When my sister was pregnant with her
kids, it seemed as though everyone had advice. Some things were
useful, like which car seats are the best and what kind of bedding
she should use. Other things, however, were just strange-exactly why
does it matter what kind of light bulbs to use in the baby's room,
again? Everyone seemed to be an expert. They were trying to help, but
sometimes she was a bit overwhelmed with it all and didn't know what
to listen to and what to pass off. A lot of the 'baby books' she
tried to read spoke in 'medical-ese', which meant they weren't much
help either. I'm sure you've been in the same boat, or know someone
who is. The good news is that there are plenty of reliable
informational books out there that are written 'for the rest of us'.
Here are a few books about how to deal with your new baby that you
will actually want to read.
- If Your Kid Eats This Book, Everything Will Still Be Okay by Lara Zibners- As the hilarious title suggests, this books is full of reassurances about the care of your baby. We tend to worry about every little thing-every tummy ache, every bump on the head, every little sneeze. As it turns out, at least half of those late-night trips to the emergency room are for things that are normal or minor. This book, aside from making you laugh out loud from the tone, goes into the things you should and shouldn't worry about. It's written by a former ER doctor, so she knows what she's talking about.
- The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine- Sometimes we wonder how it is that all these male doctors think they can tell us what to expect and how it is supposed to feel. It's nice to hear about these things in detail from someone who has 'been there'. The author, a four-time mom, tells you the things-what happens to your body, why your moods are what they are, etc-that your doctor glosses over. She has opinions you may not agree with, but it has an irreverent and conversational tone that makes it much easier to read than some other books out there!
- It Gets Easier! And Other Lies We Tell New Mothers by Claudine Wolk- One thing I hear from my friends with babies tell me is that they got so much advice and read so many baby books-only to find that half of what they learned doesn't apply to them. This book goes into all of those subjects and gives a different view. Drawing from her own experiences and interviews with moms, Wolk uses a friendly and fun tone to dispel the many myths out there about breastfeeding, sleep schedules and the 'talk' you need to have with your husband before the birth! I'm not sure exactly what that 'talk' entails, but it's good to know how to have it!
These
but a few of the many helpful books to prepare pregnant women and new
mothers for the challenges that lie ahead of them. It's good to be
able to read these things from someone who has actually 'been there'
and speaks in a tone that doesn't bore us to death! Hopefully you'll
be able to actually use
the advice given but, even if you can't, you can at least enjoy
reading about it.
