Books on Parenting You Must Read

By WAO Team On Dec 15, 2023

Parenting is the most beautiful and toughest job in the world. It’s not always easy to handle kids, especially when they are young and you have no experience doing that. But it is not impossible, thanks to online parenting resources, products, and services.

According to Newsmatics, the online parenting market was valued at $ 6,671.87 million in 2021. It is expected to grow at 14.56% CAGR from 2022 – 2030. This market includes parenting training programs, educational resources, eCommerce for parenting products, etc.

With all these products and services, you can know what to do with children and ensure they behave well. However, there is no need to join any training program or buy services. A good parenting book is all you need. In this article, we will discuss some books on parenting that will help you become a good parent.

The Whole-Brain Child

The Whole-Brain Child is a book written by Daniel J. Siegel, a clinical psychiatrist, and Tina Payne Bryson, a psychotherapist. The book explores integrating neuroscience research and practical parenting strategies to help parents understand and support their child’s brain development.

Published in 2011, “The Whole-Brain Child” emphasizes the importance of understanding how a child’s brain develops and functions. Understanding this can help promote healthy emotional and cognitive development.

The authors present twelve key strategies based on the latest research in neuroscience, which can be applied to everyday parenting situations. These strategies are designed to help parents nurture their child’s developing brain and create strong parent-child connections.

This can also aid in helping understand the concept of physical punishment and how it affects your child’s brain development and behavior. According to an NCBI article, children are subjected to physical punishment in 85% of cases by the time they reach middle and high school.

Physical punishment certainly impacts the child’s brain, and understanding it can be helpful for parents to decide how to proceed. For instance, if the physical punishment is impacting the child’s emotional health, parents can take another route for punishing them.

The Happiest Baby On The Block

The Happiest Baby on the Block is a book written by Dr. Harvey Karp. As stated in newyorker.com, Dr. Harvey Karp is a famous pediatrician and businessperson who knows how to calm babies. The book, first published in 2002, provides insights and advice on how to calm and soothe a fussy or colicky baby.

Dr. Karp introduces the concept of the “5 S’s,” a set of techniques designed to mimic the womb environment. These techniques help babies transition to the outside world more easily.

The 5 S’s stand for:

Swaddling: Wrapping the baby snugly in a blanket to provide a sense of security and warmth.
Side or Stomach Position: Holding the baby on their side or stomach can be comforting. However, babies should always be placed on their backs for sleep to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Shushing: Creating white noise or gentle shushing sounds to replicate the noise level in the womb.
Swinging: Gently rock or swing the baby to provide a rhythmic and soothing motion.
Sucking: Allowing the baby to suck on a pacifier or thumb, which can have a calming effect.

The Big Book of Organic Baby Food

The Big Book of Organic Baby Food is a great resource for those who want to make their own baby food. This book, written by Stephanie Middleberg, offers recipes for all stages of your child’s development. It contains tips on how to cook various healthy meals for your little one.

Since food can directly impact your baby’s health, reading this book can offer you crucial information. For instance, retail baby food can be toxic. According to a study by The Bump, 94% of retail baby foods have toxic metals, and the same amount is found in homemade purees. Moreover, an estimated 11 million babies lose IQ due to the presence of lead and arsenic in such foods.

Several other studies have also proven a link between baby formula and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). According to TorHoerman Law, several parents are filing lawsuits against baby formula manufacturers for this. They claim that they were not made aware of the potential health problems of these food products.

There has been a lot of growth and updates in the NEC lawsuits recently. The latest NEC lawsuit update shows that 15 new cases have been added to the NEC baby formula lawsuit MDL. This has taken the total of pending lawsuits to 290.

Oh Crap! Potty Training

Oh Crap! Potty Training is a popular book written by Jamie Glowacki. It’s a practical guide for parents ready to embark on the potty training journey with their toddlers.

Jamie Glowacki, the author, is a potty training expert and a mother of two. In her book, she provides a straightforward and no-nonsense approach to potty training. The book covers a range of topics, including:

Preparation: Guidance on when to start potty training and how to prepare both the child and the parent mentally and emotionally.
The three-day method: Glowacki introduces a three-day potty training method that involves intensive focus and consistency during the initial days to kickstart the process.
Common challenges: The book addresses common challenges and setbacks that parents may encounter during potty training and provides strategies for overcoming them.
Positive reinforcement: Glowacki emphasizes the importance of positive reinforcement and creating a supportive and encouraging environment for the child.
Parenting perspective: The book is conversational and humorous, blending practical advice and anecdotes from the author’s experience.

How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

It is a classic parenting book written by Elaine Mazlish and Adele Faber. The book provides practical communication strategies for parents and caregivers to build better relationships with children. Here are some key principles and techniques from the book:

Acknowledge feelings: Recognize and acknowledge your child’s feelings. This helps them feel understood and valued. For example, say, “I can see that you’re really angry right now.”
Give information in a simple way: Instead of nagging or giving lengthy explanations, provide information in a clear and concise manner. For instance, say, “The park closes in 10 minutes, so it’s time to leave.”
Offer choices: Allow children to have some control by offering them choices. This empowers them and reduces power struggles. For example, “Do you want to wear the blue or red shirt today?”
Let consequences do the teaching: Instead of imposing punishments, let natural consequences occur when appropriate. This helps children learn from their actions. For instance, if a child refuses to wear a coat, they might feel cold and learn to dress appropriately.
Use “I” statements: Express your feelings and needs using “I” statements to avoid sounding accusatory. Instead of saying, “You never listen to me,” say, “I feel frustrated when I think my words aren’t being heard.”
Problem-solving together: Involve children in finding solutions to problems. This encourages critical thinking and cooperation. For example, if there’s a disagreement, ask, “How do you think we can solve this problem together?”
Listen actively: Show genuine interest and empathy when your child is talking. This fosters trust and open communication. Use reflective listening by repeating what your child has said to show you understand.

The Everything Parent’s Guide To Special Education

Many children have special educational needs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 6 US children aged 3-17 years have special needs. If your child has special needs, The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education by Amanda Morin can be a helpful resource.

The book equips parents with essential tools to effectively understand and advocate for their children with special needs.

Key features of the book include guidance on assessment and evaluation processes. It also offers information on educational needs specific to various disabilities, including multiple disabilities. Moreover, it also sheds light on various laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

The author provides insights into working collaboratively within the school system to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) tailored to the unique needs of each child. Including practical tools such as worksheets, forms, and sample documents and letters enhances the book’s practicality.

To sum up, we hope you enjoyed this list of parenting books. If there’s one certain thing, it’s that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to raising kids. We all have different values and beliefs about what works best for our families, which means there are plenty of great books on every topic.