Navigating the early years of parenting can have many challenges. Here's the best baby books I've used and are now available to help you with overall life and feeding.
When I was a new mom I remember experiencing many of the roller coaster emotions that many new parents feels - immense love, fatigue, anxiety and confusion. I think the first 3 go without explanation, but the confusion?! Oh man, was there confusion, which probably led to some of that fatigue and anxiety.
There's just so much darn information out there about how to care for and feed a baby. And to be honest, I didn't really know much about any of it. I had some goals that I wanted to achieve such as getting adequate sleep, having flexibility in our schedule and exposure to healthy foods, but I had no idea how to execute that.
Thankfully there are a lot of people out there who do know what they are doing and wrote amazing baby books for me to read. check out my TV segment where I talk about all these resources:
Click HERE to view the video if it does not load.
Before I go any further, I feel the need to express my most important piece of parenting advice, even though you didn't ask for it. 😉 Ready?
Do what you know and feel is best for YOU and your baby.
You get a lot of advice as new parents. And, you can read a lot of books and websites about how to care for your baby, many of which are contradictory. If something doesn't feel right for you or your baby, or you just plain know it's not right, do not do it. Then, don't let it get you down. Move on and find the strategy that does work, or create your own, unique and blended approach. No one failed at anything, you just haven't found the right fit yet.
I also encourage moms (as I had to be encouraged on a regular basis) to take care of yourself too. Sometimes this drive alone will nudge you to try new strategies and that is OK, and sometimes, really good too. When mama is taking care of herself, baby will thrive too. And for the record, "taking care of yourself" will look completely different to everyone but I am fairly certain it always involves sleep. 😉
Here are some baby books that I used during the early years (and to this day) as well as more recent resources I wish I had had available to me.
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This post contains affiliate links. Thank you for supporting MHE. Some of the books were provided to me free of charge to review. The opinions in this post are my own and I was not obligated to write a blog post on this topic.
Mom Nutrition - Expect the Best: Your Guide to Healthy Eating Before, During and After Pregnancy
When I became pregnant I searched for resources to give me the FACTS about how to eat during pregnancy. Unfortunately, at that time I only found resources that I thought, were poorly written or confusing (i.e. I do not recommend this book.) Fortunately, my colleague, Liz Ward, just released the 2nd edition of her book to perfectly guide moms through what and how to eat through pregnancy and into the "4th trimester." This book is well written, well organized and easy to digest. Start with this book first to become informed on pregnancy nutrition, and you will feel confident throughout your experience.
{If you are a science nerd, like me, and want to read about how all the guidelines around pregnancy were developed and how pregnancy shapes a baby for the rest of their life, read this interesting book.}
Life & Scheduling - Moms on Call Basic Baby Care
When I became pregnant my Sister In Law shared the amazing resources from Moms on Call with me and I am forever grateful. The 2 nurses behind this program are practical, faith based, and encouraging. They have 3 books that guide you from day one of birth all the way through the toddler years. The Basic Baby Care guide literally shows you how to set up a flexible schedule during the day so that the parents are empowered to guide their children into the flow of the family. The #1 objective is to get on a healthy sleep schedule for baby AND parents. AMEN to that!
Beyond just sleep, the MOC ladies explain how to ensure baby is getting adequate feedings, how to swaddle, set up a positive sleep environment, naps on the go, schedules for baby #2 with an older toddler, and so much more. I literally just did what they "told me to do" for both of boys and it made things go so much more smoothly.
Disclaimer: This system is not for everyone because it involves allowing baby to self soothe at bedtime. BUT, they literally walk you through exactly how long to let crying happen where it is safe and OK.
If you are out of the infant stage, I definitely recommend their other books too: Next Steps Baby Care: 6-15 Months & Moms on Call Toddler Book. In fact, I think it's about time for me to reread the Toddler Book.
Feeding Baby - Born to Eat: Whole, Healthy Foods from Baby's First Bite
Born to Eat demystifies the idea of baby-led weaning. Written by two of my dietitian colleagues, this book lays out the research supporting the practice of baby self-feeding and starting with whole foods over baby food. This book is hot off the presses and I really wish I had this resource when I was feeding my boys. In my opinion, it makes the idea of baby-led weaning less weird and actually doable. Leslie and Wendy Jo lay out a relatable, easy to follow plan on how to introduce the every day, whole foods you eat to your babies. The authors are encouraging throughout, never shaming anyone for the decisions they make about feeding themselves or their children. I think this book is really for every parent starting their babies on solid food because, whether or not you go full force with the plan or not, there's something for everyone in this book.
Feeding Baby - Natural Baby Food Cookbook
This is a straightforward, beautiful cookbook to help you prepare food for your baby from the "first spoonfuls" to "big kid meals". Written by popular blogger and doctor, Sonali Ruder, it is based on trusted guidelines and good flavor. This is a great book to help you out, and stay out, of the rut of feeding your kids. The recipes are simple to follow and easy to prepare. This is a great resource for all parents.
Playing with Baby - Games to Play with Babies
When Jackson, my oldest son, became a more mobile baby, I realized that I needed some ideas of what to do with him at home. We spent a lot of time at home and that was new to me. If all else, I was getting bored with the same ole activities we did every day. This book was a fun resource during this time because it describes very simple games to play with your baby, many of which require little to no "equipment". If you feel, like I did, you just need a few new ideas, this is a cheap resource to help.
You do you...
Friends, I hope these resources are helpful and encouraging to you or the new parents in your life. In no way am I saying these are what every mom should or must do. I can't emphasize enough that each parent must decide for themselves what they feel is best for them and their family. Find what works for you and be unapologetic about it.
If this was a helpful list for you, please share it with a friend who may benefit as well. Some of these books are brand new so they may not be well know, but should be.
To healthy families and babies,