the advice in the Emmas Diary type things and FIL gave me a subscription to a baby magazine. If you sign up to free things like Tesco baby club - boots club and even pampers/cow and gate (can do all these online) then they will send out mini-booklets every so often, relating to the age of the baby and occasionally decent money-offs too!

The best advice you pick up on your way along. At the end of the day, the crux to ALL the books is routine. A good routine is the best thing for you and baby.

daphne_descends

Don't read any books on what to do - really. Your baby will not have read them. And Tracy Hogg (baby whisperer) did not breastfeed so ignore ANYTHING she has to say about that. Not even mentioning GF, awful woman, nearly as bad as Claire Verity.

A general book about how babies progress over the first six months/year might be useful but read with caution. I have one that gives useful advice such as 'mum, you may want to think about joining a gym now' when the baby is 8 sodding weeks old - it is SO patronising, I intend to go through with a black marker and blank out all the 'helpful advice'. But it is a good guide on what my baby might be doing or learning this week/month.

sooz

another vote for 'what to expect in the first year'.

tsstss7

if you intend to breastfeed I'd get a few books and read around that as it's not always very easy and lots of new mums seem to give up on it very early on as it is not what they expected (plus you get loads of conflicting/different advice from midwives etc so it pays to be slightly clued up).

I've read baby whisperer, gina ford and nanny knows best ..bw is better for me but nkb has some good tips too.

As stated above all babies are different so I'd get a few library books and read around abit. You wont get much time when baby is born so it's better done before although you wont remember it all it'll give you a good idea and let you know which way suits your lifestyle best.

congratulations btw !