Parenting Books which ones?

[Issey]

Just wondering what parenting books you think are the best.

Has anyone read:

The New Contented Little Baby Book (my friend swears by it)
Babywise
Baby Love

Just wondering what you think of them.

I am flicking through the first one but it looks like very strict scheduling :confused:

I have the other two coming from an Ebay purchase so was wondering if anyone found them useful. :yes: :no:

[Jenko]

Baby Love was my bible for the first year. I now have the follow on 'the Mighty Toddler' - love them! :)

[Fairyfloss]

sorry, I have not yet read these particuale books, but I will try to put my hands on them and report back. enjoy reading:)

[rynosmum]

Baby Love was my bible as well. I had DH bring it into the hospital (a very clever girlfriend had bought it for me) and it never left my side.

Fantastic book !:thumbsup:

[Ange&Seth]

Baby Love is THE BEST BOOK I read - it has everything, and like the others have already said, it's like a bible.

:thumbsup: Go for that one!

[jaimie]

this one is parenting as such but i loved the book by Jools Oliver. I cant think of the name because i lent it to my pg SIL. but its pretty cool.

[Veruca]

Couldn't agree more with everyone. Babylove is the only book I have used since I've had Bub. I used Robin Barker's method for Controlled Crying and found it to be successful for me. I can't recommend it enough:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Tam-I-Am]

What they said!

Baby Love all the way.:yelclap:

I also bought "Kid Wrangling" By Kaz Cooke - because I'd bought "Up the Duff" when I was preggers - :thumbsup: Up the Duff, but :thumbsdown: Kid Wrangling. Shouldn't have wasted the $30 - I hardly ever look at it, and when I have, I haven't found it very useful.

[annb]

I thought Baby Love was very informative and practical on all sorts of things
BAbywise, interesting ideas, quite strict on routine though if you are not into routines
Contended Little BAby - I liked the timing of her routiens and did follow them myself, but found some of her ideas just didnt sit quite right with me regarding giving sugared water during the night when trying to wean of night feeds etc - if you dont like routines you wont like it

I think you just have to use all 3 of them jointly and take from each one what you think is right for your baby

ANother good one is The Baby whisperer solves all your problems - by Tracy Hogg

[BabyJoy]

I also love Baby Love... gee, can we get some royalties for this?!?:D

I also enjoy reading Practical Parenting magazine... each month provides something new and interesting to read about pregnancy, birth and raising children. It's got something for everyone, no matter what stage your children are at (although it's mostly aimed at babies and young children, not teenagers). And like BabyLove, I have often found myself looking through old issues for topics relating to my baby that I remember reading when I was pregnant.

[LucyE]

It really depends on your parenting style. All the books that have been mentioned (other than Jools Oliver's) are very much into controlled crying which doesn't sit well with me. I did like having Babylove on hand as a general reference guide though because it is full of other helpful stuff as well (including growth charts, starting solids, etc). I just ignored the bits that I didn't like (controlled crying etc).

I would avoid Babywise and anything else by Ezzo because his theories have been soundly debunked by leading experts including the American Academy of Peadiatrics (sp?). If you google his name and book you'll find plenty of info on this.

For newborn/baby health, I liked Baby On Board by Howard Chilton.

Parenting by Heart by Pinky Mckay was great in that it helped me realise that I could trust my mothering instincts and not feel pressured by other mothers who have differnt parenting philosophies (esp MIL)

Optimum Nutrition for Young Children and Babies by Lucy Burney is great for starting solids info. The book has heaps of healthy recipes and menu planners to make life easier.

Children Are People Too by Louise Porter is a great one for toddlers and beyond because it discusses gentle discipline techniques and positive parenting theory. I found it great to read ahead of time because it took a bit of time for me to digest.

I also like Parenting for a Peaceful World by Robin Grille. It's not a parenting guide type book but is very interesting and provides good food for thought.

For sleep and settling techniques, anything by Dr Sears is good but I found that most of the info was available free online anyway.

[zenifa]

[QUOTE=LucyE] I would avoid Babywise and anything else by Ezzo because his theories have been soundly debunked by leading experts including the American Academy of Peadiatrics (sp?). If you google his name and book you'll find plenty of info on this.

FParenting by Heart by Pinky Mckay was great in that it helped me realise that I could trust my mothering instincts and not feel pressured by other mothers who have differnt parenting philosophies (esp MIL) [QUOTE=LucyE]

I have to agree with Lucy. I loved Pinky's other book 100 ways to calm the crying

There have been other threads re: Babywise & the Ezzos, which you should check out before you consider buying/using the book.
In brief, their routines were found to result in malnutrition in young infants (according to American Academy of Paediatrics) and Ezzos have been discredited for various reasons.

