Which Parenting books do you recommend?

[Smoke Jaguar]

I've got to say, I do have two 'What to Expect' books and I don't mind them. I have found them to be good references, and whilst I won't be living them word for word, I have taken what works for me. I wouldn't recommend them for other people, though, unless I thought they could take bits and not want to adopt the whole regime.
I agree, Charmzy, I didn't think much of UTD when I read it the second time. I read it years before I fell pg and thought I remembered it being helpful, so I borrowed it again when pg. I was reading it after I'd done a HypnoBirthing course and decided on gentle methods from then on...and it didn't gel at all with how I approached pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Thankfully, by the time I was pg, I knew better than to take that book and subscribe to its ideas!
I love 'Raising Boys' too, as well as The Science of Parenting - all up my alley kind of books!
ETA: I thought I'd listed it, but Bec's reminded me - absolutely anything by Sheila Kitzinger! Birth Your Way is great.

[Lucy]

I would second what Dachloestar recommended: it appears we have pretty much the same books on our shelves!

When I was first pg with Olivia I literally bought every pregnancy & childcare book I could lay my hands on. They then gathered dust for a while, but by the time she was about 4 months old I started reading them.

As a result, I have now Ebayed most of them, but the ones I keep coming back to are:


Any of Steve Biddulph's books
Raising Boys
The Secret of Happy Children
More Secrets of Happy Children

Any of Dr Sears' books

The Science of Parenting

The Wonder Weeks

[Nai]

The only one I can recommend in addition to what has already been mentioned as a YES is a pregnancy resource which is "Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method by Marie Mongan"

[meow]

I'd second a lot of what has already been recommended and have to add a favourite, FANTASTIC book that sadly doesn't get mentioned enough "Children are people too" by Louise Porter. I judge a good book store by whether they have this one in stock

For fun I'd also stock "Porn for new moms"... it's SOOO funny!

[*Elle*]

I loved up the duff by kazz cook, she brought alot of humour to my pg and I enjoyed every page

[fionas]

For pregnancy - the obvious fiction of the characters made Up The Duff a sometimes irritating read but I did like the chick lit style and it's a good one if you want your partner to read SOMETHING about pregnancy. For labour - I found the Juju Sundin book (sorry, can't remember the name) very helpful and common sensical.

What to Expect In the First Year - didn't mind it; liked the specifics of the month-by-month sections.

How To Raise An Amazing Child by Tim Seldin (President of the Montessiori Foundation) - currently reading this, some useful tips so far.

But really, just give your customers a card with the bellybelly web address on - not so good for profits though!

[fionas]

Sorry, forgot - I've just read Misconceptions by Naomi Wolf. Found the bits on dividing baby responsibilities fairly between partners very interesting. No real solutions offered but glad to know I'm not a complete nutcase when I go berserk when DP feels it necessary to ask me what should go in the nappy bag!

[mrscricket]

Haven't had a proper chance to sit down and read properly but wanted to say a HUGE thankyou to everyone who has contributed so far . I am going to sit down and go through it all tonight and then start to do some ordering for my section in the shop! The comments are great - I think I will print these pages for the other staff in the shop to read so they can do some recommendations as well. Keep them coming girls!!

[bronners]

LOVED:
Spiritual Midwifery - Ina May Gaskin
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin
Anything by Sheila Kitzinger
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering - Sarah J Buckley
Anything Pinky McKay
Anything Dr Sears
No Cry Sleep Solution for Babies (and the sequel for Toddlers & Preschoolers)
The Science of Parenting (great one for Dad as it is very science based and affirms the importance of secure attachment)

Not many people have mentioned breastfeeding books and I think "Breastfeeding... Naturally" Jill Day / ABA is awesome and just about all a Mum needs for general breastfeeding info.

I didn't like;
Up the Duff - yep I found it funny, but has no info that really prepared me for birth and I actually found the choices of the mother in the story really upsetting - the whole spiral of intervention situation ending up in a c sect.

I have browsed through Save Our Sleep at the book shop and hid it right at the back too!! Put No Cry Sleep Solution in it's place

[Cassius2]

te he he, i guess there are a few of us 'hiders' out there in bookshops!! i also put that book to fartherst depths of the shelves!

[krysalyss]

Well I tend to go on a bit about his books but I will again. LOL
Robin Grilles - 1. Heart to heart parenting
2. Parenting for a peaceful world.
I found it really based in science which I like but easily readable. It also focused more on understanding your child rather than a prescriptive book (do this in this situation) so you can apply it to your own child and your own personality.

[miss.mestiza]

I got 'What To Expect... The First Year' in the mail today, so far so good... Don't really like Save Our Sleep by Tizzie Hall, imo her routines don't suit all babies, they're all different, and I wouldn't go putting a newborn on one.

[Ellee05]

I liked Kaz Cooke - Up the Duff , It was also good light hearted reading for DH. I freaked out when I started reading the What to expect when expecting that was combined with what to eat when expecting.

I also like - Robyn Barkers - Baby Love.

[Shanti]

I have and love -

"Birth" by catherine price & Robin ....
"Sleeping like a baby" Pinky McKay - she's excellent!
"100 ways to calm the crying" Pinky McKay
"Toddler Tactics" Pinky McKay
"The Science of Parenting"
"Raising Girls" - Gisela Preuschoff
"Buddhism for Mothers"

They are my favourites so far!!!!! So many good books I want to buy!!!

[sirenz]

How about "what every parent needs to know: The Incredible Effects of Love, Nurture and Play on Your Child's Development " by Margot Sunderland

[CC11]

I'm always reading new ones but some faves have been:
Parent Effectiveness Training by Thomas Gordon (I think How to talk so your kids will listen and listen so you kids will talk is similar)
Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Kurcinka
Any books by Dr William Sears