The Best Parenting Books (From Newborn Days to Toddler Years)

From economist Emily Oster, author of Expecting Better, this research-based, data-driven book analyzes all the options and debunks myths so you can confidently make your own parenting decisions.  It was one of the most-mentioned titles in our Babylist parent poll—especially among parents who like to see the numbers behind the advice. And for later down the road, you might also want to add Oster’s newest book, The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years, to your TBR.

Written by a psychiatrist and a neurobiologist, this book explores how our own childhood experiences shape the way we parent, and how developing self-awareness can break unhelpful cycles. It was recommended by many Babylist parents in our poll.

Denmark consistently ranks among the happiest countries in the world, so it's worth asking: what are Danish parents doing differently? This book breaks down the principles behind raising kids who are resilient, emotionally secure and socially confident. It came up again and again in our Babylist parent poll as a favorite for parents and offers a warm, practical alternative to high-pressure parenting culture.

The author of this book is an American mother who, while living in France, noticed that French children seemed better regulated than American children. You might have already heard of “le pause”, and that’s likely due to this popular book. It was one of the top five most-mentioned parenting books in our poll. Blending her personal story with studies and research, she explains how French parents are more comfortable with setting boundaries for their kids, teaching them to be patient and knowing “how to be involved without being obsessed.”

Montessori is an appealing philosophy for parents who want to instill self-efficacy, self-confidence and independence in their children from a young age. It sees babies and kids as whole humans with endless potential and focuses on learning through self-guided play, natural materials and limited intervention from adults. Montessori has also been shown to benefit children even before they enter a classroom; this book teaches caregivers how to incorporate the Montessori method from the earliest days with baby. And it doesn’t end in infancy. Simone Davies also wrote two other books, The Montessori Toddler and The Montessori Child, that’ll serve as helpful guides as your child grows. 

This is one of those rare books that genuinely reframes how you think about raising children — and the vital role community plays in doing it well. The author, Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff, sets off to find the “secrets” to raising well-adjusted, prosocial children. It follows her journey and encounters with families from various cultures to learn how to build relationships with children based on cooperation, trust and parenting the child you have versus the one you’ve imagined.

Janet Lansbury is a RIE educator (Resources for Infant Educarers), a philosophy coined by Magda Gerber. At the heart, it views and treats little ones as complete, capable humans. This is especially important to remember when parenting challenging toddler behavior. Lansbury walks parents through how to navigate setting firm, loving boundaries, how to figure out what’s going on at the root of toddler behavior and how to stay a calm, present parent through it.

If you’re constantly dealing with daily tantrums, challenges and all the other struggles of parenting a toddler, it can be hard to remember that your child really doesn’t mean it personally. This book serves to instill that reminder with the philosophy that, no matter what they say or do, your child is inherently good inside. It was another standout in our parent poll, with many caregivers saying it helped them rethink discipline in a more connected way. And so are you, even in your hardest parenting moments. Rather than focusing on “correcting” behaviors, this book encourages parents to focus on emotional connection and nurturing the “goodness” in their child and in themselves.

From the experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) comes this incredibly thorough, encyclopedia-like book on everything about raising a child from birth up through five years old. Breastfeeding? Covered. Potty training? Covered. Milestones, environmental hazards and childcare options? All covered, and all from a trusted source.

Babies don’t come with an instruction manual (unfortunately), but Moms on Call was mentioned as a helpful starting point for parents looking for some kind of broad direction and advice for navigating the first six months of their babies’ lives. Founded by Laura Hunter LPN and Jennifer Walker RN BSN, the Moms on Call method covers things from basic baby care, feeding, common illnesses to creating routines that work for your family.

This book is a deep reference guide for whatever quick question you might have about your baby. It covers pretty much all the important topics in your baby’s first year, and it’s a nice alternative to calling your pediatrician all the time (there’s even a glossary at the back!).

Although people have been having babies for literally ever, it can feel super overwhelming once you’ve actually given birth and get to take your baby home for the first time. Friends and family may share their experiences, and while there might be some commonalities, each parent’s experience is different. Molly Morgan’s book covers the basics without all of the noise, like what’s truly helpful, how to do basic baby care you’ve probably never done before (like diaper changes and burping), and how to trust yourself in the information overload that is the parenting space.

From the creator of the Snoo bassinet, this book focuses on how to tune into your baby’s natural calming reflex to soothe fussiness and promote better sleep. Broken down into five simple steps, Dr. Karp’s method helps calm even the most fussy of babies.

