It’s a cliché to say that there are no books on parenting. Well, there are a lot of parenting books, but they don’t come with any guarantees. The thing about parenting books is that the author can’t know you and your family. However, parenting books can offer some suggestions and ideas that perhaps you’ve never thought of because you grew up a certain way and are consciously continuing old habits that are hindering or harming your family. Whether you’re struggling as a parent or not, it’s always good to open your mind to the possibilities. Here are 6 parenting books to get you started.
1. Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice For Your Baby’s First Year 7th Edition by Dr. Ari Brown and Denise Fields
The seventh edition of this book was freshly published in 2015, so you won’t see any advice that would only have worked in the conservative 1950s. This popular parenting book series mixes the advice of experienced parents and a well-known pediatrician.
Source: Amazon
2. Bringing up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
After journalist Pamela Druckerman had a child in Paris, she was interested in why French children were so independent, yet curious and playful. She followed her own curiosity and investigated the French parenting style, providing readers with a guide to raise self-sufficient children.
Source: Amazon
3. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child: A Step-by-Step Program for a Good Night’s Sleep 4th Edition by Marc Weissbluth M.D.
Parenting without sufficient sleep can cause a lot of problems, and as parents, one of the biggest reasons for lost sleep is children. In this popular book, Dr. Weissbluth shares his research about creating healthy sleep habits for children, so that parents can sleep well, too.
4. Calm Mama, Happy Baby: The Simple, Intuitive Way to Tame Tears, Improve Sleep, and Help Your Family Thrive by Derek O’Neill, CHP, and Jennifer Waldburger, MSW
Although this book is directed toward mothers, the advice for staying calm and keeping negativity away from your child is excellent advice for any parent.
Source: Amazon
5. The Conscious Parent’s Guide to Positive Discipline by Jennifer Costa
Positive discipline is all about creating a relationship-centered focus in your parenting. Practicing this method will help support your child emotionally and foster their social development, meaning that positive discipline will not only help in the home, but also with your child’s relationships out in the world.
Source: Amazon
6. Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year by Anne Lamott
The bestselling author of Bird by Bird, delivers a humorous yet humbling story about surviving the first year of her son’s life as a 35 year old single mother.
Source: Amazon
If you’re a parent, do parenting books frustrate you, or do you rely on them when you’re not quite sure how to manage family life?
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h/t Brit + Co
