Can you recommend a book on child behaviour ?

[ricecake]

I have a DS now 11 months old. In preparation for his toddler years, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good book on child behaviour/psychology ?

I would rather not read anything that is too harsh on the child. I tend towards "attachment parenting".

Please tell me WHY you think the book you have used has worked for you.

[Twiglett]

what do you mean by 'harsh on the child', what do you consider 'harsh'?

[ricecake]

That's a good question ! I guess I can't see my self as being too strict. I am a bit of a softy !! I want to allow him lots of freedom without being too soft, does that make sense ?

My DS is a very jolly, good natured baby, hardly ever winges or fusses. But I don't know what he is going to be like later on, so if he becomes more difficult later on, I just want to be prepared to handle it.

[Twiglett]

no book is going to prepare you to deal with him .. and personally I think books past the age of the first year are a waste of space all you need to know is how to distract, ignore (naughty step) and how to be totally consistent and everything should be fine

but that said

Raising Boys is interesting (Steven Bidulph)

Toddler Taming worth a read

can't think of any others

good luck

[ricecake]

Thanks Twiglet - someone else mentioned Toddler Taming. Will buy books and hope for the best !

[wavingordrowning]

Why not try the library? Building up a collection of parenting books is so expensive. At least with the library books you can try them out first and then only buy the ones you think might be useful in the long term. Toddler Taming is good. Good luck!

[ricecake]

Thanks waving. That's a good idea.

[bobbybob]

"Of course I love you - now go to your room" by Diana Levy.

She is just talking good old fashioned common sense really. The boring cuddle is the most useful parenting tool I have discovered.

I think it's important good to read a couple of books now, because then you can decide roughly how you want to parent and be ready for some of the common things that come up. It certainly stopped me backing myself into a corner with a few things.

I agree with the library though - you only want a general feel for problems and solutions. They are not recipe books.