Help me narrow my huge amazon wish list of parenting books, to just two books

[anewmotivatedme]

I enjoy reading, and expecting first child, next month. I have very little money, and would like you to help me choose two books to read, that will hopefully be enjoyable, and related to parenting. I'm being very indecisive.

I have so far ordered Gentle First Year, as I enjoyed Gowri?s Gentle Birth Method book.

I already have Baby Care Bible, which was a gift (DH and I bought each other baby related gifts for Christmas:

I would like something not covered in the above books. I?m not bothered if it?s for an older child, as long as it?s an enjoyable and interesting read. Could you help me choose two books to buy from my ridiculously long list below. The books are not all baby books per se, and it?s quite a mix.

How Not to Be A Perfect Mother

The Idle Parent

How Children Learn

Divas and Dictators

Toddler Taming

Secrets of Happy Children

Detoxing Childhood

Toxic Childhood

Baby Led Weaning

The Continuum Concept

Simplicity Parenting

Punctuation Book I thought it may be beneficial to finally learn correct punctuation

Letters to Little Ones through the Ages

The War for Children?s Minds

Dr Seuss?s Beginners Collection

The Gift of Fear

Toddler Taming. And not from your list - The Wonder Years.

I can recommend the Wonder Weeks. Takes you through a baby's mental development, where they gain new skills and tells you how to help, what behaviours to look out for etc.

I'd go for "How not to be a Perfect Mother", and idc its sequel "How not to be a Perfect Family"

'Toddler Taming" is good (and I think there's a "Baby Taming" one that you might like to try first).

Not 'The Idle Parent' (unless still on v cheap offer at The Book People): it runs out of steam, and is generally more suitable when you have older children anyhow.

Thank you SantasHairyBollock.

Is this the book? The Wonder Years

GozerTheGozerian - Wonder Weeks is added to my amazon wish list

Meditrina - The Idle Parent has been removed from list. Thank you.

Another vote for Toddler Taming :-)

Definitely toddler taming, saves you from years of guilt!

Toddler Taming has been added to basket, but not purchased.

As well as Idle Parent I've also removed Toxic Childhood. However, since starting this thread I've added The Wonder Weeks to wish list. So much to choose from.

Sorry I got the title a bit wonky - I mean The Incredible Years not the wonder years.

Thank you Santa. Added to Wish List.

Toddler taming is very good but I'd leave that one for next year, you don't really need it at the beginning.

Haven't read many from your list but wanted to suggest Dr Sears Baby book and Babycalming by Caroline Deacon. I read Babycalming before having dc2 and she was a very relaxed any happy baby, only wish I'd read it before having DC1!

Have you seen the kellymom list of books to avoid too?

And most libraries have the blw book plus there is loads of info on the blw website and on here

Thank you JiltedJohnsJulie - the books to avoid are not on my list. The Gina Ford books did not appeal to me.

At the moment, I'm going to buy:

Wonder Weeks (will order after payday this month)
Baby Calming (will order after payday this month)

I have kept on my amazon wish list, to buy at a later date:

Toddler Training
How Children Learn
The Incredible Years
Divas and Dictators
Dr Seuss Beginner Book Collection
Simplicity Parenting
The Gift of Fear
The War for Children's Minds
Love to the Little Ones
Eats, Shoots and Leaves

From library:

Baby-led weaning
Dr Sears books

Sorry to add to your list, but I absolutely love the following:

• 'Dream babies: from John Locke to Gina Ford' Christina Hardyment - it's a history of childcare advice, and charts the changes in advice given over the years (and the recurrent themes and debates)
• 'The Food of Love' Kate Evans -a brilliantly comprehensive breastfeeding manual, with AP stuff thrown in
• 'What mothers do, especially when it looks like nothing' Naomi Stadlen - worth a read about six weeks postpartum, when you're reflecting on how much life has changed.
• 'Talk to your baby' Sally Ward - loads about communication and development from very early on

Thanks v much for the 'love to the little ones' mention - I'd never heard of it, but think I'd love it.

I love Simplicity Parenting, but tbh I think it's one for when dc are a bit older. However, I really wish I'd read Naomi Stadlen 'What mothers do' when ds1 was newborn instead of after ds2.

Hope all goes well!

I'm adding to your list too:-)

Sears Baby Book
www.amazon.co.uk/Baby-Book-Everything-About-Birth/dp/000719823X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357741193&sr=1-1

Utterly comprehensive, covers everything.

And What Mothers Do
www.amazon.co.uk/What-Mothers-Do-especially-nothing/dp/0749926201/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357741256&sr=1-1

Make You feel much better about things in those first weeks

Sorry to complicate things for you

And The Food of Love is a fantastic breastfeeding book as someone has noted...

Yes, I'd seen Food of Love, and it appealed. I thought I'd see how I get on, with breastfeeding, with my mum on the end of the phone giving out advice, before buying any specific books on breastfeeding, as the other books have chapters. Trying to not spend too much on books.

Dream Babies sounds very interesting, so I've added this to wish list, to get at later date.

What mothers do - I'm going to have to be a bit more ruthless with book purchases, so going to assume I've already got it covered with the other books.

Just added Baby Talk by Sally Ward.

I now have in my amazon basket - Wonder Weeks, Baby Calming, and Baby Talk. Total £30.07. So will order after 22nd January.

I might see if I can get What Mothers Do from the library.

What Mothers Do is great.

I'd also really recommend What Every Parent Needs to Know - it brings together all the genuine science around baby brains and how they develop (rather than parenting 'guru' theories) and I've found it incredibly handy for the last three years.

I decided not to wait till pay day, and have bought three books -

Wonder Weeks
Baby Talk
Baby Calming

This is on top of the two books I already have (Baby Care Bible and Gentle First Year). So plenty to get me started. I will have a look in the library for the other books. Will also, no doubt, be buying more books, later on.

Thanks again!

Keep an eye out for 'The Parenting Book' by Nicky and Sila Lee - sounds a bit heavy but it isn't at all, it is very readable, thoughtful and encouraging. Also Annabel Karmel's 'Weaning' or 'Complete Baby and Toddler Mealplanner' is invaluable. x

Think Annabel Karmel can be a bit subjective and the OP expressed an interest in BLW.

Yes, I'd like to try BLW. My SIL has the Annabel Karmel book, which I can borrow for another perspective.

Will keep an eye out for The Parenting Book, at library. All other books are going to have to be library books. Cant afford anymore.

I'm personally not keen on AK but then I'm a bit lazy and the thought of cooking special and attractive meals for one child really doesn't appeal, especially when you can just share your meal with them

Tip - Click on 'other buying options' and it will often lead you to brand new cheaper options of the same books. You can then click on the seller to find out more about them and see their ratings. In my experience delivery has always been excellent - though I don't buy baby books any more! With baby books I expect you'll be wanting to dip into them for a long time so might be worth buying your favourite.