A baby may be the most important arrival in your home, but it doesn’t come with a manual. Unlike a new TV or dishwasher, there’s no manufacturer’s guide or pdf attachment, just a little crying human and a bunch of questions. how do i put this? How many of these do I need? Why is his diaper that color?
Fortunately for the survival of the human race, new parents are not left to fend for themselves: there is a huge library of information. The wisdom of a pediatrician, professional babysitter, or experienced parent can be an invaluable guide through the myriad questions and concerns new parents often have, and the best parenting books capture this wisdom for easy reference. /p>
First, we’ll cover some tips for choosing the best parenting book for your needs. then we’ll go over our picks for the best baby books currently available on the market.
You are reading: Best baby books for new parents
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best books for parents: at a glance
- best book for dads: the survival guide for new dads by rob kemp | shop now
- best for good sleep habits: stephanie modell’s baby sleep guide | shop now
- the best general guide: new parents by lucy atkins | buy now
how to choose the best parenting book for you
what are the types of books for parents?
There are a few different types of parenting books. some are written with a specific problem or area of development in mind, such as helping your baby sleep. then there are more general books that promote broader approaches to parenting. Finally, there are reference guides that compile informative facts and helpful tips.
It is often useful to invest in some complementary titles. For example, you might have room on your shelf for a simple guide with tips on feeding, changing, and bathing your baby, as well as a book that covers a parenting philosophy you’d like to try.
are there different formats?
Today, it’s also worth thinking about what format you want your parenting book to be in. traditional print books are convenient to flip through and can be conveniently stored in useful places. however, many popular baby books are also available for e-readers, phones, and tablets, which can be very convenient for a new parent’s irregular lifestyle: you can do a quick read on your phone while your baby naps on your bed. arm.
It’s also worth looking at websites and apps. Many modern parenting books have an associated website, which supplements the printed content with additional information, such as helpful video guides and discussion forums. Articles on book-related websites are often shorter and less detailed than those found in the books themselves, but can be great for basic information.
For true 21st century parents, some books even provide tips and daily updates via an Amazon Echo skill. check alexa’s instructions when you buy your book.
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the best parenting books you can buy
1. secrets of the baby whisperer (tracy hogg and melinda blau)
price: £12 (paperback) / £9.49 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
This light-hearted volume from Yorkshire-born nurse and TV presenter Tracy Hogg, known as the Baby Whisperer for her ability to calm unruly babies, is a hit with many parents, thanks in part to its very sweet tone. accessible. Hogg peppers her text with sarcastic northern aphorisms, to the point that she sometimes reads as if Daphne Out of Frasier had unexpectedly written a book on childcare. At its core, though, it’s a very helpful collection of great ideas and sensible advice, covering topics like bedtime routines and how to soothe babies.
Key Concept: hogg’s simple “eat, be active, sleep, your time” method: aims to bring a semblance of order to your day without sacrificing your sanity with rigid schedules.
formats: hardcover, paperback, kindle, ibook, kobo, audiobook, online forum
2. what to expect: the first year (heidi murkoff)
price: £12 (paperback) / £12 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
If you’ve been pregnant in the last decade, chances are you already own a copy of American author Murkoff’s bestseller, What to Expect When You’re Pregnant. This sequel picks up where the first book leaves off, taking you month by month through the milestones of your baby’s growth and development. Handy reference sections also cover health and first aid, traveling with a baby, and first solid food recipes.
Key Concept: Murkoff’s first book aimed to collect all the important facts about pregnancy in one volume. the first year continues with that principle focused on information; Along with factual and practical information, she’ll find discussions of different approaches to parenting and suggestions for further reading.
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formats: hardcover, paperback, kindle, ibook, kobo, website, and alexa skill
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3. the wonder weeks (hetty van de rijt and frans plooij)
price: £13 (paperback) / £9.51 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
Wondering why your baby has suddenly become cranky? check your calendar. This bestselling book charts a series of ten age-related “jumps” that babies take between birth and around 75 weeks, as they learn new skills and ways of understanding the world. skipping often manifests as fussy periods as the baby develops physical and cognitive skills, followed by sunnier periods when they enjoy her newfound abilities. an ideal guide to the frustrations and rewards of early childhood development, and a helpful reminder that your precious little one’s cries aren’t always colic-related.
