Category: Parent Talk
recently I was invited to attend a baby shower. Since I do not know the grandmother well and the mother to be less so, and being the daughter of a librarian, I decided to do what I always fall back on in such situations. Books are always good. My question for all you young, hip and smart moms/dads out there, what baby care, breast feeding and or parenting book did you find most helpful, supportive, and easy to understand? The expectant one is sighted . there are two that I loved. however, today i went out of my comfort zone and I made the mistake of searching on amazon. Now, my poor brain is killing me. help! I've fallen and I can't get frree of the childcare quicksand!!!!!!!
I read a lot of books off of bookshare. Gosh, I can't remember titles but I did type in the search bar parenting and breast feeding. They were helpful. I'll try to come back to this once my phone is charged and I can read the titles.
There's the usual standby, What to Expect, but she probably has it already. That one scared the heck out of me, and I wouldn't read past the first chapter!
The Natural Pregnancy Book by Jill Aviva Romm is a good choice, if that's her leaning, and it has a very reassuring tone, compared to the first book!
Or choose something on a particular topic, such as a book on how to get the baby to sleep through the night. I think that'd be the first on my book wish list!
And I understand you don't know these people well, so maybe this isn't a good suggestion, but personally, I'd go with something that will be entertaining and possibly quaint, like a vintage pregnancy book. Something her mother or even grandmother might have read, which should cause some amusement. Although, I'm not one who believes all old advice is bad advice, so it will likely be of some practical value, too.
When I was pregnant, my mom bought me the audio version of Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mom's soul. I absolutely loved it. It was heartwarming and entertaining.
Honestly, if you don't know these folks well, I'd stay away from advice books. Especially when it comes to parenting, we are a diverse bunch.
If you absolutely want to go the advice rout, I wish I would have had the book Parenting with Love and Logic when my son was an infant. I would have started that sort of thing earlier. It turned out to be how I naturally tented to parent but still, the book would have been nice as it offered practicle solutions.
Hope these help.
thank goodness for not suggesting the what to expect book. when my daughter was pregnant she started it and it is nonsense. lots of stuff that has little scientific or commonsense to back it. well the books I loved were the womanly art of breast feeding and ina may's guid to childbirth. unless someone saves me from myself that's the choicesi would make. parenting with love and logic. I will havea to get that one and read it. thanks.
Happiest baby on the block. Can't recommend that one enough if she has a "colicky" baby.
How about a book for the child rather than the mom. Lots of cute kids books out there. Can never go wrong with a basic children's book.
grandma and mom to be already have those bases covered. both aremajor readers.
You can never have enough books for baby though.
The Happiest Kid on the block.
seriously. get it!
Actually, I think it's called the happiest baby on the block. But yes, that one. But may I make another suggestion? It's great to get books for the mom to be. However, you know what the most appreciated gifts were at my baby shower? The basic, simple practical stuff for baby's first weeks of life. I'm not talking fancy crap like wipe warmers and luxury bottles. I'm talking a simple bag of size one diapers. A onesie. But the diapers are still the best and most practical. Yes, everyone has a different diaper preference, and if they're cloth diapering, well then obviously my idea is inappropriate. But if they're going the disposable route, any kind of diapers will do, and they will be much appreciated. Nothing like remembering you have an extra bag of diapers stashed in the closet from a long-forgotten baby shower gift--a fact you suddenly remember at ten PM, when you're down to the last two diapers in your bag and way to wiped out to even think about running to the store for more. I know it's not a glamorous gift, but trust me, most people don't realize that the most practical gifts are the ones that will be most appreciated by mommy once baby comes.
excellent suggestion about the diapers. since I'm unsure what choice she has made and since this is something which people have very strong opinions about, I'm glad I chose a book. happiest baby on the block strikes just the right chord. thanks for all who suggested.
I don't have kids, but I read a book called What to Expect the First Year.
Bard has it.
if you have kids in your future, please promis me you will read a different book. I'm sorry but those women should be shot. all the what to expect books are filled with myths, misinformation, and most importantly whining. good grief!!!!