Have you encountered a time when your typically calm, happy, mild-mannered baby was suddenly irritable and un-soothe-able for a few days without explanation (no illness, no change in routine), then went back to normal just as quickly? That might have been a developmental leap, a point in which they’re about to hit a major milestone in brain development. Dozens of developmental leaps happen over the first two years of a child’s life, and you may be able to understand their behavior as a signal. The Wonder Weeks maps out each developmental leap, when you might expect it and what behaviors you might see.

If there is one book I wish I had read before becoming a mom, it’s this one. But even if you’re already in the throes of parenting, it’s never too late. Matrescence—a term for the physical, psychological and hormonal shifts you undergo when you become a mother—is a deep dive into the almost puberty-like changes birth parents go through during pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood. It also offers a fascinating look at what happens to parents' brains; spoiler alert, “mom brain” is a real thing.

If you’re not already practicing mindfulness exercises, becoming a new parent is a great time to start. Even if you’re in the middle of your parenting journey, learning mindfulness can help reduce the daily stresses of parenting by teaching yourself to react calmly and compassionately to your child’s most frustrating moments (kids are hard!).

We’ll give you fair warning now: this book might make you cry. Ever heard yourself talk to your child and think you sounded just like your parents? 🙋🏽‍♀️ No shade to my own mother, but for those who want to do things differently with their own children, this book is for you. It gently guides parents to examine their own upbringings to understand how it can inform the way they respond as adults to their own children. In order to be the parent we truly want to be, sometimes we have to care for our inner child, too.

Parenting can be immensely frustrating, no matter how old your child is, and it’s okay to admit it if you get truly angry sometimes. The important part is that you take steps to reduce your anger, frustration and stress in order to be a more effective parent. It won’t happen overnight, but this book aims to help. By guiding parents to understand their emotional triggers, Anger Management for Parents helps foster a calmer and more emotionally controlled family environment.

Having a baby has a way of unveiling new (often unexpected) facets of partner relationships and it can take some effort to reevaluate everyone’s roles and responsibilities. Fair Play covers things like the mental load and how to divide it among couples equitably. There is also a companion card deck to help you divide and conquer all the mental load things.

Most parents’ breastfeeding experiences don’t align with their expectations. This book meets you wherever you are—whether you’re planning to breastfeed, struggling through it or somewhere in between—with honest, judgment-free guidance from lactation consultants Jill Krause and Katie Clark. Think of it as having a knowledgeable friend on speed dial who won’t make you feel bad about any of it.

Feed the Baby specifically focuses on the different types of milks—breast milk and formula—and how to get it into your baby’s belly. Victoria Facelli is an international board certified lactation consultant with years of experience working with families, and she funnels all of that knowledge into this guide. It covers everything from milk supply to pumping, and has helpful illustrations and points the reader toward where to find video demonstrations for more guidance.

This newer release was written by Mallory Whitmore (aka TheFormulaMom) and covers everything parents need to know about formula—from choosing the best option for your baby, how to safely prepare bottles, how to then feed your baby said bottle and the emotions that surround formula feeding in general. It’s a quick read, packed with valuable insight.

Starting solids is a huge milestone in a baby's first year. Solid Starts is the written companion to the popular Solid Starts website founded by Jenny Best. She and her team walk parents through all things baby-led weaning. And she poured all of those resources into this easy-to-page-through book that’ll teach you what kinds of foods to introduce babies to and how to safely prepare them.

Once your little one has reached the toddler stage and their independent side starts to show a little more (or a lot more), you might quickly realize that some forms of communication just won’t work on them. This book addresses common struggles between young kids and parents and the most effective ways to communicate to reach understanding. There’s even a chapter dedicated to the special communication circumstances of children with autism and sensory processing disorder.

Co-authored by a neuropsychiatrist and a parenting expert, this book teaches strategies for responding to your child’s emotions in ways that promote healthy brain development. This book is a good choice for parents looking to understand the biological reasoning behind tantrums, outbursts and all the other high-energy moments that occur daily when parenting a toddler (hint: it has to do with how toddler brains are wired).

It’s not just toddlers’ brains that are developing; it’s their bodies, too. And in the same way that a toddler’s brain can be the root cause of frustrating behaviors, so can their body. Using groundbreaking new research, this book helps parents understand how a child’s physiological developments can present as certain “negative” behaviors. Instead of trying to correct those behaviors, parents should address the physiological development and provide the right resources and support for self-regulation.

From the same duo behind The Whole-Brain Child, this one zeroes in specifically on discipline—what it actually means and how to do it without screaming, threatening or losing your mind. The core idea is that discipline should be about teaching, not punishing, and that how you respond in a heated moment shapes your child’s brain development more than almost anything else. A natural companion read if The Whole-Brain Child resonated with you.