Similarly, there have been threads about Gina Ford's Contented Baby Book, as her routines are very strict. I guess with any book that has CC or strict routines, you need to read it with a pinch of salt. You need to get to know your own baby and find what works best for you.

I also would give:thumbsup: to Tracey Hogg, The baby whisperer & Robyn Barker's Babylove.

[Femme-Fetale]

I love Kaz cookes Kid Wrangling. Unlike Tami, i have found it useful, and not so boring doctor written like hehe. I still read it today when i need a insight into something.
This is a good thread idea too, maybe u could list all the books and then go to a store and check each of them out and see what one suits you best.
One thing to remember is they are only books of some ones experiences and may not suit you or you ways at all. I find being in a forum like this and also living throu your own experiences much better!
Good luck!

[twins+another]

I'm another Baby Love fan. I think the advice is sensible and uncomplicated (and it works!)

[Briswegian]

:yes: Baby love! I also borrowed other books from friends/library such as kidwrangling, what to expect in the first year, books by Dr Green (yuk) and Pinky McKay. Baby love was my core book but the others helped me to think more about how I wanted to be as a parent and give other ideas when the ones you've got aren't working.

[kymmy]

not being a book reader,
i would suggest parenting magazines
i swear by them
I have learnt a lot through parenting magazines
for the last 7 years

[Peaceangels]

Baby Love is the best book ever! :thumbsup:
I wouldn't say I have read it (from cover to cover), but I did use it as a reference guide for both bub's and found it incredibly informative, unbiased and helpful. There are so many questions when you have a new bub and this book has got it all - saves ringing friends, family, chn etc.

I also have the Mightly Toddler (written by the same author of Baby Love).

[MariaO]

Baby Love and The Mighty Toddler by Robin Barker - love both of these books
Kidwrangling - Kaz Cooke - quite like this as well
The Contented little baby book -Gina Ford - too rigid for my tastes but some useful thoughts
New Babycare book - Dr Miriam Stoppard - Useful overall guide also
Making Babies - Anne Enright - a beautfully written book - a series of essays on a first year of motherhood - enjoyable reading rather than a baby manual - loved it though

[Supermum]

Baby Love is the best book ever! :thumbsup: I also have the Mightly Toddler (written by the same author of Baby Love).
Agreed - it's a fabulous resource. Everything from sucking blisters and thrush to the glut of information relating to all things 'poo'.

There is only one thing that Robin Barker and myself disagree on.

She says that teething doesn't cause any kind of adverse reaction in babies. WHAT A LOAD OF CODSWALLOP Robin!::shame:

[jaimie]

Agreed - it's a fabulous resource. Everything from sucking blisters and thrush to the glut of information relating to all things 'poo'.

There is only one thing that Robin Barker and myself disagree on.

She says that teething doesn't cause any kind of adverse reaction in babies. WHAT A LOAD OF CODSWALLOP Robin!::shame:
Yeah maybe she can come over and explain why dd is bawling and has a tooth popping half out of her gum. is it just a coincidence?? I dont think so...

[Nickster]

I wouldn't touch "Babywise" with a 10-foot pole, for the various reasons already mentioned here. "The Contented Little Baby Book" is good for a laugh - I mean, who REALLY puts their baby on such a strict routine? What a joke - written of course by a woman who has no children of her own - say no more.

"Baby Love" is a good resource - Robin Barker covers just about everything. I have to disagree on the controlled crying section - not enough info, and she guarantees your baby will sleep through by night five. Nope. Doesn't work. Didn't work for us, just caused more heartache.:shame:

I would also recommend "Parenting by Heart" by Pinky McKay - a beautiful book I wish I'd read years ago - but it just serves to reinforce what I already feel about parenting.

For sleep ideas, definitely have a look at "The No Cry Sleep Solution", which details gentle ways to help baby sleep through the night.

"What to Expect the First Year" was a great help to me - very similar info to "Baby Love".

Have fun reading! You'll soon sort the wheat from the chaff!

[middlecm]

I used 'Contented Little Baby Book' with my first son. As a first time mum with no family support I found the book a good guide, while I didnt follow it to the letter it did give me some idea of what to do when. My son (20 months) sleeps and eats really well.

Having said all that , CLBB is absolutely useless with number 2 child as the routines are to rigid when you are going to playgroup, kindergym etc with number one son.

Baby Love is great and I love the Mighty Toddler as well. I agree with others about the teething issue in Baby Love as the only time my son has ever had a fever is when a tooth appears.

At the end of the day you do what works for your family.

Christine
Callum (20 mths ) & Aaron (4 months)