First-Time Parent: The honest guide to coping brilliantly and staying sane in your baby’s first year

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Ease of reading: Look for books that have short chapters, easy to read formatting or bitesized chunks of information. These are much easier to dip in and out of as you wish and make some of the more overwhelming information easier to digest. A non-preachy, approachable tone is always a winner in our eyes too. Parenting is hard enough without being preached at, right?! When I was pregnant I was bought a copy of ‘First-Time Parent’ by Lucy Atkins. I avoided most baby books during my pregnancy because I expected to feel overwhelmed by the information in them and thought I would just google anything I wanted to know or ask friends and family. My mam kindly bought this for us so I thought I’d give it a go and I was so impressed. It’s a total idiots guide, it’s not too wordy or preachy, and best of all there’s no bulls**t. Atkins tells you what you need, what not to spend money on if you don’t want to, and all the things you probably would feel silly asking – like how to change a nappy. Let’s face it, these skills aren’t innate and if you don’t know many or any people with children, why the hell would you know how to look after a child? What are your preferences?: It's always a good idea to know what sort of parenting tips you don't want - i.e., if you are against sleep training, don't go for an author known to advocate controlled crying. There are a huge number of parenting books to choose from, some covering pregnancy up to the first few months of babyhood and others going right through to the parenting of young adults.

First time parent by Lucy Atkins, it's very practical and straightforward, but has a friendly tone. We got it while I was pregnant and [my son] is 5 months now, we still keep it to hand." (Endorsed by Mumsnet user Fivebyfive2) Our verdictAbsolutely brilliant at preparing dads for pregnancy and child birth and lots of coaching on how to be a great birth partner - I also found it really helpful and will be rereading as due date approaches."(Recommended by Mumsnet user Raven83) One of the best parenting books in terms of popularity on the Mumsnet forums, users love this book for its 'non-preachy' approach for first-timers. Written by health journalist and mum-of-three Lucy Atkins, First-Time Parent provides a comprehensive guide to all aspects of parenting in the first 12 months, from the heady first few hours to coping with holidays and making decisions on childcare. Lucy Atkins is a British author and journalist. Her novels include Magpie Lane. Her books have been published internationally and The Night Visitor (2017) has been optioned for television. [1]

John Williams. "From the excellent Magpie Lane by Lucy Atkins to the fast-paced latest from Matthew Hall and Joe Thomas' original Bent, thrillers of the week." 4 April 2020 Nicol, Patricia (31 July 2023). "Windmill Hill by Lucy Atkins review — an entertaining read". ISSN 0140-0460 . Retrieved 1 August 2023.How to talk so kids will listen. Frankly, it's the only book you'll need." (Recommended by Mumsnet user MrsTerryPratchett) We researched the pros and cons of each parenting book, including its format, the complexity of the information and the reputations of the authors. Finally we looked at which parenting books worked best for each scenario to bring you our final list of recommendations. About the author There are plenty of parenting books out there specifically for new dads but Rob Kemp's 'survival guide' is continuously recommended on the Mumsnet forums for being genuinely useful and the least patronising. See also: The New Dad's Survival Guide which we rank as one of the best parenting books for up to 18 months. The First-Time Parent is on your side, and reassures that you can cope brilliantly with your new baby and your new life. I enjoyed the Mumsnet guide to babies. It basically collated all different and often contradictory advice in one place and gave me the confidence to see that there was no one right answer!"(Vetted by Mumsnet user Xiaoxiong)

Full of reassuring advice, Your Baby Week by Week tells you what to expect before it happens so you needn't be unnecessarily alarmed. Written by paediatrician Dr Caroline Fertleman and health writer Simone Cave, it covers all the basics like sleep, feeding, washing, crying, play and development, as well as other topics including vaccinations and colic. Forget unrealistic childcare manuals – this is the book you really need to help you cope brilliantly with those first chaotic days and months ahead. If you prefer a more lighthearted approach in your best parenting books, this survival guide by Radio 4's Libby Purves documents anecdotes, thoughts, and helpful tips to help you wade through the early years of parenting. Although the latest update is now almost 20 years old - long before the era of social media and Insta-mum/ Mumfluencer pressures - much of the advice and anti-guilt tone of the book can easily be applied to parenting in 2023.

'The Confident Parent' by Jane Scott, M.D. and Stephanie Land

only disposable & cloth nappies/dippers are cover; there is also Elimination Communication as an alternative method for babies' toileting needs that should be mentioned Costa Book Awards 2017 Shortlists Announced". Foyles. 21 November 2017 . Retrieved 23 February 2021. How to talk so little kids will listen. It's just fantastic and practical."(Tried and tested by Mumsnet user BertieBotts) Our verdict THE MUMSNET BOOK IS THE BEST FOR GOD'S SAKE YOU HEATHENS"(Recommended by Mumsnet user LittleMouseWithCLogsOn) Our verdict