parenting books are a dime a dozen. and most of them just make me feel awful. in fact, one sleep book, which shall remain nameless, literally made me crazy when the twins were about 3 months old. here and there, though, i have stumbled across a gem. so to save you some time, here are some short synapses of my faves. i never agree with everything these books say...but there are things i find helpful in all of them. just like life, take what is useful and leave the rest.
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
disclaimer: i am a hippy. this is an AWESOME book to read while pregnant. not scary. not inflammatory. just a different view of birth. orgasmic births...need i say more. seriously, though, this woman is THE midwife and she has some pretty cool things to share with any pregnant woman.
What's Going on in There?
disclaimer: my husband loved this...i got the cliff note's version. written by a neuroscientist and mother of three, this book is packed with the latest research regarding brain development from conception to 5 years. what i love about this book is the complete lack of advice on things to do to make your kid smart. she just gives you the facts and she clearly knows what she is talking about. another good one to read when pregnant as she has a lot to say about prenatal care and choices.
Vaccinations: A Thoughtful Parent's Guide
written by a mother of four who also happens to be a midwife and herbalist, this book is a great place to start if you have any reservations or concerns about vaccinating your child. obviously, the author has an opinion, but she does a fairly good job of keeping it out of her book. this book was extremely interesting to read...not at all dry as i had feared. one at a time, she covers the history of the diseases, the history of the vaccines, the risks of the diseases and the risks of the vaccines. vaccinating is a hot topic...and i truly believe that there is no right answer, only a choice that works for you and your family.
Louise Bates Ames books
Louise Bates Ames has a book for each year of a child's life from birth to nine years old. they were written in the late 70's/early 80's...but they are chock full of wonderful tidbits. and the retro baby pictures are pretty entertaining :). ok, so some of the info is dated, but her real focus is what the child is doing developmentally and behaviourally and that just hasn't changed in the last thirty years. quick reads and well worth the time!
NurtureShock
it is not really fair to call this a parenting book. it is more like a book about parenting. a lot of random research about a lot of random topics with no transitions in between. i am pretty ADD, so i guess that appeals to me. and seriously, this book is an eye-opener. everything from race to television to praise to the gifted programs is touched on with a candor that is refreshing and it is all backed up with the latest studies. be prepared to reassess some things.
Siblings Without Rivalry
not too much to add to the title. great basic book. like many of the good parenting books i have read, it explained a lot about my childhood and my parents. i always feel contrite after reading a book like this. not necessarily full of advice...but a lot of good information.
Kids Are Worth It
the author of this one started out thinking she would become a nun and ended up as the mother of three. this was a random thrift store find and it really hit home for me. a lot of the stuff will apply more as the kids age, but there are things i am already applying now. this book is compassionate, practical and firm. just like a good parent.
Beyond Time-out
having read several books on the topic of discipline, i found this my favorite. a lot of good tips and they apply starting at about 2-3 years. some of her stuff is a little intense, but kids can get a little intense, too! again, a compassionate and practical approach, helpful and easy to incorporate into my life.
Brain Rules for Baby
normally, i am not a fan of the "what can i do to raise a smarter child" take on a book. but the author used to direct the talaris institute; he really knows what he is talking about. that and he kind of starts off the book reprimanding "those" parents. there is a lot of overlap with nurtureshock. but it comes from a different angle. again, this may be a perspective changer.
Cooking for the Whole Family
written by a local seattle author, this is a great cookbook for the busy mom. i love it and have yet to try a recipe i don't love. every recipe has a suggestion on how to feed it to your infant or toddler. a good general whole foods approach to eating. it is not gluten-free or dairy-free, but i have been able to make simple changes (always easier when you are starting with whole foods!) to make most of the recipes work for us.
those are the my favorites so far...i would love to hear about the books that work for you and your family!
