The Not Strictly by the Book, Baby Book: A realistic guide to parenting in the first year

A realistic, honest and instinctual guide to parenting your baby in the first year. Focusing on many aspects of parenting that mainstream books don't outline. Using a mix of first hand experience and evidence-based advice to help raise a secure, happy baby whilst maintaining your own well-being too. Topics covered include: *how to soothe your crying baby and how to cope with your crying baby *how to get your baby to sleep and deciding on where they will sleep *choosing the right method of feeding for you *your mental health, well-being and the changing relationships around you *adjusting to your new life as a parent *day to day with a baby and parenting lifestyle hacks (baby proofing, how to choose a pram/sling, saving money, useful baby items, boredom busters...) *debunking parenting old wives tales *others experiences of parenting and much more... Refreshingly written in a real-time narrative whilst in the throes of babyhood - mother and psychology graduate, Sarah Gray, combines honest experiences with realistic advice to make a not strictly by the book, baby book. Inspired by the many manual type books she'd read that didn't outline many aspects of parenting that she herself struggled with as a first time parent, Sarah wanted to write a true-to-life book that will prepare and inform the reader with a few of her own candid stories along the way. "I basically wrote the book I wished I'd read before I had my baby. I read so much in preparation for my baby's arrival but in actuality, I found that I didn't really use any of the information that I'd read - most of it was unrealistic. For instance, books would tell me how to put my baby to sleep by putting them in their cot 'drowsy but awake' and they'd go to sleep, but the reality was nothing like that. I found I struggled with things that the books never even outlined. What to do when my baby won't sleep in her cot? Why is my baby so clingy? How do I adjust to my new life as a mum? I wrote this book while my little girl was still a baby and so I could tackle issues such as these while I was experiencing them. I wanted to ensure the problems were raw and fresh in my mind so I could help other parents. I used my own psychology background to create a book that is as factual as it is intimate and relatable."