As any parent of more than one child will tell you, things are much easier the second time around. In this warm and reassuring book, scores of real-life second-time parents offer first-timers their stories and lessons learned. One hundred accessible entries guide new parents through pregnancy and the first year of life, covering everything from birth plans and breast-feeding to finding a parental comfort zone. With a dose of patience and a sprinkling of humor, How to Have Your Second Child First helps first-timers navigate parenthood with the savvy and calm of moms and dads who have been there before—twice.

Your Second Child is the first book to focus on the special challenges and joys of being a parent for the second time.

First Step Nursery School was founded in 1977 by Ina Sinsheimer. Grounded in a deep respect for children, the teaching of independence, and caring for others, the small Santa Monica preschool has remained consistent for 40 years. In Ina’s words “I hope that when a child walks out of the gate they will climb any mountain they wish to climb, educational or otherwise. I hope they have learned to question the world, ask ‘Can you explain that to me?’ or say, ‘I do not understand’ or ‘I do not agree’. More importantly, I hope they choose for their life’s work something that will make this a better world and that they find someone to share their life, because no matter how successful your are, life without someone to love is incomplete.

As any parent of more than one child will tell you, things are much easier the second time around. In this warm and reassuring book, scores of real-life second-time parents offer first-timers their stories and lessons learned. One hundred accessible entries guide new parents through pregnancy and the first year of life, covering everything from birth plans and breast-feeding to finding a parental comfort zone. With a dose of patience and a sprinkling of humor, How to Have Your Second Child First helps first-timers navigate parenthood with the savvy and calm of moms and dads who have been there beforetwice.

'The thing about having a second baby is it's likely to differ a lot from your first experience. Sarah Ockwell's Smith's guide looks at the challenges you might face along with some practical tips to consider. The book offers a friendly feel that reminds us issues and all, we'll be just fine' Mirror, Best Baby Books for Parents 2020 Having a second baby is a very different experience from having your first, yet there is little recognition of the wide range of issues that need to be considered when bringing a second child into the family. In this incredibly helpful book, Sarah Ockwell-Smith helps parents feel more positive and prepared for life with two children. The book begins with the obvious question: when is the right time to add another member to the family? It then goes on to examine the specific issues that can arise with a second pregnancy and birth; the common concerns about siblings, such as how to prepare your firstborn for what's to come; how to cope with the practicalities of life with two young children (aka actually managing to get anything done!); and the feelings parents are likely to experience, too. The Second Baby Book examines all the questions and issues Sarah herself faced second time around, as well as sharing the experiences of the many parents who have sought her advice. It also highlights what scientific studies reveal about such issues as the spacing of children and the differences between first and second births. Practical, insightful and honest, this book will help you understand the challenges ahead but, more importantly, it will equip you to meet them with knowledge, confidence and a sense of excitement for the future.

First Step Nursery School was founded in 1977 by Ina Sinsheimer. Grounded in a deep respect for children, the teaching of independence, and caring for others, the small Santa Monica preschool has remained consistent for 40 years. In Ina’s words “I hope that when a child walks out of the gate they will climb any mountain they wish to climb, educational or otherwise. I hope they have learned to question the world, ask ‘Can you explain that to me?’ or say, ‘I do not understand’ or ‘I do not agree’. More importantly, I hope they choose for their life’s work something that will make this a better world and that they find someone to share their life, because no matter how successful your are, life without someone to love is incomplete.

A beautifully written account of a quest, both personal and scientific, to better understand the impact and experience of the second child. 'There are entire shelves filled with books on parenthood, from fairy tales, novels and memoirs to polemics and collections of essays. But while I was expecting our second child, I realised that we have surprisingly few words for this particular new experience.' While every parent knows more of what to expect the next time round, the birth of a second child is no less momentous. Family relationships multiply, birth-order myths hover and sibling rivalry and parental exhaustion threaten. Yet the potential for joy and love within the family also expands, as if by magic. This new literary talent shines a tender insight on a forgotten subject: what it is to parent for the second time and what it is to forever be a younger child. 'Beautifully written, deeply humane, a gem of a book.' Rutger Bregman, author of Humankind: A Hopeful History