But what do I know anyway?

In recent weeks, I've taken a break from all the normal books I'd like to read to absorb myself in three baby books. I took a hiatus from 1776 specifically for the cause.

Mostly they've just left me feeling overwhelmed, although, I haven't finished the third one yet. In fact, I haven't put a very big dent it it because, ironically enough, I keep falling asleep every time I pick it up. I'm certain it's not a reflection on the content so much as it is a reflection on the fact that I'm just plum tired lately.

Anyway, here's my unsophisticated review.

Babywise was recommended to me by many-a-mom. So I chose to read it first. I particularly agreed with the book's first point—that a baby thrives best when the relationship between mom and dad is the first priority between a mom and dad, and that babies need to know they are not the center of the home but rather a part of a whole. But beyond that, I found myself stressing while I read it, because while they seemed to preach flexibility in their method, I found their approach really quite rigid. No, I do not agree with some of the outrageous reviews floating around out there, calling the book "dangerous" or "inhumane." In fact, I believe that anyone who reviewed it that way probably didn't really get the point. I guess ultimately I can see myself getting too worked up and worried if the routine it suggests doesn't work magically the way the authors claim it will. Maybe it's just new-mother nerves.

Baby Makes Three had some good suggestions for keeping marriage strong after a baby arrives. I wanted to read it for me especially, because I can definitely see myself falling into the trap of making our baby my number one priority and leaving Tom Thomas to the vicious, ferocious wolves. Some of the book's suggestions didn't seem like they would apply too much to Tom and I. We're not exactly a text book couple. But who is, right? I particularly enjoyed the chapter advocating the need for fathers. I thought it was interesting to learn that males and females inherently interact with a child in different ways; and both manners are extremely beneficial.

Perhaps I shouldn't give a review of a book I haven't completed yet, but so far I've liked the suggestions I've read in Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. It just seems to be sitting better with me than Babywise. (If only I could read more than two pages at a time before zonking out.) Its suggestion of putting a baby to bed early and before he or she is showing signs of tiredness makes good sense to me, but seems a lot easier said than done. Yet parts of this book have caused some anxiety as well. Especially when it lists all the ill effects bad sleep habits in infancy have on life later. Kind of leaves me feeling like if we don't get our child's sleep spot-on she'll grow up to be a wreck. Yes, I'm being dramatic, and yes, it's probably just new-mother nerves again. And I should probably finish the book before I say anything more.

The end.