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Confessions of a Scary Mommy:
As a new mom, you’ve just strapped yourself into an 18+ year ride of hilarious and sometimes embarrassing moments. Confessions of a Scary Mommy hits on so many of these moments, featuring original essays that share the truth about parenting. From doling out M&Ms at the grocery store just for survival to looking pregnant several months postpartum, this book is both relatable and hilarious. Read it now as a new mom to find out what’s coming, then pick it up again in a couple years so that you can smile and nod in agreement.
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Natural Health after Birth:
This highly regarded book is an essential guide to taking care of yourself as you learn how to take care of your new baby. It covers everything from breastfeeding to eating and sleeping well, plus tips for finding balance as a mom. Be sure to check it out and find practically everything you’ll need to find support in your first year of motherhood.
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The Happiest Baby on the Block:
News flash: sometimes, babies can be a bit grouchy. And whiny. And refuse to sleep. It might even make you a little grouchy and whiny yourself. But there is hope, and it’s in this often-recommended bestselling book from Dr. Harvey Karp. In it, Karp explains how to hit the “reset” button on your baby and trigger a calming reflex through the five “S’s”: swaddling, side lying, shushing, swinging, and sucking. This book is a can’t-miss read for any parent struggling with a crying baby.
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The Baby Book:
For attachment parenting families, this book from Dr. Sears is practically a bible. Featuring an attachment-style approach to every aspect of baby care, The Baby Book is an essential read for moms who want to explore this type of parenting. Specifically, it includes tips for bonding, breastfeeding, babywearing, and the development of strong family relationships.
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This Isn’t What I Expected:
For some new mothers, postpartum depression is a terrible reality that they have to deal with. Although there’s no replacement for professional treatment, this book offers a great guide to overcoming postpartum depression. Check out This Isn’t What I Expected to learn about the myths surrounding PPD, and find advice and support for working through this difficult stage.
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What to Expect the First Year:
There’s a good chance you read What to Expect When You’re Expecting (and maybe you even saw the movie); here’s the postpartum companion. What to Expect the First Year follows the same format as the pregnancy edition, walking you through the development stages of your baby’s first year. Follow along to find tips and reassurance for everything from newborn car seats to dealing with a colicky baby.
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Breastfeeding Made Simple:
Breastfeeding moms may laugh at the idea of breastfeeding being “simple,” but that doesn’t make this book any less helpful for those who are still struggling to get it right. Breastfeeding Made Simple is an excellent companion for moms who are just starting out, explaining milk production, pumping, breast refusal, and other issues that may pop up. This book is even a great resource for established breastfeeders, offering advice for gently weaning your baby on to solid foods.
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The Nursing Mother’s Companion:
Another great guide for breastfeeding, The Nursing Mother’s Companion has been trusted by families for more than 25 years. This book is all about overcoming difficulties in breastfeeding, from the first week all the way to the toddler years. You’ll learn about what’s normal and what’s not, with clear, concise resources for making things work. In addition to tips and guidance, you’ll also find helpful resources like a drug interactions section that will help you quickly find out what effects your over-the-counter and prescription drugs may have on a breastfeeding baby.
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The No-Cry Sleep Solution:
This book from Elizabeth Pantley offers an alternative to the Ferber technique, sharing a sleep solution that doesn’t involve “crying it out.” In The No-Cry Sleep Solution, you’ll learn about the stumbling blocks to sleeping, find out how to work with your baby’s biological sleep rhythms, and create a plan to get your baby sleeping through the night. The highlight of this book is the Persistent Gentle Removal System, which is designed to teach your baby to sleep without breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, or pacifier use.
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Caring for Your Baby and Young Child:
Much like the What to Expect books, this guide from the American Academy of Pediatrics offers an authoritative voice on early child care. You’ll find guidelines and milestones, resources for basic care, and an entire health encyclopedia for under-5s, covering everything from illnesses to congenital diseases. Plus, there are special guides for breastfeeding, immunizations, child care programs, and car safety seats. This book truly covers everything new moms might need to know about.
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The Baby Owner’s Manual:
Simultaneously hilarious and helpful, this book solves the problem that so many parents have lamented: babies don’t come with an owner’s manual. You’ll have to purchase this one separately from your bundle of joy, but The Baby Owner’s Manual is an invaluable resource for learning exactly how your baby works. You’ll find instructions and even schematic diagrams that cover just about every question you may have as a new mom, from learning how to swaddle a baby to knowing when to bring your baby to the doctor.
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Baby Laughs:
Jenny McCarthy has been a divisive figure in the parenting world, but her views on vaccines make no difference in this wildly entertaining memoir about her first year of motherhood. Nothing is too brash for McCarthy in Baby Laughs, as she covers postnatal embarrassments including adult diapers, numbing spray, and medicated pads. You’ll even find out how she tackled dad obstacles like expecting sex, and grandparent antics including dueling grandmas. Read along and enjoy this incredibly relatable book for all new moms.
