As any parent of more than one child will tell you, things are much easier the second time around. In this warm and reassuring book, scores of real-life second-time parents offer first-timers their stories and lessons learned. One hundred accessible entries guide new parents through pregnancy and the first year of life, covering everything from birth plans and breast-feeding to finding a parental comfort zone. With a dose of patience and a sprinkling of humor, How to Have Your Second Child First helps first-timers navigate parenthood with the savvy and calm of moms and dads who have been there beforetwice.
How to Have Your Second Child First
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen are second-time parents who have learned a lot from their two energetic young daughters, Piper and Molly. A former publishing executive, Kerry is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant. Rob is an author and software developer. They are the authors of Mommy Lotto; Daddy Lotto; So, You Want to Be Canadian; and The U.S. of Eh? (all from Chronicle Books). They currently work, parent, and drink plenty of coffee in Seattle.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By Pkweigel
Format:Paperback
I'm a new Dad - and have about 20 or so books on parenting that we've bought during the first couple of months of our daughter's life addressing so many different things we were trying to figure out. Then came along this book: How to Have Your Second Child First: 100 Things that are Good to Know the First Time Around. Jeez - I wish I bought this book first!
What makes this book so good? Where do I begin?
This thing is an easy read - and gives you a page or two with the details of the things you need to know rather than countless pages of endless dribble that you might find other books. As a new parent, my time has been pretty valuable, so it's been great to get some additional perspective from experienced parents in quick, digestible chucks - think Cliff's Notes for Adults.
The insight is awesome! Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen give answers that are good for both moms and dads. Throw the birth plan out the door, formula is totally fine, and dad's may feel left out at first are just some of the gems we learned. You'll also digest practical bits about wipe warmers, what is best to dress your kid in, and perhaps the best one: you can let your partner do things his/her own way (I bookmarked this page!:)). I tell you, just reading through this book has helped prevent issues for me and my wife before they have ever come up.
Someday I hope to meet Kerry and Rob - because I'd give them a big old hug for sharing their valuable insight which has made life much easier for us. Reading this book was time well spent, and it's a great resource we've gone back to again and again.
Do yourself a favor and buy this book before all of the others. You'll be glad you did.
What makes this book so good? Where do I begin?
This thing is an easy read - and gives you a page or two with the details of the things you need to know rather than countless pages of endless dribble that you might find other books. As a new parent, my time has been pretty valuable, so it's been great to get some additional perspective from experienced parents in quick, digestible chucks - think Cliff's Notes for Adults.
The insight is awesome! Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen give answers that are good for both moms and dads. Throw the birth plan out the door, formula is totally fine, and dad's may feel left out at first are just some of the gems we learned. You'll also digest practical bits about wipe warmers, what is best to dress your kid in, and perhaps the best one: you can let your partner do things his/her own way (I bookmarked this page!:)). I tell you, just reading through this book has helped prevent issues for me and my wife before they have ever come up.
Someday I hope to meet Kerry and Rob - because I'd give them a big old hug for sharing their valuable insight which has made life much easier for us. Reading this book was time well spent, and it's a great resource we've gone back to again and again.
Do yourself a favor and buy this book before all of the others. You'll be glad you did.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I ordered this book for one of my best friends as her and her husband are getting ready to start trying for baby #1. There were so many things I wanted to tell her about what to do, and what not to do...what you REALLY need to buy, verses the gimmicky things that are just a waste of money. Well, this book takes care of that for me. I read through it myself first, and made some notations throughout the book for her, but there is some fantastic advice for new parents here, and it's actually pretty funny. I would have LOVED to of had this book 3 years ago when I was pregnant with my son. I'm sure it would have saved me a ton of money since I probably wouldn't have purchased the tons of clothing he never ended up wearing, or the bottle warmers (among many other things) that weren't necessary.
Overall, if you (or someone you know) are thinking about, or getting ready to have a first child, this book is a GREAT purchase. There's advice from not only the authors (who are a husband and wife team), but other couples with multiple children as well. I know, as a first time parent, it's hard to heed the advice of other people or friends who have already had kids, but trust me, what they're telling you is valuable stuff. Things you think your baby can't live without...turns out they can. Sterilizing everything your little one comes in contact with? Not necessary. And a crying baby is not the end of the world. You can either learn all this stuff the hard way like the rest of us, or heed the advice of this very helpful book. I absolutely recommend this.
