In this article I will share with you 10 of the books I love, and recommend to all parents.
These are the books that I will gift to new moms, or recommend to friends who are craving a fresh perspective. There is something here for any parent at any stage – birth, sleep, development and parenting.
I hope you find this list helpful. Perhaps there are some here that you’d like to gift to a parent this Christmas!
10 Books I Love
Birth
#1
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
This book is a must read for any expecting couple. Ina May is “the mother of authentic midwifery”. Her book is incredibly educational and will leave you feeling confident for birth.
#2
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way by Susan McCutcheon
The Bradley Method is also known as husband-coached natural childbirth. I am so glad that Jon read this book when we were expecting Beau, because he ended up delivering him! No matter what your birth plans are, it is so helpful to know the stages of labor and birth, how to relax, stay calm and be supportive. It’s intense and amazing and it’ll transform your relationship for the better if you’re in it together.
Sleep
#3
On Becoming Babywise, Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep by Robert Bucknam
A friend lent this book to me when Wren was 3 months old. I was complaining about how it was getting harder and harder to get Wren to fall asleep, and that he only napped for 10-20 minutes. My friend told me to read this book. It was the first book about sleep that I read, and I was completely mind-blown.
Although I don’t love the parenting advice in this book, I still highly recommend it because the sleep information is so valuable. I ended up reading several more books about sleep, and it wasn’t long before Wren was on track with healthy sleep habits.
Reading a book about sleep is my #1 recommendation for any new parent. We need good sleep!
#4
Good Night Sleep Tight by Kim West with Joanne Kenen
This book is broken down by age so it’s easy to reference. It’s a gentle approach to teaching your children healthy sleeping habits, with lots of practical advice. This is one every parent should have handy on the book shelf.
Development and Parenting
#5
The Whole Brained Child by Daniel J. Siegel
The Whole Brained Child is a book that I like gift to new moms. Its a must-read for understanding how a child’s brain is structured, and how we can support their development as caregivers. Who doesn’t love brain science?
#6
Elevating Child Care: A Guide to Respectful Parenting by Janet Lansbury
I’ve listened to the audio book for this one several times, and I always feel inspired and reassured as a parent. Janet Lansbury (inspired by Magda Gerber) teaches us to parent with respect by viewing our children as whole people. The practical advice in this book is easy to apply so we can have better relationships with our children, starting from birth.
#7
Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne
The world we live in is anything but simple. It’s very very complicated, and it infiltrates our homes and disrupts our children from the moment they are born. I love this book. Kim gives simple, yet do-able advice on how we can help our children, and improve our own lives too.
#8
Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn
Alfie Kohn is an amazing author that will transform your mind on what it means to love our children and how we can work with them, instead of doing things to them.
#9
Siblings Without Rivalry by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
This book has been so helpful to me for understanding my own sibling relationships, and how I can do my part to support a loving friendship between my boys. A must read for parents and grandparents.
#10
Oh Crap Potty Training by Jamie Glowacki
As the title suggests, this book is an entertaining, but very educational read. This book will have you ready to pull up your panties and get rid of the diapers for good.
There are so many more amazing books that deserve a spot on this list. But these ones will be a great place to start.
I hope you enjoyed this list and feel inspired to get reading!
If you enjoyed this article you may also like these:
Wren’s Birth Story | Birth Center to Hospital
Beauregard’s Unassisted Home Birth Story
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