Nashville Wife

The other day, I was talking to a friend who is expecting her first child. She is still months away from giving birth, and she has already read dozens of books in preparation and sounds like an encyclopedia on all things baby. After I got over my feelings of inferiority, I remembered that I haven’t yet posted reviews of my favorite books on pregnancy and babyhood. So here goes. Feel free to share any other titles that you would recommend.

The Healthy Pregnancy Book by William Sears, MD, and Martha Sears, RN

This is a long book, but I read every single word. It provides an excellent overview of pregnancy and answered the majority of my questions. (And let me tell you, I had a lot of questions!) I also appreciated the chapter on birth. As a first-time mom who knew nothing about what I was getting into, that chapter really helped prepare me for all that was about to happen. Even Mr. Handsome read it, and he found it to be very helpful, just to have an overview of what would take place in the delivery room. The whole experience can be a bit shocking, to say the least.

The Wonder Weeks

Provides information on the various milestones that children go through as babies and toddlers. The idea is that most babies are on the same general schedule, making “leaps” in their development at similar times. The book tells parents how to soothe a fussy child during these leaps and how to stimulate his or her development with games and activities. I have found some of the content to be repetitive, but one of my friends calls it her lifeline. Overall, it’s a good reference book to have on hand, but it’s not a necessity.

On Becoming Baby Wise by Gary Ezzo, MA, and Robert Bucknam, MD

This book was my absolute favorite. I read it right before I gave birth, and I credit it for helping me establish a good routine for Little Buddy. The basic idea is that babies need full feedings in order to sleep well. That sounds like an easy concept, but it turned out to be more challenging than I expected. The book goes into great detail on how to structure a baby’s days and nights to promote good sleeping and eating habits. The idea is to find a routine that works well for the baby and parents, while allowing for flexibility when needed. I cannot say enough good things about Baby Wise. First written almost 30 years ago, it comes with high ratings and was recommended by a friend with several children close in age. I just started reading On Becoming Pre-Toddler Wise.