A lot of parenting books don’t sound all that interesting. And there are so many opinions about how one should raise a child that it’s hard to sift through all of the information available. Luckily, of the handful of parenting books I’ve read so far, I have enjoyed all of them. Some were gifts (Eat Your Peas, Retro Baby) and others I chose based on personal research or recommendations (Born Reading, The Wonder Weeks, The Good Mother Myth). These books are really suited for all parenting types. Whether you are hands-off or a fan of attachment parenting, authoritarian or permissive, crunchy or not, all of these titles should apply as skills, advice, or stories that anyone can use.
Eat Your Peas, New Mom by Cheryl Karpen
This book is an absolutely perfect gift for a new mom. You can read it in one sitting and it’s full of encouragement. It reminds you why being a mother is so great, and I still cry when I reread it every so often.
Retro Baby by Anne H. Zachry, Ph.D.
This is the book I didn’t really know I needed until it was gifted to me at my baby shower. Dr. Zachry highlights ways that some of the most popular baby gear is hurting development. She gives great alternative ideas for playing with baby to ensure optimum physical and mental growth.
Born Reading by Jason Boog
Being a reader, I wanted to make sure I got it right with my daughter to help her become a reader also. After all, we only get one shot at a child’s early years, right? I enjoy reading about Jason Boog’s experiences with his own daughter and his recommendations for the best books for each age group (up to kindergarten). Boog closely follows AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guidance for technology, but for children age two and up, he suggests apps to accompany reading.
A friend recommended this book (and its accompanying mobile app). I purchased both, and I’m glad I did. The authors completed research to discover that babies and toddlers go through “sunny” and “stormy” phases during specific periods of time. If you’ve ever wondered why your baby is extra fussy for several weeks in a row, this book will explain it. It’s really neat because those turbulent stages lead to your baby learning many new things!
The Good Mother Myth by Avital Norman Nathman
This is an excellent collection of essays about motherhood. The authors’ stories and experiences will leave you both laughing and crying. But the overarching theme of the book is that motherhood doesn’t have to look a certain way, and no one is going to get it right 100 percent of the time. It is a book worth picking up again and again whenever you start doubting yourself, as all mothers do.
Disheveled Shelf 