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What did you read to prepare for parenting?

posted 6 months ago in Parenting
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    Blushing bee
    Tisty1982    October 2, 2010   Illinois

    So I'm less than 6 wks from my due date and it's occured to me I have no idea what to do once she gets here! What books did you new mommies read to help you figure out how to care for a newborn? I've always been comfortable around babies, but I've never had to be the sole caregiver and now I'm afraid I won't know what to do! From feeding to napping to bathing, everything seems so new now. What did you guys do to help get yourself ready to be a mommy????

     
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    Bumble bee
    Miss Sapphire    December 2009   Seattle

    @Tisty1982:  I honestly didn't read anything.  I know that the WTEWYE people have a birth-1 year book though.  A lot of it is instinct and talking to other mommies/friends/parents and your pediatrician.  I don't think there is a book out there though that can emotionally ready you for parenting though.

     
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    Bee Keeper
    Mrs. Spring    May 10, 2009   California

    I think What to Expect The First Year is pretty comprehensive.  It covers all of infancy, and gives info about developmental milestones, common issues, feeding, bathing, playing, etc...  I also read The Baby Book (which maybe doesn't cover as much as WTE, but has a lot of good information and I like the approach). Plus, many of my pregnancy/birthing books had basic information on newborn care in the final chapters, too.

    ETA:  We also took a newborn care class as part of our birthing class series from the hospital, so that might be something to look into.  I thought it was great because we got  practice doing things like swaddling, dressing/changing baby, bathing, etc... 

    Finally, I read The Happiest Baby on the Block, which is a great tool for battling newborn crying/fussiness, but you can also rent the dvd for the same information.

     
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    Blushing bee
    echo    July 17, 2009   Vancouver, BC

    I haven't had my wee one yet (due end of January) but I have a list of "must reads" from friends that I will attempt to get through before she arrives! 

    They are:

    The Baby Book - by Dr Sears

    Happiest Baby on the Block - by Harvey Karp (have heard this one recommended over and over and over...and well you get the point - heh)

    The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - published by La Leche League (my girlfriend said this one was very helpful to her, even though the title is rather cheesy - haha)

    The No Cry Sleep Solution - by Elizabeth Pantley

    I'm excited to see what others recommend, as I'm definitely a book reading kinda gal :)

     

     

     
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    Blushing bee
    Tisty1982    October 2, 2010   Illinois

    I think I'm just starting to get overwhelmed with the idea that I"m going to have a baby in 6 wks!! We've taken a few classes at our hospital that cover the first few weeks, and I also have the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD. Funny thing is, I was a nanny for 5 yrs and took care of an infant starting at 6 wks with no problems. But I was always given the schedule of when to feed, how much, when to bath etc - now I'm going to be the one that has to figure that out. And little things like trying to pick out bottles becomes overwhelming now - like do people still boil their bottles/nipples or can you just clean them in the dishwasher/sink?? - silly I know!

    I've been in major nesting mode here recently and trying to get everything ready for her when she gets her - and the more I try to get ready, the more I feel like I never will be ready (I guess that's just the beginning of motherhood though right!!)

     
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    Busy bee
    Mrs. Bonnie Blue    January 29, 2011  

    I don't have any kids (yet!), but this reminds me of the episode in Friends, where Rachel reads all these books about preparing for birth, etc., but nothing about parenting and then they have to play that game. So funny!

     
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    Mrs. Spring    May 10, 2009   California

    @Tisty1982: I think a lot of women get a little panicky or overwhelmed at the end.  :)  It's ok, you'll do fine!

    For bottles, some people sanitize bottles/nipples/etc..., some people don't.  I always sanitized mine, just in case, and it was easy to do because our dishwasher has a sanitize cycle on it.

    Also, when you leave the hospital with your baby, your nurses should give you some information on basic newborn care to get you through the first couple weeks.  They'll tell you how much to feed the baby, how often, how often he/she will need a diaper change, how to care for the umbilical cord,  how to bathe baby, how much he/she will sleep, etc...  And then you'll have several pediatrician appointments within the first month, which is a great time to ask any other questions that pop up.  The rest of it is just trial and error, figuring out your little one's individual personality and preferences.  Don't worry.  :)  You'll feel like a pro before you know it!

     
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    Busy bee
    rachiecakes    January 23, 2011   Boston

    omg @Tisty1982 I'm in the same exact place right now, I just ordered two of the books mentioned here - Happiest Baby and What to Expect 1st year - today! 

    I've never been around small babies, I've never changed a diaper ever! I'm so nervous about holding him, just thinking about putting him into a car seat or clothes freaks me out. 

     
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    Blushing bee
    Tisty1982    October 2, 2010   Illinois

    @rachiecakes: We'll get through it together! And then in a few months it will be us trying to calm the soon to be mommies and telling them everything will be ok Laughing

     
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    Busy bee
    Mrs. Bonnie Blue    January 29, 2011  

    @rachiecakes:I had a friend who was like that and she was the first of our group of friends to have kids. She really was just fine--it came to her and then if it didn't, she read up on it. The 'baby' is now 3 and he is super smart and fantastic.

     

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