First-Time Parent by Lucy Atkins (3-Apr-2006) Hardcover

by Lucy Atkins

Forget unrealistic childcare manuals – this is the book you really need to help you cope brilliantly with those first chaotic days and months ahead. As a health journalist and mother-of-three, Lucy Atkins is familiar with both the medical aspects of childbirth and baby development, and the reality of day-to-day life as an exhausted first-time mum or dad. In her feisty, humorous style, she begins with that first mind-blowing day and addresses the issues unique to the first-time parent who stares at their newborn and thinks “Where are the instructions?” Anticipating the questions and concerns of all new mothers–Why does my baby cry so much? Will I ever lose all this weight? Am I a bad parent because…?–the book provides practical advice and level-headed reassurance. It addresses the needs of the baby and, very importantly, those of the parent during the first year of their baby’s life. Contents The First-Time Parent is on your side, and reassures that you can cope brilliantly with your new baby and your new life.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Self Help

Unknown Binding

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Lucy Atkins is an award-winning author and journalist. Her bestseller, MAGPIE LANE, is a literary mystery set in an Oxford College, and was chosen as a Book of the Year by the Guardian, The Telegraph, Good Housekeeping magazine and Radio 4's Open Book. THE NIGHT VISITOR has been optioned for television. Her latest novel, WINDMILL HILL has been described as 'a triumph' by Philip Pullman and was a Summer Books 2023 pick in The Guardian and The Observer.

Lucy teaches on the Creative Writing Masters degree at Oxford University. She is a book critic for The Sunday Times, the Guardian, and other publications. She has also written several non-fiction books, including the Amazon #1 parenting bestseller, First-Time Parent (Collins, 2008).


Instagram @lucyatkinswriter (includes Free Live Creative Writing Classes)
www.lucyatkins.com

Reviews

[Beth Flint · Rating 4 out of 5]

I began to read this in the last month of pregnancy as everything has suddenly become real and I realised I had NO CLUE what I was gonna do when my little person arrives.
It is a nice easy read, well laid out with small managable chapters that I will no doubt return to after the birth. The advice is clear and simple and has made me feel more confident.
There is gentle humour throughout which makes the book very 'unpreachy'.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really needed this book. Especially the photo diagram on how to change a nappy step by step.

[Simon Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly terrifying, how anyone keeps babies alive is beyond me.

[Jessica Westwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read to guide you through the craziness. Read it with my first bundle and again as a refresher with my second.

[Rikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful, practical and not patronising. In particular I found the first couple of chapters, about looking after a newborn, very useful and reassuring, since I was clueless.
I read the 2009 edition and my only criticism is that some of the information in the later chapters, particularly regards relationships and work, seems a little outdated or stereotyped.

[Jennifer Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learnt so much from this book - The Step-by-step guides with diagrams look really helpful!

[Alice Yeomans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book for any first time parent - so much useful information. Informative, honest, and incredibly helpful!

[T. L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, like the realistic style and approach to 1st year of parenthood, lots of useful information and tips without getting too detailed but with lots of resources if you want to i.e. baby led weaning, breastfeeding... i also like that it covers the growing/developing stage by trimester rather than week by week or month by month which prevents you from comparing your baby to average and statistics and let it grow/develop at it's own pace. also it promotes a more relaxed and fun, for babies and parents, play-time approach rather than intellectual/over-stimulating one. in addition it covers the relationship of the couple after birth and how dads can participate in baby's life and assist newly moms. I definitely suggest for first time parent.
my rating is one star less because i feel there is a need for some updating on the following:
- only disposable & cloth nappies/dippers are cover; there is also Elimination Communication as an alternative method for babies' toileting needs that should be mentioned
- photos of baby in a Baby jumper (pg.135) and also sitting in Bumbo (pg.193) should be eliminated as researches and professionals warn about potential safety, musculoskeletal & balance issues by using them especially for prolonged periods of time

[Yasmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a lovely book and I totally understand why its a lot of people's favourites. I'd say if you don't want to delve into lots of research before having a child (and its a bit of a minefield) and you just want the one book about becoming a parent - this is it. It includes information on everything you'd need to know including:

- First being handed your baby in the hospital
- Equipment to buy
- Professional help (Doulas/Midwifes)
- Postpartum recovery
- Illnesses, your baby's and yours
- How to feed a baby (including weaning)
- How to change a baby
- Sleeping and napping
- Care/working
- Growing and developmental
- Staying connected to your partner

Reading this I was able to find areas I wanted to delve into deeper which is why I feel that this is a great starting point for people to find areas they want to know more about. (For me I found that this was sufficient in breast feeding and sleeping, but I wanted to read more on child-led weaning which it recommended).

[Hannah Gunn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is informative and will be useful as a reference guide. However, I really did not enjoy that it seems to note practically no positives to having a baby. I found that I had to force myself to read it because every time I did it made me feel sad and overwhelmed. Although I know these are the practicalities, it would be more readable if there were a better balance.

It also has so much information for mothers, yet there are only tiny sections for fathers thrown in. I understand that mothers are the ones who tend to take the lead on childcare, but it would be more forward thinking to aim the whole book at both parents. I'm unsure why mothers should read the entire book while fathers only read the snippets for them at the end of chapters. My partner wants to read the whole thing; just as, I imagine, many others will.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, truthful and informative. I read this book a few weeks after I had had my daughter and really really wish I had read it before or straight after I had her as there was so much information, with hinsight, that would have helped me and caused unnecessary worry. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to any first time parents

[EMMA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Covers the basics for a first time parent.

Useful sections on caring for and feeding your new baby. Also highlighted what is important to look out for in nursery/daycare and options for returning to work. This is a simple, easy to digest book for any first time parent

[Max Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, practical, UK specific information.

