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

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Frances Goodhart and Lucy Atkins. 2013. How to Feel Better: Practical ways to recover well from illness and injury. 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

The First-Time Parent is on your side, and reassures that you can cope brilliantly with your new baby and your new life. It’s a tad dated now but still full of gems to reassure any Mum that as long as you do a good enough job that’s fine."(Rated by Mumsnet user Majorcollywobble) 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?

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only disposable & cloth nappies/dippers are cover; there is also Elimination Communication as an alternative method for babies' toileting needs that should be mentioned

Nicol, Patricia (31 July 2023). "Windmill Hill by Lucy Atkins review — an entertaining read". ISSN 0140-0460 . Retrieved 1 August 2023. 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 verdict Expert author?: What is the expertise of the author and can you trust their advice? Look for books written from reliable sources of information, particularly if they are focused on a particular approach to parenting, i.e. psychological. 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. Answering questions such as how to respond to a child who hurts their baby sibling or what to say to the stubborn pre-schooler who refuses to go to bed, this popular parenting book by Julie King and Joanna Faber comes from the 'How To Talk' series and covers a wide range of communication must-knows when it comes to the early childhood years. Along with How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk and How To Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk, these are some of the best parenting books you can buy on the subject of communication.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?!

Lucy Atkins. 2010. First-Time Parent: The honest guide to coping brilliantly and staying sane in your baby’s first year. HarperCollins. 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 verdictWith praise from celebrity authors/parents such as Richard Osman and Nigella Lawson, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did), to give it its full title, takes a look into how a parent's own upbringing can shape their parenting in turn, and offers advice on how to curb negative behaviour. Many Mumnset users rate it as one of the best parenting books for navigating the teenage years as well as early childhood. THE MUMSNET BOOK IS THE BEST FOR GOD'S SAKE YOU HEATHENS"(Recommended by Mumsnet user LittleMouseWithCLogsOn) Our verdict 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. Mumsnet users praise it for its insightful approach to communicating with small children, with key tips and advice on positive discipline to help avoid a shouty household and reduce frustration from parents and children alike.