My All-Time Favorite Books for Parents of Toddlers

My All-Time Favorite Books for Parents of Toddlers

It’s no secret around here that I am a consumer of books on toddler discipline. My all-time favorite list of books that will help you keep a peaceful home.

Challenging Child? Here Are the Best Books to Help You Diagnose and Deal

All kids have challenging moments. But if family life is starting to feel like one endless difficult phase, pick up one of these parenting books to help.

5 of the Best Parenting Books in 2023

Don’t get lost in the sea of parenting books out there. These are the best parenting books that have the power to change the way you parent.

Gentle Parenting Solutions

Teach your child patience with these helpful gentle parenting phrases.

Parenting Books You Will Actually Read and Use

Tired of parenting books that make you feel lousy? These books offer valuable information and real life solutions. Be inspired to be a better parent.

25 Best Parenting Books For Raising Confident Children In 2023

If you are a new parent or struggling to deal with your children we have created a list of the best parenting books that can come in handy Parenting is a skill acquired through practice Although these parenting books don t provide a checklist for you to follow they can assist you in gaining a better perspective about your role as a parent and your relationship with your children Our list includes well researched books to help you at every step of parenting whether you re pregnant for the first time coping with baby difficulties or dealing with your child s tantrums So go through the options listed below to find one that suits your requirements Sarah R Moore founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting and an author says With so much conflicting parenting information available it helps to have a short list of trusted resources that are backed by research I ve read almost all the books on this list and stand behind them 25 Best Parenting Books 1 The Attachment Parenting Book A commonsense guide to understanding and nurturing your baby William Sears MD and Martha Sears RN The book has strategies to tell you how best to bring up your kid You will be taught how to develop a connection with the baby Sears book advocates early attachment between children and parents while guiding parental responsiveness to a baby s needs and requirements They answer many questions for new parents such as How will your baby sleep better What s the father s role in raising a kid How does early attachment lead to a child s eventual independence 2 The Whole Brain Child 12 revolutionary strategies to nurture your child s developing mind Daniel J Siegel MD and Tina Payne Bryson PhD The book takes up a scientific approach towards parenting The authors share easy steps to foster healthy brain development in babies Even though the book discusses the child s brain it can be read and understood by any parent It is much like a guidebook to having happier and calmer children while tackling everyday parenting challenges 3 Peaceful Discipline Story Teaching Brain Science Better Behavior Sarah R Moore MFS Using best practices from gentle parenting improv comedy and trauma recovery this peaceful parenting book brings joy back to families These positive discipline tips can help whether you re raising toddlers parenting preschoolers or supporting school age children with love and respect Effective for the hypersensitive child and the strong willed child this book offers conscious parenting guidance for solving challenges and preventing them in the first place 4 Cherish The First Six Weeks A plan that creates calm confident parents and a happy secure baby Helen Moon Parents are usually clueless in the first six weeks of their baby s life Read this parenting book during pregnancy to make the experience of being a new parent pleasanter It offers a step by step plan or routine to calm down a fussy baby and make it less stressful for the parents 5 Parenting With Love And Logic Teaching children responsibility Foster Cline MD and Jim Fay The book helps you in raising the kids to be responsible and capable of dealing with the world one day It focuses on the child s temperament tantrums and development This parenting book will provide you with the groundwork required to come up with techniques to teach your kid to be responsible and shape their character without resorting to nagging and bribing 6 The Conscious Parent Transforming ourselves empowering our children Shefali Tsabary PhD The book bases its ideas on the fact that children mirror and imitate their parents when growing up It will teach you the concepts of conscious parenting helping you raise your kid in the best possible way by helping you grow and develop as parents It suggests parenting techniques that cause less struggle and helps in developing an emotionally balanced child and family dynamics 7 No Drama Discipline The whole brain way to calm the chaos and nurture your child s developing mind Daniel J Siegel MD and Tina Payne Bryson PhD If you learned anything from the scientific approach towards parenting in the book Whole Brain Child this follow up book should make it to your reading list This takes into account toddlers and kids who are a little older and helps parents train them to become responsible and respectful in nature It deals with all sorts of tantrums 8 How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen A survival guide to life with children ages 2 7 Joanna Faber and Julie King Communicating with toddlers is a Herculean task You ve already learned by now that yelling or pleading with your child take you nowhere and the cries and tantrums don t go This book offers you with sample discussions stories and cartoons with tips to transform your parenting style and speak the language of your kid 9 The Self Driven Child William Stixrud and Ned Johnson The Self Driven Child offers a combination of cutting edge brain science the latest discoveries in behavioral therapy and case studies drawn from thousands of kids and tenes to teach you how to set your child on the real road to success As parents we can only drive our kids so far At some point they will have to take the wheel and map out their own path But there is a lot you can do before then to help them tackle the road ahead with resilience and imagination 10 Thrivers Michele Borba We think we have to push our kids to do more achieve more be more But we re modeling the wrong traits like rule following and caution and research shows it s not working This kind of Striver mindset isn t just making kids unhappier says Dr Michele Borba it s actually the opposite of what it takes to thrive in the uncertain world ahead Thrivers are different they flourish in a fast paced digital driven often uncertain world driven by confidence empathy self control integrity curiosity perseverance and optimism Find practical actionable ways to develop these traits in children from preschool through high school 11 The No Cry Sleep Solution Gentle ways to help your baby sleep through the night Elizabeth Pantley Selling more than a million copies Pantley s book has become a regular workbook for new parents to explore all the myriad possible ways to put your baby to sleep Parents will finally be able to come together with a customized sleep routine for their infant after