Navigating the First Six Weeks: What new parents need to know!

by Kate Steele, Nick Manning

You’ve packed your bag. You’ve done the class. You’re ready for your little miracle to arrive (and wishing they’d hurry up)!

But what happens when you leave the hospital and suddenly… you’re on your own?

Full of all the things you didn’t realize you needed to know, Navigating the First Six Weeks is the essential guide to living and thriving with a newborn. Designed to be both enjoyed while you’re expecting, and referenced after birth, the book’s easy-to-read chapters are crammed full of the things they don’t tell you in antenatal

Answers to the big questions,

What’s the deal with immunization?Breastfeeding or Formula – what’s best for you?How to calm a crying babyHow much sleep will I really get? And how can I get more?

And answers to smaller questions which are just as

What is my little one seeing, hearing, and learning?How warmly should I dress the baby?When can I have sex again? … because hey, we’re all human!

Featuring evidence-based information and advice from experts all around the world, Navigating the First Six Weeks offers a unique perspective on early infancy. Rigorously researched but highly readable, it’s been written with only one goal in mind—to help new parents navigate the wonderful, terrifying, exhilarating, exhausting first six weeks with their child.

Kindle Edition

Published March 13, 2021

About the author

Dr. Kate Steele is a mother and doctor. She has worked in both the United States and Australia, is co-creator of the Deep Breaths anaesthesia podcast and believes that when it comes to babies, there's no such thing as too many cuddles.

Reviews

[Emily Craven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a little bit apprehensive about having my first baby, with many of my parent friends claiming the first 6 weeks were the hardest. So I decided among the billion things I could research in the short time of being pregnant that was the most important. So incredibly glad I have this book to lean on.

The thing I like about it most is this book just gives it too you straight, no fluff, just the most helpful information as easy to find as possible. I appreciated the documentation and sheer research the authors did so that I don't have to go trawling through the internet to find what I need when I am sleep deprived and just wanting xyz thing I don't understand to make sense.

The authors are personable, provide lots of extended resources for instances where your baby turns out to be completely different from their baby (another thing every parent claims!) as well as providing examples from their own experience to try and prepare you as much as possible for what you're heading into. To some that may seem brutally honest, but to me I like to know what is coming so I can have the self-care things and support I need ready to go to make our transition into kid life a little easier.

Highly recommend pre-birth, and will update this review post birth too!

[Gosia Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very useful for preparing for baby's arrival. I really appreciated the balance between advocating "natural" approaches like being honest about how very beneficial breastfeeding is and also a non-hippie approach to vaccines while maintaining respect of parents who choose a particular approach.
Just felt like a very common-sense trove of information that included basics that can feel embarrassing to admit that one might not know! I did a lot of babysitting including caring for babies, but newborns are not an area I have much experience of.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book! Written well, with sound up to date advice. Covers everything from cosleeping (yay!) the wonder weeks, immunisations and inbetween. I really like how the authors will stress important details (such as how each child will have different sleep needs and not to compare) & covers the pros and cons of many things. An enjoyable read & great refresher for a second time mum.

[Bridget DeYoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better childcare books I’ve read. A ton of online sources at the end of each chapter too!

[Yvette McKinnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I began this book shortly before my first baby was born. I had already received so much different advice about what to expect and what to do that I was sceptical about what I would learn from this book. However, it ended up being a very useful read that offered great explanations of what the current evidence base says, and provided lots of tools and resources for further reading. What a relief!

Like books such as 'The Barefoot Investor', it is easy to understand, highly practical, pleasant to read, and the ideal guide for anyone on the start of this crazy journey of newborn parenthood.

Ditch the Facebook groups, ditch what Aunt Norma says. Dip in and out of this book as needed and you'll be right.