Hey ladies,
I'm feeling a little anxious about caring for a newborn when we eventually bring our baby home. We're signed up for a baby care class and infant cpr in March...but I'd like to read a few books about sleep habits, feeding, etc. Any recommendations? What To Expect the First Year? Baby Wise? Happiest Baby on the Block?
Re: Book recommendations
I skimmed Baby Wise (and read the Cliffs Notes version that my sister made!) and it really worked for us. We watched Happiest Baby at out infant care class, which was also extremely valuable information. Someone gave me What to Expect, but I didn't open it at all.
If you'd like me to forward you my sister's Cliff's Notes on Baby Wise, PM me your email address!
I found that caring for a newborn was so instinctive. The infant care class was good to cover all of the basics, but many things just came to me in the moment. As women, we're created to be nurturers (for the most part), so many things will just come to you. Also, having a good relationship with the pediatrician, your mom/MIL, and other mommy friends really makes a difference!
Good luck and most of all, enjoy those snuggles that your baby will give you as a newborn. Everyone will say that it goes fast, but you don't realize just how fast it is until you don't have a teeny baby anymore!
She's Forever Ours! Finaliaztion-12.26.12
I really liked Your Baby's First Year Week by Week. It gave weekly milestones (while reassuring that all babies develop at different rates) and suggestions for activities each week (while reassuring that for some early weeks, no special activities were necessary). DH and I called it The Oracle and referred to it regularly.
it's ok to be nervous. None of us know what we're doing at first
Good for you!
I highly recommend reading a book on sleep. Ironically when you are desperate for sleep solutions, you are too tired to read
Two popular sleep books are Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. Another one is called The Sleep Whisperer.