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Must Read Parenting Books from a Child Development Professional
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items For parents who love to read and gather as much information as they can about their parenting journey and how to best support their little ones. Here is a list of books that contain valuable information for various time periods of parenthood. I will ...
Please note: I strive to support independent bookstores and authors. Majority of the books listed will come from either the author or Bookshop. If you are unfamiliar with Bookshop, I highly encourage you to check it out. It's an independent online bo...
Please note: I strive to support independent bookstores and authors. Majority of the books listed will come from either the author or Bookshop. If you are unfamiliar with Bookshop, I highly encourage you to check it out. It's an independent online bo...
Sections
6
Preparing for Parenthood
Pregnancy
Postpartum
Infants and Toddlers
Problem Behaviors
Raising the Next Generation
Preparing for Parenthood
Of course, all of the books listed here are preparation for parenthood. you can read all of them before you even think about trying to conceive. It's like taking a child development course before you become a parent. The books listed in this section ...
If you haven't figured it out yet, parenthood is one of the most challenging yet most rewarding things you will do.
Here is a simple journal that guides you and your partner through essential topics to discuss before your become parents. It's a way for you to iron out some of the challenges and questions you will face as you start your parenting journey.
Here is a simple journal that guides you and your partner through essential topics to discuss before your become parents. It's a way for you to iron out some of the challenges and questions you will face as you start your parenting journey.
Journey to Parenthood Journal: 7 Essentials
Must read for people who want to better understand their cycles to start trying to conceive.
Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural ...
So you're trying for a baby and it's been months but nothing has happened. You're starting to think that maybe something is wrong…. READ THIS BOOK!
We are raised to go to school, get a job, get married, and start a family as if all of those things are completely easy to do. They aren't! On top of that, we (as people who can conceive) aren't really educated on our anatomy, our cycle, and how to a...
So check this book out and also note that this isn't just for people carrying the baby but for the other side of the equation (sperm).
We are raised to go to school, get a job, get married, and start a family as if all of those things are completely easy to do. They aren't! On top of that, we (as people who can conceive) aren't really educated on our anatomy, our cycle, and how to a...
So check this book out and also note that this isn't just for people carrying the baby but for the other side of the equation (sperm).
It Starts with the Egg: The Science of Egg Quality for Fertility ...
Pregnancy
Some of these books are about pregnancy and some are great to read while pregnant so that you are better prepared for when baby arrives.
Pregnancy can be hard on a person's body so eating may not be the thing that you want to or can focus on.
However, this books provides so much great information on how to best support your body and your growing baby throughout pregnancy.
I will note that the diet in this book can be difficult to follow, but don't let that deter you! Find recipes and foods you love to eat to incorporate in your diet!
However, this books provides so much great information on how to best support your body and your growing baby throughout pregnancy.
I will note that the diet in this book can be difficult to follow, but don't let that deter you! Find recipes and foods you love to eat to incorporate in your diet!
Lily Nichols Shop: Buy Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols directly ...
This is the most common book for pregnancy. It contains all the necessary facts to best understand the changes you will experience throughout your pregnancy. However, if you're looking for something that is a little more entertaining while also infor...
What to Expect When You're Expecting - Bookshop
Best to read during pregnancy but has a lot of information about pregnancy as well as bringing baby home.
I always suggest this book to people even though it wasn't written by a child development expert. It provides a lot of information about pregnancy and parenthood that is researched based. It also helps parents to start to look at things with a critic...
Please keep in mind that there are reasons why health professionals make certain recommendations such as, baby should sleep on their backs. If you are unsure or want to better understand specific safety concerns, please reach out to me for a judgemen...
I always suggest this book to people even though it wasn't written by a child development expert. It provides a lot of information about pregnancy and parenthood that is researched based. It also helps parents to start to look at things with a critic...
Please keep in mind that there are reasons why health professionals make certain recommendations such as, baby should sleep on their backs. If you are unsure or want to better understand specific safety concerns, please reach out to me for a judgemen...
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed ...
Best to read it during pregnancy.
After living through a pandemic, this book is even more important. I suggest this book to parents who are overly concerned with germs and sanitizing their kids.
This book talks about the microbiome and how some germs are actually beneficial to your health and your child's.
After living through a pandemic, this book is even more important. I suggest this book to parents who are overly concerned with germs and sanitizing their kids.
This book talks about the microbiome and how some germs are actually beneficial to your health and your child's.
Dirt Is Good by Jack Gilbert and Rob Knight
Best to read towards the end of your pregnancy.
This book was used as a textbook for one of my classes in grad school. Don't worry, it doesn't really read like a textbook!
