As any first-time parent can tell you, there are a lot of books with “rules” on how to raise a child: You must warm up milk, but not in the microwave. You must (or must not, depending on the book) use bumpers in the crib. And absolutely never let the family pet near the baby.
By the time baby number two comes along, parents have realized that many of the “rules” they learned the first time around are meant to be broken. Do you seriously need to have the house babyproofed by the time you bring baby home from the hospital? Nope.
Ballard parents and authors Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen want to help first-timers navigate parenthood with their new book, “How to Have Your Second Child First.” Sorensen and Colburn have two kids of their own and talked with dozens of experienced parents to put together 100 tips for new parents. “We’re not doctors, we’re not experts,” Colburn says. They’re just parents who’ve learned a thing or two along the way. One of the main things they’ve learned as parents is don’t start out with complicated routines. “Start simple. Make things more complicated later,” Sorensen tells us. “You feel like you’ve got all this responsibility, which is great because you do, but at the same time you make it more difficult than you need it to be.”
Among the advice is #20 “Wash all the family laundry together.” Second time parents have learned that unless your baby has sensitive skin and your pediatrician recommends a gentle detergent, it’s really not necessary. #49 “Baby toys are overrated.” Save your money for when the child is older, they say, and let baby play with stuff you already have in the house such as measuring cups, kitchen timers and a roll of masking tape.
The window display at Secret Garden Books (2214 NW Market St)
Colburn and Sorensen will be at the Ballard Library (5614 22nd Ave. NW) this coming Saturday at 2 p.m. with parenting tips and answering questions. Secret Garden Books will also be there selling the book. “It’s the gift experience moms give their friends,” Colburn says.