[Lauma Llamandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan.
One has to keep in mind that this book is a teeny bit outdated (my copy was from 2009), so suggestions of the latest gadgets, seats, buggies etc. will be redundant but it will still, of course, have some timeless advice.
However, I got off on the wrong foot with this book - the author starts off by saying that she will not go into the process of childbirth, but then proceeds to comment on childbirth.
This in itself is not an issue, but the author has a bit of a tendency to present opinions as facts, so if you read only this book on the topic, you will probably come away thinking that a hospital birth is your only option (hint: its not!), that you will have a terrible time (hint: this is not a given - you have choices!) and that staff will be too busy to pay any attention to you post-birth (this is probably a whole sperate can of worms)...and that you may as well set up camp in the hospital for a few days (umm, in some (complex) cases, yes, but...always? really?).
Anyway, there were some interesting points regarding new-born care in the remainder of the book so it was an interesting read at times, but again sprinkled in with what seemed more like opinions presented as facts every now and then. But hey, at least we know that babies will cry and it does not mean you have failed - that`s a helpful reminder!
Overall I did take some useful information away, but generally I think there are more empowering books on the topic out there - this is not one that I will rush to write home about.

[Hafsahb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall it's a quick read that summaries most of the information you can get on the NHS website. There's nothing ground breaking.

A few issues I had with it:

Instructions to make up formula milk are incorrect. Powdered formula is not sterile so 70°C water from the kettle needs to be added to it, not "cooled boiled water from kettle" and then warmed to body temperature. This will not sterilise the powder.

Suggests that a teething child can “get a mild temperature " but this is disproved.

Suggests getting plug guards. Plug/socket guards are dangerous and not advised in the UK.

Pushing homeopathy - it's not something that works beyond placebo and has no scientific basis.

[Sharnna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has some useful tips and seems to be a useful guide. Compared to the last more recently published book I read on pregnancy which was very LGBT inclusive and included stories of queer mothers, I found that I was having to skip pages about 'dad' and relationships as some of this book wasn't relevant to me. Just as a heads up to other queer parents or parents to be. I don't know,maybe it can be given grace in that area as something published in 2006. It was still an enjoyable read for the parts about mother and baby. I will be more inclined next time to make sure to read more books that are more inclusive for different family structures.

[Viviane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was approachable and easy to read with lots of good advice. Some of it is out of date, but that is not unexpected. The UK focus really was useful for me as well.

I am due this month and reading it made me feel better. Yes, I still feel clueless in many ways, but I am starting to accept that that is just the way I am feeling in the face of starting life as a mum as I worry about blanking out everything I read once baby is here and I am sleep deprived.

Oh! And I read it via Kindle Unlimited, which was fab.

[Lucy Rivers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview and written in a casual, accessible way. It’s a shame the author keeps switching referring to the baby as either “she” or “he” instead of just sticking to they/them. The edition I read it also very outdated (always refers to the partner as a “he” and assumes there is a partner) and has some incorrect information (such as old NHS guidelines). I can only hope that it’s been updated since then.

[CHOI, Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Decent book for UK parents

This is a book that gives you an overview of parenthood, especially the first year after baby just born. It is neutral enough, and with pictures guidance on some topics, making it easier to follow.
Should be an easy first book to read, understand, share and discuss with parent regarding parenthood.
I could not have asked for for more as the first book to read, about the first year, and pre-empting what we might face together as a family.

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read and understand, it has a relaxed tone throughout and helps the reader to feel simultaneously well-informed and less overwhelmed. This is the kind of book that you can return to over and over again when the doubt begins to creep in which I’m guessing will happen on many an occasion after I’ve given birth.

[Alison Peters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful info, but bit outdated, a lot of contacts are different and shops and producys that dont exist anymore, and also some different guidelines advised these days than suggested in the book (copy I have is 2009 and that was the last print, so think it needs an updated version) but some good tips in there too to take on board as well as some picture references which could be useful.

[Jessica Mennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good insight for first time parents with loads of info. Very informative. I found I already knew most of what was being said though, and it was more a case of verifying what I already knew. I would still recommend though. 😊

[Rosanna McCarron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laid back easy read

I liked the tone of this book. It gave simple no nonsense advice whilst being reassuring. Also not too long a read covering all the basics. Glad I downloaded it.

[Mar Beveridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple and informative. Covered a lot of the bases, found the bullet point lists of steps to do in certain situations (baby can't sleep, baby struggles breastfeeding, baby is crying) really helpful. I'm sure they'll come in handy!

[Bernadette Turkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! It gave clear and concise tips on fundamental parenting areas. I particularly liked the bullet list approach, which makes referring back later on very easy. A wonderful guide for first time parents no doubt.

[Sanoobar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a beginners guide for what to expect in the first few weeks of having a baby. It doesn't preach, instead advises on approaches and I really liked that. I am using the month by month as my bible for the next few months with my new baby. Very well written and collated!

[Alison Tweddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad I’ve read this book in my third trimester before the baby arrives- whether you can apply it all or an amount goes out the window- the reassurance of it right now is real. I appreciated her informative yet chilled out approach and pro sanity, non judgmental suggestions.

[Michael Garbutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Basic All in One Guide

Covered all the basics in an easy to understand way in an order that made sense. Covering the last weeks of pregnancy right through to returning to work. Not overly complicated. A great place to start

[Aimée Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really helpful book covering all bases of being a new parent! Feels quite old fashioned and outdated, but gave me lots of tips. I liked the layout of the book too as it'll be easy to dip in and out of it once the baby is here. 4 stars!

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful reference.