Parenting by the book

What the books say you should do:

"Chat constantly with your baby. Perhaps give a commentary to everything that you do together! Such interaction will promote socialization and language aquisition!"

What you probably shouldn't do:

Think that reading the Sunday Times out loud constitutes a 'two birds with one stone' strategy. Likewise Radio 4.

What the books say:

"Share special high contrast picture books with your baby. Watch his face as he reacts with interest!"

What you probably shouldn't do:

Prop a baby book against the side of the cot to assuage your guilt that your baby is awake and alert in the morning several hours before you are.

The books advise:

"Learn to differentiate between your baby's different cries. Is he hungry? Tired? Crying is your baby's way of communicating without words!"

You probably shouldn't:

Learn to recognise the particular wimper which translates as "I'm hungry, but you've got at least ten minutes more in bed before I get really distressed."

The books say you should:

"Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. A bath, pyjamas, perhaps a few lullabies, before placing baby quietly to sleep in is cot."

They dont tell you to:

Come home from work and instantly swoop a soundly sleeping baby from his crib, insisting that the few grunts and wimpers you heard mean he is distressed and in urgent need of some "Daddy time".

 The books say:

"Lie baby in his cot when he is drowsy but awake, thus encouraging him to learn to self soothe. Enjoy a relaxing evening with your partner!"

Thus it is no doubt terrible to:

Continue to keep your baby on the sofa with you long after he has fallen asleep, because you just don't want to stop holding him in your arms and watching him sleep. The parenting books forgot to mention that bit.