https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 23 May 2026 05:45:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532199 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:26:19 +0000 Adira 532199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started reading the Mayo book and WTEWYE, but I probably only read them regularly until about 16 weeks, and then I kind of stopped. Now I just refer to them if I experience something new and I want confirmation that it's normal.</p> <p>Although I feel like I need to start reading some baby books before I deliver (I'm 35 weeks), because I feel like I won't have time to read anything once the baby is here and I want to be as prepared as possible! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532159 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:12:09 +0000 chopsuey 532159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't read any. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532152 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:10:19 +0000 .twist. 532152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't picked up one pregnancy book yet. Not sure that I plan to until I'm ready to read about the baby's first year type stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532137 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:06:30 +0000 Mrs. Grizzly Bear 532137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: No problem :) That's what we're here for, to support one another. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532121 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:01:37 +0000 Ra 532121@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NaturallyCathy: That is so reassuring. Thank you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532109 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:59:37 +0000 Mrs. Grizzly Bear 532109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: I agree, a lot of things that I started reading in "What To Expect When You're Expecting" didn't seem very uplifting so I just skimmed and looked thinks up in the index if I had a question about something. </p> <p>I didn't read any parenting books, baby books; didn't take a birthing class or a baby CPR class; didn't really do much of anything except exactly what you're doing - focused on my studies and planned my wedding. Good news, LO came without any problems and he's about to turn a year old. Fear not. Women have managed for thousands of years without books to guide us, you're going to be a great mom. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532106 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:59:24 +0000 cascademom 532106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wish I would have read a book on colic and sleep habits before LO arrived. We read "Happiest Baby on the Block" after a long night of riding in the car with a screaming baby. After that, we managed colic a lot better. Now, we're trying to transition from Happiest Baby to something where our LO can self soothe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532095 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:57:04 +0000 cascademom 532095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: haha, that line about weight gain is hilarious. I only gained about 25-30 lbs and am still struggling to shed it. WTE is full of lies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532077 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:53:14 +0000 hilsy85 532077@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't really read any...we have dr sears book and WTE and another one that I can't remember the name of. I skimmed through them while pregnant but haven't picked them up since LO arrived. Honestly, I learned more from HB than from the books! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532073 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:52:47 +0000 Charm54 532073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bought the Mayo Clinic (stayed away from What To Expect as I'm already a worrier) but haven't read it much...I flip through week by week and consult it if I have a question. I have actively read DH's book though (Dude! You're Going to be a Dad) as it's hilarious and a light easy read! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-532065 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:49:37 +0000 Cherrybee 532065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started reading one and just felt baffled! I didn't take any of it in!! I'll have to re-read once LO is here anyway (and I know what its going on about!) so if my experience is anything to go by you'll be no better equipped if you do start reading!! Besides, every baby is different anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531930 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:05:02 +0000 ladyfingers 531930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't really read any. I was all about it at first and then time got away from me and I realized, people have been having babies for a long, long time without the benefit of baby books. So all I read was the Mayo Clinic book for pregnancy and parts of Birth Partner for Labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531917 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:02:08 +0000 Mrs. Train 531917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't read much. I read several adoption books. Sine I found our I was pregnant when I had a six week old baby there wasn't a lot of time for reading. I have one book that I use as a reference from the AAP. The people in my hospital glass laughed at me because they went around the room and shared what books they had read. When I said I didn't have time to read they looked at me like I had 8 heads. Then I explained our situation and everyone laughed. I think I have done just fine without reading tons. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531914 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:01:08 +0000 Ra 531914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: I actually do have the Mayo Clinic guide. I haven't cracked it open yet, though. Good to know that it is a good reference if I do find the time to read! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531907 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:59:39 +0000 Mrsbells 531907@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: I dont think it makes you a horrible person but its good to have a book on hand when the baby actually arrives. I didnt read any books prior but then there were so many things that I didnt know, I ended up receiving the Mayo clinic Baby's first year book which is helpful, and I still look through it now that my baby is 9 months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531903 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:58:46 +0000 yoursilverlining 531903@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: LOL so true re: WTE. That’s also how I felt about the Dr. Sears book, which I know is popular. With both books, I was like F this 1950’s noise.</p> <p>I did read Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy when I was pregnant and a bit of the Mayo clinic baby book when LO was a newborn; but other than that I didn’t do much reading. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531896 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:56:50 +0000 Running Elley 531896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only followed the weekly pregnancy updates while I was pregnant. However, now that LO is here (and has been for awhile...he's 16 weeks old) I really regret not reading baby books while I was pregnant. I was really busy while I was pregnant, working full time, house hunting and moving and I've always been around lots of babies so I figured I'd just be okay. I really underestimated how much pressure it actually being MY baby was. It wasn't until after LO was born that I realized that I wanted more information from the experts and I've spent many nursing/feeding sessions speed reading through baby books (especially on sleep!!!) on the Kindle app on my phone. I definitely think I'd have absorbed more if I could've read them while pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531880 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:50:28 +0000 Ra 531880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: Thanks for the recommendation! I will definitely check it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531878 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:49:28 +0000 JoJoGirl 531878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rahlyrah: OH if anything, watch the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD! It'll take you like 30 mins and will be worth it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531857 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:42:10 +0000 tororojo 531857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I'm at work so I don't have the book with me...but I'm pretty sure that's what it said? ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531851 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:40:55 +0000 JoJoGirl 531851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: LOL. I read that like "is this verbatim?" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531848 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:40:15 +0000 tororojo 531848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a couple of baby books that I scan sometimes, but mainly I just read the interwebs. I was flipping through the postpartum part of WTE the other day and actually started laughing at how judgmental it was about weight gain...something to the effect of "Moms who gained a reasonable 25-35 lbs will have no trouble shedding the weight, but those whose hips reap the effects of overindulgence will have tons of trouble and fail at life forevermore..." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531838 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:35:46 +0000 JoJoGirl 531838@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I skipped WTE also cause I'm not interested in fear! I'm reading a couple of labor books to help prepare for the pain but otherwise that's it. Maybe a sleep book when it gets closer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531833 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:33:47 +0000 mrs. wagon 531833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I followed along my pregnancy week by week in What To Expect. I stayed away from the scary last pages with all the crazy diseases and everything that could go wrong. Other than that I read nothing. When we wanted to start sleep training I read a book. When we started in on the terrible twos I read another. I don't like to read books until I need to! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531832 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:33:24 +0000 LuLu Mom 531832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the fear based WTEWE book! I couldn't read it, I read a week by week book and that was it. I found most books disagreed with each other and it confused me, so I decided to stop reading them and go with my gut, and I have to say that I'm glad I did! I have a baby who sleeps through the night from 4 weeks on, she's happy, growing, and healthy....so I think I did pretty good without the "experts" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-not-read-baby-books#post-531817 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 14:28:37 +0000 Ra 531817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like a horrible person, but I really have no desire to read any baby books. I originally planned to read "What to Expect When Your Expecting" but found the book so fear based that I couldn't stomach it.</p> <p>In all honesty, I don't have the time to read a bunch of baby books. I am finishing up my last semester of college and student teaching full time. I have no energy as it is and cannot devote much (if any) time to leisurely reading at this point. Perhaps I will sneak one in after I graduate in May.</p> <p>Did anyone else not do the whole baby book thing? Or am I being a horrible mom and not properly preparing for DS's arrival? </p>