Every month JustaBXMom and I scour through tons and tons of books from all over to bring you some of or favorites that we think you should your little should have as well. OK, Shameless confession… I don’t scour through anything, I just post the books from Amari’s personal library. Whichever ones he hands me the most to read are the ones I tell you about LOL. Hey, he and I are in this together!
Anyways, this time I thought I would do something a little bit different. This time I decided to scour through my own personal adult library and bring you some of my favorite parenting books that I thought you moms (and pops) could benefit from.
PARENTING RIGHT FROM THE START – Vanessa Lapointe
This book couldn’t have come to me at a better time! I am in a place right now where Amari is asserting his independence and frankly… his defiance. I have been struggling with should I begin to discipline him and if so, how?
This book is a follow-up to the best seller Discipline Without Damage. Dr. Lapointe advises new parents how to put their child on a path to optimal development during the crucial early years.
The baby and toddler years are the most important period for any child’s emotional and psychological development. Parents naturally want to do what’s best for their kids, but they often struggle to know what that is, especially when dealing with the big “battlegrounds” of sleep, feeding, and managing aggression.
The latest scientific research indicates that it is through a strong and stable sense of connection to their parents that children learn how to regulate their emotions, master social skills, and develop a sense of identity. Unfortunately, many of the currently accepted parenting practices and traditional attitudes disrupt healthy connection rather than foster it, leading to behavioral issues and emotional problems that can last into adulthood.
Dr. Lapointe helps parents to understand how mindful and conscious parenting can help them to avoid passing unhealthy patterns down from one generation to the next. Rooted in compassion and understanding, Parenting Right from the Start shows parents how to build a firm, caring presence in the early years that a child can lean into for a lifetime.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE FIRST YEAR – Heidi Murkoff
This one seems like a no brainer. It literally has everything new parents need to know about the care (and feeding) of an infant, from the authors of What to Expect® When You’re Expecting. Covers monthly growth and development, feeding for every age and stage, sleep strategies that really work.
Filled with the most practical tips (how to give a bath, decode your baby’s crying, what to buy for baby, and when to return to work) and the most up-to-date medical advice (the latest on vaccines, vitamins, illnesses, SIDS, safety, and more). I love that this book is literally broken down by month. So each month I pick the book up and learn what is to come.
100 PROMISES TO MY BABY – Mallika Chopra
This one was given to me as a gift for my baby shower. It is one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen.
As she eagerly awaited the birth of her first child, Mallika Chopra, herself the daughter of well-known New Age guru Deepak Chopra, began to craft a unique gift that would express her profound loving commitment to the baby growing inside of her. “100 Promises to My Baby” is that gift – one that reflects her deep awareness of the responsibilities of parenthood. Here, Chopra reveals the vows she made to help her child – and all children – grow up feeling cherished and secure. She also shares short essays reflections and poems that inspired her throughout her life – and that will inspire you to think about your own life, values, and beliefs, and what you would like to pass on to your children. Mallika Chopra’s stories and essays are compelling and human – whether you are pregnant, parenting a newborn, or supporting a “baby” who is in college, “100 Promises to My Baby” is a reminder to connect with the parent you’d like to be, even if you occasionally miss the mark.
LETTERS TO MY BABY – Lea Redmond
Ok so this book is a little less about reading and more about writing.
Your baby will always be your baby. Whether you’re pregnant or a new parent, fill these twelve envelopes with memories and hopes for your bundle of joy. Then postdate, seal, and save the letters to gift to your child at a later date. The letters have individual subjects such as “On the day you were born”, “My wishes for you are…” and “Your first home was like this…” Seal letters with the included stickers before giving this to your child–all grown up–as a paper time capsule that captured their first fleeting years.”
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