But it goes to show you how much valuable information it has for not just parents but students as well.
This book goes over the importance of establishing a secure attachment with your baby and how it creates an amazing foundation for your child to grow.
Read the first few chapters towards the end of pregnancy, then read the rest of the book as your child grows.
This book was used as a textbook for one of my classes in grad school. Don't worry, it doesn't really read like a textbook!
But it goes to show you how much valuable information it has for not just parents but students as well.
This book goes over the importance of establishing a secure attachment with your baby and how it creates an amazing foundation for your child to grow.
Read the first few chapters towards the end of pregnancy, then read the rest of the book as your child grows.
The Attachment Connection: Parenting Securely
Postpartum
Postpartum is very real and we need to remember to take care of ourselves after birthing. Here are a few resources to help you navigate the changes that happen after giving birth.
This holistic guide offers practical advice to support women through postpartum healing on the physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual levels—and provides women with a roadmap to this very important transition that can last from a few months t...
The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Guide to Healing Your ...
Though we now have more resources for ancestral birthing and self-care practices than ever, postpartum care is still largely stuck in an outdated, patriarchal paradigm that fails to serve mothers and newborns. “Slowing down, recovering fully, and giv...
Thriving Postpartum: Embracing the Indigenous Wisdom of La ...
One in seven mothers suffers from a disorder on the postpartum depression spectrum; another 20-30 percent of them deal with above-average anxiety. This second edition has been updated in an effort to help women and their partners sort through all the...
This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression
Infants and Toddlers
Books that support early development.
Read within your baby's first year.
Although this is an amazing book to help you understand your infants brain development, it is particularly important when it comes to understanding your toddler's brain development.
Although this is an amazing book to help you understand your infants brain development, it is particularly important when it comes to understanding your toddler's brain development.
The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture ...
Although this book is more of a parenting perspective, I absolutely love it!
It challenges American parenting… in a good way. Bringing Up Bebe is a great way to critically think about how you want to raise your children. What are some parenting practices you grew up with or see on social media that you want to keep or leave b...
It challenges American parenting… in a good way. Bringing Up Bebe is a great way to critically think about how you want to raise your children. What are some parenting practices you grew up with or see on social media that you want to keep or leave b...
Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of ...
If you want an all encompassing book that walks you through pregnancy, giving birth to your little one, and then bringing your little one home, this is your guide. Just note that it's a little more information heavy.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn - Bookshop
Problem Behaviors
Sometimes we don't always get the support we need or seek out information when we need it to best support our parenting practices and our child's development. That's ok! Here are some books to help you better understand your child and navigate some o...
Read during toddlerhood if at all possible but as soon as you're experiencing problem behaviors.
Dr. Becky does an amazing job reminding us that our kids aren't bad, their behaviors are. Children's brains are developing at a rapid pace and so problematic behaviors can surface because they don't fully understand what is going on. That's why it's ...
Dr. Becky does an amazing job reminding us that our kids aren't bad, their behaviors are. Children's brains are developing at a rapid pace and so problematic behaviors can surface because they don't fully understand what is going on. That's why it's ...
Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
In case you haven't experienced it, your littles don't listen because they don't have to.
If you're struggling with this, then this is the perfect resource for you. It helps you better understand your little ones so that they will actually listen.
If you're struggling with this, then this is the perfect resource for you. It helps you better understand your little ones so that they will actually listen.
How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with ...
Raising the Next Generation
These books are great to read at any point in time as your infant grows into a school-aged kiddo to then starting high school and beyond.
Hands down, every parent with a tween or teen needs to read this. Written by someone who regularly interacts with adolescent children on a daily basis. It discusses how we are unintentionally helicopter parenting and we need to stop.
This is how you will help your young adult build necessary life skills.
This is how you will help your young adult build necessary life skills.
How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap ...
Read this at any point after baby is born.
This is another book I strongly recommend because it has a lot of information that is backed by research in an easily digestible way for parents to absorb.
So much of what is discussed in this book has been taught in many of my undergrad/ grad courses.
This is another book I strongly recommend because it has a lot of information that is backed by research in an easily digestible way for parents to absorb.
So much of what is discussed in this book has been taught in many of my undergrad/ grad courses.
How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power ...
The book How Children Succeed pulls research from this book.
I strongly recommend this book because it isn't just valuable information for raising the next generation but it is also just good for us to know.
We want to avoid having a fixed mindset and work towards a growth mindset.
I strongly recommend this book because it isn't just valuable information for raising the next generation but it is also just good for us to know.
We want to avoid having a fixed mindset and work towards a growth mindset.
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success a book by Carol S ...