Preparing for baby

I am expecting my 3rd baby, no surprise there.  I always find it interesting when people spend so much time planning and preparing for their baby's birth and their baby's bedroom but they have no plan for how they want to take care of the baby when they bring him or her home from the hospital.

I think many people overlook planning how they will feed their baby and what kind of parenting style they plan to have.  Do you plan to put your baby on a rigid schedule or do you plan to let the baby be the guide?  Do you plan to co-sleep or have your baby sleep on his or her own?  Of course, all plans can be thrown out the window as soon as you bring the baby home and enter into survival mode.  Trust me, I know.

While no plans can be set in stone, it is important to have an idea of what is important to you.  When I was pregnant with Elijah, I read so many books.  From the philosophies of Dr. Sears to Dr. Karp, the Ezzos and many other books in between.  I read so much, I didn't know what to do when I brought my baby home from the hospital.  And as it turned out, I really didn't have a textbook baby in Elijah (bless his little heart, he cried the first year of his life no matter what I tried).

I have come full circle now.  There are two books that I recommend to first time moms and they are the only two I referred to for Graham (and now as I prepare for baby Abbey)  So here are the two books...

First, The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg.  This book seems to have a really good balance of scheduling yet being able to read your baby.  And although Tracy Hogg has some funny theories about talking to your baby, as with anything, you have to eat the fish and leave the bones and there is a lot of meat in this book.

The second book is Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weisbluth.  This book is more of a reference book that will take you from infancy to the teenage years.  The book is full of charts and information about how long the average baby sleeps at various stages in their development.  It gives advice on how to get your baby to sleep at night as well as information about napping. 

Lately I have been brushing up on these books.  I have 8 weeks and 2 days until my due date (not that I am counting :))  I tell my husband all the time that 8 weeks has never seemed so far away but yet so very close.  I'm just digging my ditch!

Check back later today for the winner of last week's give away.

Comments

[brandiandboys]

i loved baby whisperer. used it with my 2nd and 3rd boys and couldn't believe what helpful information it contained.

[mandy perry]

I am so cracking up as I read your post, because those are my two go-to-baby books. Much like you I read tons in preparation for that 1st, and then by the 2nd I knew I only needed those two. Praying for a happy and healthy delivery. May you guys be blessed greatly as God grows your beautiful family.

[Colleen Gebhardt]

Sadly enough, being a mother of 3, I have never read a parenting book. In the end, the paci's dissapear, the diapers dissapear, They eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they sleep in their own beds. Every child is different, and so special in their own way. I would have a few more if I could. :)

[Stephanie]

This isn't so much a comment on your blog post but more of a wish to reach out and tell you that your children were an encouragement to me today. My son is 3 and today he said goodbye to his very best friend who is moving across the country. He'd been upset and sad so I decided a trip out with me might do the trick. We went to Target for some retail therapy (it works for me whenever I'm sad :-) and while we were there apparently our cart parked next to yours in the children's clothing. From the clearance racks I noticed my son chatting with another boy but paid little attention to what they were saying. We finished our shopping and as we were leaving we passed you and your boys exiting the store. My son pointed out that the boy in the cart was a friend Jesus had sent him today. I recognized you and asked why. He shared that Elijah had told him all about the Batman book he had and they talked about his Cars movie and all sorts of other things. I just wanted to tell you that his small gesture meant a lot to my son, who was missing his buddy. It was also a blessing to me to see him smile and reach out to a boy he didn't know. Knowing my son recognized Jesus sending him a friend when he was sad was a big moment for me. I'm just glad I could say thanks!

[Lindsay Maddox]

Thank you so much for recommending these books! My husband & I are hoping to start a family of our own this year and I'm a complete research junkie - I'll be adding these books to my list of "to reads" whenever we're blessed with a little one. :)

Linds

[Cintia]

I haven't read these books and I will for the next baby in our clan. Thanks for the tips! i always enjoy your blog. Congrats again on the baby!

[Tara]

I love those books! You recommended them to me before I had my son and I read the baby whisperer again before I had Hannah. I think they are great references for any new mom. I can't wait to see the pictures of your baby!:)

[Loren Webb]

I will have to check those books out. What I wouldn't give to only have 8 weeks left. I am only 11 1/2 weeks pregnant and have been so sick. I cannot wait to feel normal again !! I'm beginning to wonder if I ever will. Ha !!

[Shannon]

Thanks for the tip! I have a 6 week old. Although it's also my third they are all very different. I have been nursing whenever he wants but as I prepare to go back to work it would be nice for some type of a schedule.