Can you recommend a child care book?

I'm a soon to be first time mom and wanted to start reading about caring for a child. Do's and don'ts, how to get the baby on a schedule etc. Anything you loved that you'd recommend?

TIA

Re: Can you recommend a child care book?

These three were my favorites and the ones I've gone back to for my second baby:

Baby 411

Happiest Baby on the Block

Healthy Sleep Habits

Re: Can you recommend a child care book?

This is a hard question to answer!

Child rearing is a topic that is kind of subjective. I mean - ask a single question on here and you will get a long list of passionate responses. All the responses are valid - but they often express different styles and viewpoints. It's the same with the books. There are so many different methods and books on each one! I remember getting very overwhelmed when I was a new mom because one author would say "do XYZ" and another one would say "don't EVER do XYZ"!

My advice? Peruse the books in a library without committing to buying any just yet. Get a feel for the styles and see if any just resonate with you.

But regardless of what book you buy - trust your own instinct and your pediatrician. Nobody will know what will 'work' for your baby better than you. Once the baby comes you will be amazed at how little you actually refer to any books. I think you may wind up asking questions on here more often than looking at it!

But... to actually answer the question. There is one baby book I absolutely LOVE - it isn't really a 'how to' book - but more of a clinical observation. It is called Baby Watching and it is probably out of print - but if you can get a copy it is AMAZING and a really great read. I find that it is much more objective than most books of it's kind becuase it was written by a zoologist who decided to do a book about human babies in the same manner that he would observe and write about any other species. It's funny and informative.

And CONGRATULATIONS on your impending adventure into mommyhood!!!

Message edited 7/18/2008 7:16:06 AM.

Re: Can you recommend a child care book?

I liked The Baby Book by William Sears