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Q&A: Best parenting books?

There are so many books on parenting… what are the best ones?

Re: There are so many books on parenting… what are the best ones?

The Bump Expert

Some of our own personal favorites, along with recommendations from our users:
Baby Bargains, 9th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! by Denise Fields
Lstaylor73: It's a must. It will answer so many questions.




The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer
by Dr. Harvey Karp
debbiej: a lifesaving baby book for DS's first few months. I buy it for all my expecting friends.




So That's What They're For!: The Definitive Breastfeeding Guide, 3rd edition
by Janet Tamaro
milfy1: totally approachable writing style; makes you feel good about what you are doing; gives really good tips for every nursing scenario (working, staying home, weaning)
BartsGirl: Wonderful breastfeeding reference! I know this is going to be a practice makes perfect skill, so I'll read anything that can make the learning fun and humorous.

Touchpoints: Your Child’s Emotional and Behavioral Development, Birth to 3, by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.
Covers just about every issue and question you’ll have in the early years. Also check out Feeding Your Child: The Brazelton Way, Sleep: The Brazelton Way, and Discipline: The Brazelton Way, written with Joshua Sparrow.


Your Baby and Child , by Penelope Leach
This all-time classic takes a clear, common-sense approach to issues like feeding and growing, teeth and teething, everyday care, excreting, sleeping, and crying and comforting. Covers birth to five years.


The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night , by Elizabeth Pantley
If the cry-it-out technique feels too cruel but you just can’t face another night of running to and from the nursery, try the approach laid out in this book. The easy, step-by-step instructions should make your nights a little less nightmarish.


Child Behavior: The Classic Childcare Manual from the Gesell Institute of Human Development , by Crances Ilg and Louise Bates Ames
The Gesell Institute is your best resource for any development issues. Their books (including volumes for every year of life, up through the teens) explain how to prevent and treat behavior problems, from the common to the serious.


The Baby Book by William Sears, M.D. an Martha Sears, R.N.
It's been dubbed the "baby bible." This book focuses on all the essentials from sleeping, development to health


The Wonder Weeks by Hetty Van Rijt and Frans Plooij
Your comprehensive guide to baby's development during the first 20 months of his life.

The Bump Editors | May 13 , 2009 11:05 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Anything by Tracy Hogg

soon2bmrswatts | September 27 , 2009 8:49 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

i like Baby 411 & Great Expectations: Babys First Year. & of course the infamous, What to Expect Babys 1st Year.

sk8erette09 | November 18 , 2009 10:36 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

i really like the BAB"Y WISE books

blackdrgnfli | March 13 , 2010 9:38 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Anything by Dr. Sears. Their books are great and very informative. They give you all the info so you can make your own educated decision. I am so glad I found their books really help ease my mind about the big crying it out debate. I have the Vaccine Book and the Sleep Baby one.

campbell2178 | March 26 , 2010 10:31 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I really like the book The Wonder Weeks. Not so much a parenting book as it doesn't tell you how to parent. It just explains what is going on in your babies mind, and that explains a lot.

werther | May 13 , 2010 2:56 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Baby 411 and Toddler 411 are all I need.

gotchagomo | June 05 , 2010 12:36 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I've found the Modern Motherhood book extremely helpful.

TBurkettG | July 09 , 2010 9:04 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

i found that the What to expect series is wonderful u can find it at most book stores and babiesrus

kadyh24 | September 10 , 2010 10:48 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

A new book called "Have the Guts to Do it Right: Raising Grateful and Responsible Children in an Era of Indulgence" by Sheri Noga. I LOVED this book! It answered just about every question I could think of re: how not to raise a spoiled kid. Very loving.

sjmno | October 21 , 2010 7:34 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

most practical one and most useful: Newborn Necessities. Charts baby's feedings and diaper chages, just like the hospital uses but in a cute, convenient book. So glad I found it! www.newbornnecessities.tateauthor.com or amazon.com, borders.com

jenbowditch | November 18 , 2010 6:11 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

YOU: Raising Your Child: The Owner's Manual from First Breath to First Grade by Michael F. Roizen What to expect first year

fashi0nablynumb | January 17 , 2011 4:22 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Ok those all sound like good books for women, but what about us dads/ dads to be

nervous2010 | January 19 , 2011 8:26 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I just purchased the "BABY BARGAINS" book! I LUV it. That book totally lays out the common sense of why some products are a WASTE of money and I already saved a bunch in deciding what not to get! Plus, it tells you the best brands worth investing in. I don't want a house full of baby stuff, and thanks to this book, I really narrowed it down!