Overall, if you (or someone you know) are thinking about, or getting ready to have a first child, this book is a GREAT purchase. There's advice from not only the authors (who are a husband and wife team), but other couples with multiple children as well. I know, as a first time parent, it's hard to heed the advice of other people or friends who have already had kids, but trust me, what they're telling you is valuable stuff. Things you think your baby can't live without...turns out they can. Sterilizing everything your little one comes in contact with? Not necessary. And a crying baby is not the end of the world. You can either learn all this stuff the hard way like the rest of us, or heed the advice of this very helpful book. I absolutely recommend this.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Wm19
Format:Paperback
This was a great book for giving good advice and a realistic perspective to new parents. I had lots of time to read and prepare for having a newborn. I was going to do my best to follow all the experts' advice and best practices for my baby.
Then I had a newborn and was utterly desperate for anything that would stop the crying and constant hunger. By Day 3 I had given her a pacifier. By Week 3 I was supplementing with formula. I had no energy to sing and stimulate her with conversation during nursing sessions. I quickly broke every resolution I had made and felt miserable about it.
This book saved my guilty conscience with its practical outlook and parenting tips. Yes, I've done things for my 8-week-old that were unplanned and not the high standards that I had imagined, but my baby is healthy, active, and sleeping happily, and I'm relaxed and happy too. So just relax because everything will turn out fine.
This book has a very approachable, easy to read format that is perfect for busy parents. Highly recommended book, particularly for parents who plan, research, and worry.
Then I had a newborn and was utterly desperate for anything that would stop the crying and constant hunger. By Day 3 I had given her a pacifier. By Week 3 I was supplementing with formula. I had no energy to sing and stimulate her with conversation during nursing sessions. I quickly broke every resolution I had made and felt miserable about it.
This book saved my guilty conscience with its practical outlook and parenting tips. Yes, I've done things for my 8-week-old that were unplanned and not the high standards that I had imagined, but my baby is healthy, active, and sleeping happily, and I'm relaxed and happy too. So just relax because everything will turn out fine.
This book has a very approachable, easy to read format that is perfect for busy parents. Highly recommended book, particularly for parents who plan, research, and worry.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I enjoyed this book and found a lot of the advice to be level headed reminders to use your common sense when having a kid. It seems that a lot of us seem to lose a few marbles when the first little one arrives and this book is a common sense reminder to help us recover a few of them. Some of the advice, I found to be too obvious (like: "order stuff on amazon to save a trip to the store"). That kind of stuff wasn't really helpful, while advice about the types of clothes (onesies) that are most useful for newborns was the kind of thing I was looking for. All in all, I think the concept of this book is fantastic and I am glad someone decided to tackle it. I would recommend this book to my friends, but with a word of caution. It is a bit depressing with all the tips on battling depression, anger, frustration, etc. It seems a lot of the contributions to this book come from people who find raising their children to be a difficult chore instead of a welcome challenge. Its a perspective thing and these folks are pretty negative.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
meh
Most of the info is self-explanatory, and by 6 months I had already figured it out on my own. One or two good tips. Read more
Published 4 days ago by cassie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Liked it so much my partner is going to read it!
I enjoyed the short chapters of the book easy to pick up and read over my lunch break. I work with infants many of the books I have read have had a lot of no duh moments. Read more
Published 27 days ago by Elise Ahlgren
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Read
There are a lot of pregnancy books out there and many of them intimidated me. A good friend recommended this book and glad she did. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Meg Goodman
5.0 out of 5 stars
So good someone stole it from us!
Okay, to be fair, they stole the bag in which the book was in BUT I luckily read it before it was stolen and I am going to get another copy. Read more
Published 6 months ago by BLC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Eye-opening, for me and other first-time moms I know!
I ordered this book mainly for my control-freak hubby, but I read it too. And I loved it. There is so much useful information and "veteran parent insights" that really make... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Lea Collins
2.0 out of 5 stars
Common Sense
I've barely finished reading, and I highly doubt I'll bother. It seems like common sense. Of course, sleep when the baby sleeps. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jennifer T. Ward
5.0 out of 5 stars
So I don't need to be a freak about my kid?
I got this book from a great friend and I was already pretty overwhelmed by all the books I hadn't read yet. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Rebecca L. Campbell
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing Revolutionary
While a relatively fast and easy read, their were few tidbits in this book that provided any real benefit. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Eliezer Kolatch
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Gift!
I love giving this book as a baby shower gift. It is just real enough and just funny enough to start great conversations too. The best thing about it is that it's TRUE!! Read more
Published 18 months ago by Pookafish
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful for easygoing parents
This has a lot of good tips and I would recommend reading it before you register for baby shower gifts. Read more
Published 19 months ago by LVATTY
