Re: There are so many books on parenting… what are the best ones?
Some of our own personal favorites, along with recommendations from our users:
The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood (Mod Moms Survival Kit) by Jane Buckingham
nancyanderik: Spans from conception to the toddler years. It is well written, funny, and has a lot of honest, sensible advice.
Baby Bargains, 7th 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 Bump Editors | May 13 , 2009 11:05 AM