Parenting Book Recommendations

[chirp]

So, after reading mdc, and scouting the local library...there are a few books that i know are out there that are in line with attachment parenting. the library didn't have very much...and we don't have much money...but i want to get a parenting book. just one. and i want the most bang for my buck...lol, so to speak.

we like attachment parenting...gentle discipline. our baby is relatively easy, not high needs at all really. just a baby. he is exclusively bf, he has both of his parents under 1 roof. i am a sahm.

i dunno...those are our details.
what book would you recommend?

[lovingbeingmom]

Are you after a book for when she reaches toddlehood or one that convers everything. I always enjoyed Christopher Greene as I liked the way he wrote and the advise was sensible but at the same time sensitive to what parents of all types of kids go through.

[BaBaBa]

Our Babies, Ourselves by Meredith Small

It's not your typical parenting book full of "Do's and Don'ts".

Rather, it is a cross cultural study in the new field of ethnopediatrics of parenting styles around the world. The author's thesis is that there is no right or wrong way to parent but how we parent is a reflection of our own culture. However, all the science that the book presents clearly shows that traditional or attachment parenting (Co sleeping, breast feeding, baby wearing etc.) best fulfills a child's needs.

When I first became pregnant I had no one to turn to for advice. I knew there would be a lot of bad information out there and I wasn't confident in my ability to know what was good or bad advice. So my research was all science based. And guess what? All the science leads to what we call Attachment Parenting.

This book formed all of my child rearing beliefs and practises. This book is a must read for prospective parents.

If you're looking for more of a handbook that covers nitty gritty like feeding, discipline, medical care etc then I would recommend the Baby Book by William and Martha Sears.

It was recommended to me by my midwife (who really said I didn't need a book, just to follow my instincts). It's fantastic if you don't mind cultural biases (ie. vaccinations, food introductions)

[chirp]

i guess i was looking for something in between basic and scientific. although Our Babies Ourselves sounds very interesting.

i don't need info on feeding. or cleaning/health.

but i would like some direction on disciplinary measures. i've never been quite in line with anyone else...and i think i would "freak out" about different things than most people who i've actually seen parent. not that i plan on "freaking out" at all, but you get my drift...

insights into how children think would be nice too. (for as much as i like to think i still think like a child, the momma in me is very much an adult sometimes.

maybe books on child emotional/intellectual development for different age groups. most often, mdc mommas teach me so much about what to expect at each age. right now my baby is soooo little. i'm pretty sure i can get his needs down. does a toddler's needs get more complex?

i love the idea of following my heart on all of this, but my family life when i was younger was suck-y. and sometimes i'm not sure if i'm overcompensating by being too easygoing or too lovey or whatever.

thanks for the replies so far!

[BaBaBa]

Originally Posted by chirp

i love the idea of following my heart on all of this, but my family life when i was younger was suck-y. and sometimes i'm not sure if i'm overcompensating by being too easygoing or too lovey or whatever.

I think we share similar motivations for search for information.

I looked on amazon for Our Babies Ourselves and I see that Meredith Small also as a kids book that looks like it covers more of the topics you are interested in (Language development, intellectual, emotional, moral development etc)

Base on her previous book I'm definitely going to read it.

How to discipline is a huge issue for me right now but I'm really hesitant to read 'how to' parenting books.

Let us know what you discover!

[OceanDoula]

Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth Pantley - is a general book encompassing many different child care topics. She also has a website that is full of helpful articles: www.pantley.com

I also liked Your Baby and Child from Birth to Age Five by Penelope Leach - gives a lot of information on child development and milestones.

Hope this Helps.

[shannonnc78]

Originally Posted by BaBaBa

Our Babies, Ourselves by Meredith Small

:::
YES!!! I recently finished this book and it was great!

I'm now reading "Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys" and it is a really good book. I like to think that I'm pretty up on gender research and child development (since I am a grad student in ed psych and special ed) but it points out things that had never even occurred to me. It is an interesting read and has given me some good guidelines for when DS is older (and even for now). I think everyone who has a boy should read this book.

[shannonnc78]

Originally Posted by chirp

but i would like some direction on disciplinary measures. i've never been quite in line with anyone else...and i think i would "freak out" about different things than most people who i've actually seen parent. not that i plan on "freaking out" at all, but you get my drift...

insights into how children think would be nice too. (for as much as i like to think i still think like a child, the momma in me is very much an adult sometimes.

maybe books on child emotional/intellectual development for different age groups.

Again, I would have to plug "Raising Cain" for this. While it doesn't give discipline guidelines or address developmental stages per se, it does cover those issues indirectly, I think.

[A&A]

If you're only going to buy one book, it should be Unconditional Parenting.

[chirp]

unconditional parenting our library actually has!!! (i checked online, just now) so that IS cool. i can read that one as well as buy an additional one!! i have a book addiction problem.

thank you for your suggestions, everyone!!

[Cindy-Lou]

Originally Posted by A&A

If you're only going to buy one book, it should be Unconditional Parenting.

I would also recommend this book. I also started reading Positive Discipline and so far I like it.