Key Concept: Understanding your child’s developmental milestones can help you predict and calm “stormy” periods while jumping, and encourage and enjoy “sunny” periods afterward.
formats: paperback, kindle, ibook, kobo, audiobook, website and mobile app (ios/android)
4. cribsheet: a data-driven guide to better, more relaxed parenting, from birth to preschool (emily oster)
price: £8 (paperback)/£5.69 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
many parenting guides claim to offer sensible advice, but this excellent book by economist and academic emily oster is a data-driven book that provides reassuring, sensible guidance on burning parenting topics like sleep, breastfeeding, and learning to go to the toilet. bath. her approach is nonjudgmental and cuts through the kind of fluffy jargon that can really annoy parents looking for balanced ideas. the bottom line section at the end of each chapter is a handy way to familiarize yourself with the key issues. Oster’s first book on pregnancy is worth reading (hope for better) if you’re pregnant.
key concept: a freakanomics style guide to parenting that covers a wide range of parenting milestones, from feeding newborns to managing children’s screen time small.
formats: hardcover, paperback, kindle, audiobook, kobo
5. new mother (lucy atkins)
price: £8.81 (paperback)/£6.99 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
health journalist lucy atkins’ guide for new families is one of the books parents most often recommend to other parents. That has a lot to do with his solid advice (backed by research studies) and his frank, unforgiving style. a great how-to resource on everything from breastfeeding and teething to how to fit a car seat.
Key Concept: New parent doesn’t really have a central concept: it’s more of a compendium of information than a philosophy. however, he clearly embodies the idea that adults, even those who are exhausted, anxious and hormonal, appreciate being talked to like adults.
formats: hardcover, paperback, kindle, kobo
6. baby happiness (dr. harvey karp)
price: £8.19 (paperback) / £5.99 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
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dr. California-based pediatrician Harvey Karp calmed a generation of Hollywood babies with his “The Happiest Baby on the Block” series of books. Baby Bliss brings together the main aspects of Karp’s research and practice over the years, describing how to make your baby’s first few months as calm and comfortable as possible, and how to create bedtime rituals that work for you. .
Key Concept: The focus here is on the “fourth trimester”: the first three months after birth, during which your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb. There is also a short but useful survival guide for new parents in the appendix.
formats: paperback, kindle, dvd (the happiest baby), website
7. how not to be the perfect mother (libby purves)
price: £7.19 (paperback) / £3.49 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
If you’re intimidated by the challenges of parenthood, this fun and light-hearted guide will provide some welcome comfort. Originally written by broadcaster libby purves in a time when most baby texting was prescriptive and perfectionist, it combines practical tips for saving time and taking shortcuts with hilarious anecdotes that will boost your confidence and make you feel better. for not being perfect yourself.
key concept: clutter is normal; everyone throws tantrums, and perfect is the enemy of good.
format: paperback, kindle, kobo
8. the new dad survival guide (rob kemp)
price: £11 (paperback)/£9.99 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
journalist and father kemp presents an insightful month-by-month guide to what dads can expect in the first year and a half of fatherhood. There are tips that cover everything from how to hold your baby when you first pass it to how to help with feeding, support your partner, and manage your newly rearranged finances. Written in a friendly (but not condescendingly silly) style, this is our favorite of the selection of parenting books for parents, admittedly quite a small one.
Key Concept: New dads face their own challenges and can benefit from a little information and advice.
formats: paperback, kindle, ibook, kobo
9. the baby sleep guide (stephanie modell)
price: £6.95 (paperback) / £4.19 (kindle) | buy now on amazon
Subtitled “practical tips for establishing good sleep habits,” stephanie modell’s concise guide to baby sleep is packed with tips and practical guides designed to help you from birth to 12 months. sleep is what goes out the window when you welcome a newborn into your home, and the modell book helps establish a framework for creating nighttime routines with your little ones. diagrams and charts help you illustrate how sleep evolves in a child’s first year of life, and modell’s direct style is most welcome when it’s 3am. and is trying to deal with a little night owl.
Key Concept: Understanding sleep cycles, which will help you understand why your precious bundle of joy may decide to wake up every hour and what you can do to encourage them to wind down. in the dream.
formats: paperback, kindle
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