Personally I found (observing the difference between my own experience and some of my friends) that ignorance can be bliss. I didn't read the books, and muddle

Personally I found (observing the difference between my own experience and some of my friends) that ignorance can be bliss. I didn't read the books, and muddled my way through. Sure there were some things I learnt slower (like the benefit of routine) but overall I had a lot less anxiety about milestones or stages or all that stuff. Stormy days??! yeah ok whatever. My main advise (for the first year at least) would be to listen to all advise, then throw out pretty much any "plan" and live 100% in response mode. Respond to what's going on hour to hour, don't get hung up about sleeping in the middle of the day or having breakfast at 4am, just do what feels right at that moment. Also, when your friends ask what they can get for the baby etc ... HelloFresh, Deliveroo, or come round to my house and do the laundry while I sleep. You will not be short of baby clothes, but you will be short of energy to do some basics stuff.