Looking for book recommendations...

[SunnyOne]

Hello!
I am looking for AP friendly book recommendations for my 3 1/2 yr old who will be getting a little brother in December. I'm having a hard time finding children's books on this topic that reflect our situation and plans (planning home birth, breastfeeding, possibly tandum, no crib- that type of stuff). I'm planning to order two books off the LLL website, but I can't really tell much about them from the little description and I have not liked the books I've found in stores. Any suggestions? Thanks, Sunny

[christina]

I just purchased Will There Be A Lap for Me? (thru LLL) and wasnt happy with it.
What Baby Needs by Sears is much better...slings, co-sleeping and nursing shown in pictures.
Sweet words too. Only one bottle reference, "If mama will be away for" comment.
Good luck.

[eclipse]

i was going to recommend the sears book too. it doesn't address HB and tandem nursing, but it shows bfing, both parents slinging the baby, cosleeping (with a cosleeper). the bottle reference is great because it says something like "sometimes when babies are older and mommy can't be there, daddies can feed them mommy's milk in a bottle" - so, no formula references or normalizing of bottle feeding.

[SunnyOne]

Thanks for the suggestions. I was not planning to get the Sears one but I will. I have "Will there be a lap" in my "shopping cart" on the LLL sight but maybe I'll skil that one. I have been surprised there are not more AP books for kids about getting a new sibling- somebody should write some!

[napless]

"Welcome with Love" is awesome. (home birth)

We also liked "Twinnies" (not specifically AP, but they do all end up in the parents' bed.)

"The Biggest Bed in the World" is fun.

Sorry I don't know any of the authors - we had these from the library.

[mammastar]

What about "If you were born a kitten" ? - It's a beautiful picture book about how different animals are born (who knew male seahorses give birth? I'm still trying to figure that one out!). At the end it describes how "you" (the child) were born, to parents who were "waiting for you who was waiting for us." It doesn't specifically address having a new sibling, but presents birth as wonderfully magical and anticipated. It may also be helpful in starting a chat about when your older child was born and how wanted he was, which will help him feel more secure with the new sib - and you can engage him in 'waiting' for the babe too.

And yes, there are way too many books about going to grandma's while mom is at the hospital, then hating the new baby when it arrives home in the car seat!