Must Read Baby Books?

lshea0414

Hi all! I want to stock up on some must read baby books now while I have the time to read before the baby comes-I found one with great reviews for breastfeeding called "The Complete Book of Breastfeeding" and one for making homemade baby food called "The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet."

But I am still looking for some great books that will get me prepared, as this is my first child. Perhaps something on establishing sleep patterns, or just anything that any of you have read that have proved really helpful. I think I am just going to do one large order off Amazon.

Any suggestions would be great! Thanks in advance!

carlye12380

Almost all of my girlfriends swear by Becoming Babywise. Its a guideline to establishing a routine with your baby as far as sleeping and feeding are concerned.

ETA the book can be seen as controversial, but they really endorse breastfeeding and that's what i love about it!

Rubyayn

I like anything by Dr. Sears, but did not really read too many parenting books. They are a tough genre though because everyone has a different opinion on the subject and a lot of those books are just opinion peices. Do you know what style of parenting you lean towards? There are so many different ways get it right I think!

If you plan on breastfeeding I would avoid books like Babywise just in case. Rigid feeding schedules are not recommended for newborns, especially while nursing and the AAP put out a statement about this book in particular causing failure to thrive in some instances. It does come highly recoomended by a lot of people though. I read it. There were some helpful suggestions, but the style wasn't for me and the AAP thing scared me off completely.

There are some great parenting blogs and resources online that make good reads and are informative.

lshea0414

I like anything by Dr. Sears, but did not really read too many parenting books. They are a tough genre though because everyone has a different opinion on the subject and a lot of those books are just opinion peices. Do you know what style of parenting you lean towards? There are so many different ways get it right I think!

If you plan on breastfeeding I would avoid books like Babywise just in case. Rigid feeding schedules are not recommended for newborns, especially while nursing and the AAP put out a statement about this book in particular causing failure to thrive in some instances. It does come highly recoomended by a lot of people though. I read it. There were some helpful suggestions, but the style wasn't for me and the AAP thing scared me off completely.

There are some great parenting blogs and resources online that make good reads and are informative.

Thanks for the advice-I definitely plan on breastfeeding (God willing) but I am a very organized and structured person so would like to bring those characteristics to my parenting. I know I will have to go back to work after a few months so I feel like having a routine will be helpful, although I know there is only so much routine you can put into the life of a newborn baby.

But I feel the same way, it is so hard to find books because of all the different opinions out there-while one person swears by one, it seems like another despises it!

auzziecawth66

The happiest baby on the block is a pretty good read. What to expect the first year is a pretty good resource too with lots a answerers for all those little things on a monthly basis.

Rubyayn

I like anything by Dr. Sears, but did not really read too many parenting books. They are a tough genre though because everyone has a different opinion on the subject and a lot of those books are just opinion peices. Do you know what style of parenting you lean towards? There are so many different ways get it right I think!

If you plan on breastfeeding I would avoid books like Babywise just in case. Rigid feeding schedules are not recommended for newborns, especially while nursing and the AAP put out a statement about this book in particular causing failure to thrive in some instances. It does come highly recoomended by a lot of people though. I read it. There were some helpful suggestions, but the style wasn't for me and the AAP thing scared me off completely.

There are some great parenting blogs and resources online that make good reads and are informative.

Thanks for the advice-I definitely plan on breastfeeding (God willing) but I am a very organized and structured person so would like to bring those characteristics to my parenting. I know I will have to go back to work after a few months so I feel like having a routine will be helpful, although I know there is only so much routine you can put into the life of a newborn baby.

But I feel the same way, it is so hard to find books because of all the different opinions out there-while one person swears by one, it seems like another despises it!

Yes, everyone has a different opinion and LOVES to give advice when it comes to babies. Your parenting philosophy might change, too, once the baby is home. I know mine did completely!!! Each family, and baby, is different. I say just read up on the basics and do what feels right when the baby is here.

I am a VERY rigid and structured person, too. Those first 4-6 weeks at home with a new baby wrecked havoc on my type A plans and I fear that will happen again this time. If you decide to read babywise then I would just take the feeding advice with a grain of salt rather than literally. Breastfed babies do have to eat more often and nighttime nursing is a must for a while. Not to mention the growth spurts they go through. I would be careful not to get too wrapped up in a schedule that could hinder your milk supply or risk the baby in any way.

Speaking of babies and sleep, I cannot recommend a bedtime routine highly enough. We started a simple one when my daughter was two weeks old and before we knew it, it worked like a charm!! She is three now and we do the same routine and ALL start yawning halfway in to the bedtime book. It felt silly doing all of that with an infant, but I am glad I did. Turns out a lot of babies rely on routine and structure just as much as we do!!

jaimemariel

I just read Bringing Up Bebe and loooved it. So much sanity in that book.

kori333

I love Secrets of the Baby Whisperer. It has a helpful chart for interpreting your baby's cries and movements which helped me a lot as a new parent. It's somewhat similar to Baby Wise in the routine you establish but more flexible. I don't care for Baby Wise. With any book, you have to remember they don't have all the answers for every baby and every family, so you take the pieces that work for you and leave the rest. I also like Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. That one was given to me by our ped.

samjam801

I love secrets of the baby whisperer too. I lived by this to establish sanity, sleep training and a routine with my first.
She was sleeping through the night by 8 weeks.
I am reading her toddler one now.