Maybe I’m just unsure of myself, but during my first year of parenthood I’ve found myself constantly consulting books for advice on everything baby-related. Between my former job as an editor at New York Family and my obsession with doing the right thing, I’ve amassed at least 30 titles covering everything from newborn care to breastfeeding to sleep. I’ve found some books to be more useful than others–and some I’ve found to be indispensable. Here are the five that have become my go-to favorites.
Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. This book can be a lifesaver in the weeks after you arrive home with your infant and you’re nervous about everything from your baby’s hiccups to her dirty diaper count. Written by two pediatricians affiliated with the American Academy of Pediatrics, it covers every facet of infant care in a straightforward and no-nonsense way. It’s also great to read before you bring baby home to help you prepare!
The New Basics: A-to-Z Baby & Child Care for the Modern Parent. This book by Tribeca Pediatrics founder Dr. Michael Cohen moves beyond the first months to address literally all the concerns a new parent may have about their child’s physical and behavioral development from infancy on up. It’s organized in an easy-to-follow A to Z format so you simply look up whatever issue you’re interested in–from biting to naps to walking–to find succinct advice on the topic. It’s useful as a quick reference guide when you don’t want to wade through too much information.
Touchpoints: Birth to Three. This book is less about the ins and outs of baby care and more about child development. It is immensely helpful in helping a parent understand the many different phases an infant–and then a toddler–goes through as he or she grows. From milestones like learning to crawl and eating solids to sleeping (or not) through the night, authors and pediatricians T. Berry Brazleton and Joshua Sparrow cover all the major events in a child’s early life and are gifted at explaining what they must be like from the child’s perspective, making readers more empathetic as parents. The book is also simply an interesting read.
Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child. There are lots of books about child sleep out there, but this is the bible to so many parents. Written by pediatrician Dr. Marc Weissbluth, it covers sleep issues from birth to adolescence–with most of the focus on the first two years or so. Many parents find his research on sleep science extremely helpful in understanding their child’s sleep issues–like why a baby might nap better at a certain time of day or the reasons they wake up at specific times at night. He also offers a range of plans for solving child sleep problems, from “let cry” to “partial ignoring.”
Wonderplay. If you’re a new parent, you’ve probably often found yourself wondering what to do all day with your infant or toddler. Written by the heads of the 92nd Street Y’s children’s and parenting programs, this book offers some great ideas. Divided into sections based on age, the book covers birth through the preschools years. It includes lyrics to favorite songs, exercise and moment games, arts and crafts ideas, and much more.
