Product Spotlight: Pregnancy, Birth, and Baby Care Books

lalala2004

Haven't done one of these in a while, and I thought maybe at this point people might have read books they like (or recommend some as a STM).

Any books on pregnancy or birth you've read and liked?

Any baby care books you've read or purchased?

lalala2004

With Baby #1 I read Pregnancy for Dummies which I liked.I haven't even pulled it out this time, though. I do intend to pull out my Bradley Method workbook from the class I took in my first pregnancy. I've been lazy about reading this time, but I've BTDT, I just need a few refreshers, maybe. I also read "Birthing a Better Way" but that's mostly just birth stories, so you can read those anywhere. Largely positive stories, though, so it was encouraging.

As far as baby care books, I have the Sears Baby Book: https://www.amazon.com/Baby-Book-Everything-About-Birth/dp/1491518235 I read it bit by bit and really liked it. I referred back to it multiple times. 

juliebird6

I liked Happiest Baby on the block for baby care!  There are also videos and a lot of internet things to accompany the book, which was helpful for me to not lose my mind in those first few weeks.

proudparent2b

I had bought What to Expect the First Year, but it wasn’t helpful to me. LOs all learn and develop in their own time and ways, so reading where LO was ‘supposed’ to be at and either being ahead or behind in different aspects was frustrating.

I think my BMB was the most helpful resource.

ecwk

My Doula recommended Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth and I still have to purchase it but I will!

melprop

I used to have one written by the AAP. It had child development info, common illnesses and injuries with care info, suggested doctor visit schedule, and general medical info. I really liked it for a comprehensive resource, but I got rid of it after DS turned 6yo.

I now have the KidsDoc phone app from the AAP that is very helpful in place of a book. 

ETA: It was this book 
https://www.amazon.com/Caring-Your-Baby-Young-Child/dp/0553386301

princesslockness

The Wonder Weeks. I just have the app, but there is a book. It gave us a heads up when either kid was likely to be super fussy and why they were. It was so nice to know it wasn't just 'we suck as parents. We can't even figure out what we are doing wrong.' when they all of a sudden wouldn't respond like they had been previously. 

livinthesunnylife

+1 for the Wonder Weeks app!

IvorySoapGirl

This thread is reminding me to take my pregnancy books off the shelf! The only one I've looked at recently is Your Best Pregnancy Ever which is more about keeping fit, taking care of your abs before and after pregnancy, and handling the physical side effects of pregnancy, like back pain or sciatica. (Full disclosure: Denise Jagroo was my pelvic physical therapist after my daughter was born and helped heal my diastasis recti (gap in the abs) and be able to have sex again without horrible pain.)

The book I've gotten the most use out of is Dr. Marc Weissbluth's Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. I'll be hanging on to my copy for a long while. I still reference it occasionally for my four year old. It's the only book I've ever bought for pregnant friends. Amazing book. No fads, just science. Evidence-based sleep advice.

The one I'm going to pull off the shelf and flip through right now is the old What to Expect When You're Expecting. 

A clinical dietician (pediatric) friend recommended Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense. I used it add a general guide,especially in the first year post breastfeeding.

mrslittlemac

I can't say I really read books to prepare, so much as just looking specific things up online to get different perspectives.
One lifesaver early on though was an app called Baby Manager. I was so nervous about being a mother and it really helped organize those first weeks of feeding on demand and diaper changes. I still use it to track things like medicine, weight, height, etc--but its true value was really keeping me focused for the first few weeks. 

lalala2004

Oh, I also read the Baby Led Weaning book, which is good, but obviously not applicable until much later.

lalala2004

Oh, I also read the Baby Led Weaning book, which is good, but obviously not applicable until much later.

lalala2004

Oh, I also read the Baby Led Weaning book, which is good, but obviously not applicable until much later.

vinerie

This is a little specific, but "Precious Little Sleep." Newborns are up every few hours, but as they get older, we (I assume this is true for most people!) want them to sleep through the night... Well, DS1 was not on board with that plan and around 7/8 months was getting up (and I kid you not) 8-10x per night. I was a zombie. I can do 2-3 x per night but it was so, so bad. Anyhow, someone in my other TB group recommended me to the FB group called "precious little sleep." The moderator also wrote a book with the same title and the strategies were a lifesaver for us. 

kburg15

I also recommend Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth and Hypnobirthing!

And Happiest Baby on the Block for infant care. 

And for breastfeeding I liked Facebook pages/websites the most—Milk Meg and KellyMom.com