Thursday, October 20, 2016
Daisy Asks for Your Recommendations (Once Again)!
So this is gonna be me in a little while :) My bump's not big enough to actually balance something on right now, but we're slowly going to get there!
The boyfriend and I are slowly preparing for life with a baby that will actually NEED things (as in opposed to just me needing things at the moment) and while I have the whole pregnancy information thing down with all of the sites across the interweb and What To Expect When You're Expecting, which has a TON of knowledge, and also the things I know as a doctor, I'd like to be a little more knowledgeable about the stuff that comes after the baby makes his or her grand entrance.
And I wouldn't be the little bookworm that I am if I didn't want to read up on all things baby-related and parenting tip and tricks. I mean, obviously I've already made a deal with the baby that he or she will be a bundle of joy, filled with rainbows and fairy dust. But just in case he or she decides to go back on this agreement, I'd like to know everything I need to know.
SO hit me with your best suggestions! I have a chunk of time at my disposal before my due date early March. I've already got French Children Don't Throw Food by Pamela Druckerman, which looks awesome.
And also: what are the books you loved to read to your kids in the early days? I'm determined to read him or her lots of stories :)
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Favorite parenting book: Parent Effectiveness Training by Thomas Gordon. Second favorite: How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. For more general reassurance that you won't screw your kid up, I recommend Baby Meets World by Nicholas Day. Other good ones: Einstein Never Used Flashcards by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff (for insights into lesser-known milestones that are fun to watch for) and Dear Mister Rogers, Does It Ever Rain in Your Neighborhood? by Fred Rogers (for insights into how Mister Rogers approached kids' questions). Congrats and good luck!
ReplyDeleteJust remembered another good one — The Science of Mom by Alice Callahan. She also has a blog at scienceofmom.com.
DeleteI used to read my kids anything Dr. Seuss. That is when i gave up on just basic picture books. I was very young when I had my first so sadly I didn't read any parenting books, and the only book I was given I threw it away. I learned most of my tips and tricks from the people that I lived with that had a set of newborn twins. My best advice for you....Go with it. Try not to overthink anything, and if you do find yourself stuck or a fever that won't break there are old wives tales and myths that may sound crazy but do work. Hope this helps. Congrats and good luck!
ReplyDeleteI really liked Dr. Sears Baby Book for practical advice. I thought the No Cry Sleep Solution was great. I read Dr. Ferber's book about sleep too and it helped. I couldn't do a long term cry it out plan personally. I totally recommend finding a good breastfeeding book if you're going that route. Jenny McCarthy's book about pregnancy was really funny and the Girlfriend's Guide to pregnancy. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids ... Never wanted em ....so am the last person to ask about pregnancy books etc. Have watched lots of Supernanny etc which makes me an expert (Hahahahahahahahahahahaha joke), just remember that you are the adult and you are in charge, even if it doesn't feel like it at the time. You are allowed to ask for help, cry when you're fed up/tired etc, as the farting rainbows are going to stop pretty quickly.
ReplyDeleteGo for fabric books to start with, then move to those in cardboard when the teething kicks in - there's a reason so few of these are passed on and its because they are usually gummed till they fall apart. Kids love repetition as it gives them a level of security, so pick books that you won't mind reading 100 times as you may literally have to read it out loud that many times. Also pick ones with short chapters!
Good luck!
I don't have children myself, so I don't know good parenting books, but I have taken child psych classes and there are two really good pieces of advice that have helped when I babysit - (1) remember that they are not crying to piss you off. Don't take it personally; and (2) there is a point in hysterical crying when they get themselves so wound up that they can't stop if they wanted to, and they scare themselves, which causes more crying. Don't get frustrated with this. Stay calm and help them to unwind by being soothing.
ReplyDeleteFor a bit later down the track you could have a look at 'Baby-led Weaning'. Even if you don't decide to follow its instructions, it debunks a lot of myths about babies needing pureed foods cos they'll choke (they don't!).
ReplyDeleteThe local library should become your best friend. Right from the start we made weekly trips there, and we still do. My two boys absolutely love books now. Read them anything, it doesn't matter! Although I have a soft spot for "Good Night Moon'.
Good luck!
I second baby-led weaning... the book by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett is great, and the process worked really well for us.
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