Best Baby Books
admin April 15th, 2009
I am always suspicious of those who don’t read books. Just like people who don’t like dogs and prefer dreary weather, I know that there is just not something right with people who don’t read. I don’t care if you like sci-fi, biographies, murder novels, tomes of poetry, porn anthologies, whatever. A refusal to read is a refusal to learn, to imagine, to improve, play, explore, and be amazed. And if you don’t want to do these things, I just don’t understand you, never will, and that is how it is. Goodbye.
So unsurprisingly I have little sympathy when mothers who skipped (metaphorically) along in happy ignorance during their pregnancy are suddenly at a loss for how to handle this new monster/baby. Perhaps if you had done a little preparation, you might have some idea of what is going on. Now I know that reading all the books in the world will not fully prepare someone for mother (or father!) hood. But people, did you really think that God would just reach into your head and massage knowledge on all needed topics into your brain? If so, please go get into your car, drive to Costco, and buy their 500 pack of condoms because you, do not need to be procreating.
Seriously. I have some friends – smart, funny, great people – who seem to subscribe to the massaged brain brand of parenting and they have no idea why their kid is doesn’t sleep, eats crap, and does whatever she pleases. Well, perhaps, I’d like to say, because you suck at parenting but you don’t know that because you don’t read. I may be a little judgmental.
Of course you can’t just buy ALL the books. Some are better than others. Some have misinformation, or are badly in need of a better editor, or just say what you already know and thank you very much for that $20. So I thought I’d write down my list of absolute you-really-should-have-these-if-you-want-to-be sane-and-be-a-good-parent-really-you-need-to-buy-these” books.
For the first year or so (which is all I am qualified to recommend) you will need to know:
1. How to get that damned baby to shut up and go to sleep (soothing)
2. What is to be expected in terms of sleep, feeding, bathing, daily routines, etc. and how to accomplish these (basic needs)
3. Why is she looking at me like that - I think she’s plotting to kill me and squish my dead guts around in her fingers. (brain development)
4. When do I need to start baby proofing again? (general guide for milestones, etc.)
5. And possibly - I thought this breastfeeding thing was supposed to be “natural”!?. (Breastfeeding)
(Parenting and discipline stuff I’m just beginning to explore, since this comes much later.)
Here is what I recommend:
1. The Happiest Baby on the Block:
Ohmygod. I love this book. It made me much less scared during pregnancy, and more confident once the baby arrived. It made sense, it wasn’t preachy, it gave options, it KEPT MY BABY HAPPY. And best of all I knew how to get my baby to QUIT CRYING and GO TO SLEEP. It allowed me to put him on a good sleep schedule right away. It’s parenting crack. All during my pregnancy my husband and I would joke about the 5 Ss (shoot, stab, smother, shake…) but seriously, they work.
But this book is only good for 3-4 months or so. And if your baby DOES develop a sleep problem, there’s little help there. I’m eyeing The No Cry Sleep Solution just to make sure that there is nothing that I should be doing for the future, yet am not, but I haven’t read it yet. A book that I DID read after a friend sent it to me was Heathy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, and while the title is true the book was not at all helpful. In fact, this book FREAKED ME OUT and normalcy (and happiness) only returned once that book had been closed and forgotten. It made me mess with what was already a perfectly good nap and sleep schedule for fear that if I did not, my son would be come an axe murderer with ADHD. It is also in dire need of a good editor. (“Wait, am I supposed to be doing this now, or three months ago or five months from now?”) I am sure that if you have allowed your child to progress without any kind of sleep schedule, the warnings and methods in here could help you out, but they need to be presented more methodically.
2. The Moms On Call Guide to Basic Baby Care
I found this book to be a pretty useful guide. The DVD it came with showing things like how to give the baby a bath was also useful, though not as much as it could have been since I was given a similar (better) DVD by my hospital. I completely don’t agree with their suggestions to get your baby to sleep through the night starting at 2 weeks. I’m sorry. 2 weeks is just too young. I should also mention that I checked out their website recently and was surprised to find that their recommended products are the same ones that I have settled on as those I like best – with no prompting whatsoever.
3. Wonder Weeks
Ok, Ok, I don’t actually own this book. But man I wish I did. All the moms in my playgroup talk about it and how wonderful it is. I have found some info online but I really wish I had the full volume. If I have another kid I will buy this one for sure. It helps you predict periods of general fussiness and happiness in your baby, corresponding to how her brain is developing. It also clues you in to what her actions mean in terms of her increasing awareness. It’s awesome. Really.
4. AAP Caring for Your Baby and Young Child – Birth to Age 5
This book is full of useful information and is organized according to age. I don’t know if this is the absolute best one of these, but I like that it is written according to AAP guidelines.
5. The Nursing Mother’s Companion
This book is a thorough and easy to read guide to breastfeeding. I would hazard to say that it is probably the best out there. I had VERY little problem with nursing and still greatly appreciated having this book as a reference.
Those are my 5 books. I think that every mother needs to know this information. Some of them may be interchangeable with other titles out there – all except for Happiest Baby – a truly worthwhile purchase. And they have no idea who I am, honest.