Mayra26 | February 14 , 2011 5:52 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Oh, there's this book "DAD'S PREGNANT, TOO". I bought it for my husband and I ended up reading it too. It's funny and written by a daddy himself. The best part is that it tells men what NOT to do to P/O their preggy counterparts. Yes, there's rules men/dad's need to follow to make a woman's pregnancy more bearable and happy.

Mayra26 | February 14 , 2011 6:02 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

My PED just suggested "Touch Points"

LifeisSweet | March 07 , 2011 1:23 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Baby 411. Hands down. It tells you everything you need to know about sickness, vaccinations, when to take them to the doc, feeding, sleeping, milestones. I reference it weekly for one thing or another...best baby shower gift I recieved!

smarie117 | March 10 , 2011 1:53 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

For all new Dads out there, I recommend Be Prepared by Greenberg and Hayden. My son is three days old today and it's already gotten much use!

dtm sephie | April 24 , 2011 11:10 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

My husband bought Armin Brott's series of books for dads - "The Expectant Father", "The New Father" and "Fathering Your Toddler" - and really liked them. I haven't found a book I like for myself now that our daughter is one, so I've been happily consulting Fathering Your Toddler too. Easy to read, friendly and, a nice touch, gender neutral in referring to your baby!

emmacarlson@yahoo.com | May 26 , 2011 5:16 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I've learned a lot from the Positive Discipline series (particularly the main book and 'the first three years,' available here: http://www.positivediscipline.com/

marikyle | June 27 , 2011 4:52 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

40 helpful points for new parents:surviving the first 18 months. It was a kindle booklet for a buck. Very funny and informative.

Athomedad1976 | July 11 , 2011 3:50 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Agree with Baby 411 & Toddler 411. Must haves!

sunnysideup11 | July 26 , 2011 2:58 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

The Joy of Pregnancy by Tori Kropp. It's knowledgeable without being frightening

littleangel_2003@hotmail.com | August 04 , 2011 11:24 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

There are just too many parenting books out there so it's very hard to decide which one would be the best. We should also take into consideration that what applies for some people doesn't for others. A friend working for an online brochure printing firm told me they have three different self help books on the same subject because people are different and respond to different stimuli. I for one prefer doing what my mother did with me because I turned out all right and I can't complain about her ways of raising me.

girones | August 11 , 2011 1:09 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Just like students sell textbooks online after they finish college, many parents sell their parenting books after their babies are grown up. You can find the above titles at lower prices if you get them from other parents. If you have friends with small children ask them if they still have their parenting books. I never met a mother that never read such a book.

alliepatchell | August 22 , 2011 8:10 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I really like Superbaby, particularly the chapters on reading, TV and toxins

jpavlik | September 27 , 2011 1:54 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I would never recommend a Dr. Sears book, all he did was make me worry more than necessary.

CasandraT09 | October 16 , 2011 1:29 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I just went for what came in handy at the self help isle. I don't think there's such a thing as the perfect baby book, because there are so many editors that sell books on the subject that it's impossible to choose just one.

BILLY Casarez | October 31 , 2011 11:33 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I think that the best advice on parenting comes from our very own mothers. There's seriously nothing that they don't know when it comes to raising a baby. My wife's parents have always been a great help, we were able to take our first vacation with Tucson Vacation Rentals last month thanks to them. All in all, I say the doctor and the parents offer the best advice, the rest is just an alternative.

JAMES Bent | October 31 , 2011 11:38 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I guess that you could check for such books in the free classified ads section and you will find there a lot of great books and probably cheaper than in the store. Good luck!!

annasiegfried | January 10 , 2012 11:16 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

My husband took home a book for parenting.He received it from his coleagues from peo services comapany he is working for and was very excited about it.

ioana06 | April 09 , 2012 1:10 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

you could try to check also websites where people Sell Used Books. Sometime you can find the best deals there. I also bought some really great books from there.

deanjohnson | May 02 , 2012 4:08 PM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

I loved Raising Up Bebe

dino24saur | May 05 , 2012 6:26 AM

Q&A: Best parenting books?

Am currently reading (Bonding with your bump by Dr Miriam Stoppard). Interesting, informative and fun read so far. Am a first time mum.

anjajean | May 15 , 2012 10:05 AM