observing the unique traits in their baby Her individualized approach towards parenting is greatly appreciated worldwide 12 The Baby Book Everything you need to know about your child from birth to age two William Sears Martha Sears Dr Sears book covers all things about the baby s well being both emotional and physical It offers effective advice on eating sleeping comfort and health of the baby The book is rich with information and great for first time parents 13 Brain Rules for Baby How to raise a smart and happy child from zero to five John Medina Medina is a molecular biologist He is also a father who gives us advice on raising smart kids from birth up to the age of five In this book he explains why he believes watching TV is harmful to kids aged 2 and younger The book is full of astounding scientific facts and is an addictive read 14 Whoa Baby A guide for new moms who feel overwhelmed and freaked out Kelly Rowland and Tristan Bickman MD After becoming a mother herself Rowland had many questions related to her body Dr Bickman her OB GYN helped her answer them The book builds the point that after childbirth nothing is either the same nor is it strange or queer Instead of telling you all about your kid and their development the book helps you deal with the physical and emotional changes From questions like Why do I cry five times a day Why are my nipples changing colors to What happens if I fall asleep with my pump on moms here s your tell all read 15 The 10 Habits of Happy Mothers Reclaiming our passion purpose and sanity Meg Meeker Every mother has her priorities like her husband baby and career But does she herself figure in that list She can t ignore herself while taking care of others This parenting book will help you focus on yourself by nurturing and practicing ten healthy habits that will keep you happy and healthy while being a mom 16 The New Father A dad s guide to the first year Armin A Brott and Jennifer Ash Life is likely to get topsy turvy once you bring your baby home This parenting guide for fathers will lend you a hand in dealing with the responsibilities that come your way Written in a funny tone this book addresses real life situations and offers accurate and valid information about what the fathers mothers and babies go through month by month 17 The Co Parents Handbook Raising well adjusted resilient and resourceful kids in a two home family from little ones to young adults Karen Bonnell and Kristin Little If you are co parenting a baby this read should make it to your list A split in marriage is in itself a significant challenge to overcome and then comes the new struggle of being a parent It guides both parents and kids through the process of transition It answers all the tough questions that children might ask you regarding the status of the family 18 Shit No One Tells You A guide to surviving your baby s first year Dawn Dais Sometimes do you feel like you re raising a pocket sized storm Well you are not the only one and that s why this book makes its position on the top among funny parenting books This book is going to remind you of all the parenting styles going wrong funnily and sarcastically The book s take on parenting will keep your sanity intact when your child is going bonkers 19 Naptime Is The New Happy Hour And other ways toddlers turn your life upside down Stefanie Wilder Taylor If you want to get some respite from the overwhelming emotions that parenting brings along turn these pages written by a comedian turned mother Her wit is biting and you will keep coming back to the book for her outstanding advice and tips during tricky situations 20 The Addiction Inoculation Jessica Lahey The Addiction Inoculation is a comprehensive resource parents and educators can use to prevent substance abuse in children Based on research in child welfare psychology substance abuse and developmental neuroscience this essential guide provides evidence based strategies and practical tools adults need to understand support and educate resilient addiction resistant children 21 Positive Discipline The classic guide to helping children develop self discipline responsibility cooperation and problem solving skills Dr Jane Nelsen Dr Jane Nelsen is a psychologist and a mother of seven children Her techniques speak about mutual respect between the mother and the children instead of punishment and power She gives very effective and firm methods to communicate with your child and how to love and cooperate with each other You will see how much calmer your home will become with positive parenting 22 Your Two Year Old Terrible or tender Louise Bates Ames This book will take you through the minds of the two year olds Is this lot terrible or tender Dr Ames offers you psychological insights into children who are this young You will gain an understanding of what a two year old girl or boy thinks or feels like and how they observe the world around them Dr Ames also gives detailed information on the physical growth of children and their psychological maturity The book features real life stories of parents and their babies 23 Simplicity Parenting Using the extraordinary power of less to raise calmer happier and more secure kids Kim John Payne The super speed of this giant world has crammed the lives of children Simplicity Parenting is about bringing that space back for the kids to focus and prosper in life Payne gained inspiration for the book from 20 years of her work as a family counselor She teaches parents how to enjoy and not worry She suggests streamlining home environment by removing the excess and advocates strict screen timing rules She explains how routines and schedules make things easier for children and the importance of a break in the routine once in a while 24 The Second Shift Arlie Russell Hochschild and Anne Machung The book talks about mothers who are also career women and the dynamics of duties and responsibilities inside such a family Published 15 years ago the book observes how women do most of the housework and child care despite going out to work It is an inspiring read for every woman going through a work life transition after becoming a mom The book also provides positive and unique insights into the parenting of working mothers 25 Siblings Without Rivalry How to help your children live together so you can live too Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish The author duo this time takes up the issue of sibling rivalry and the relationship between siblings This book offers helpful techniques to reduce competition between siblings encourage mutual trust and cooperation and cope with their conflict From the experience of raising their own children they make suggestions on helping kids to channel negative emotions into creative expressions Parenting is a unique responsibility that defines the way of life for parents and their children As a parent you know what suits your family and your child the best So turn on to the relevant pages of these books whenever you are in confusion How To Choose The Right Parenting Book A good parenting book can help you through some tough situations Here are the factors you should consider before picking one out Author s qualifications Anyone offering serious advice on matters such as parenting should ideally possess expertise in the subject to support and add credibility to their ideas and suggestions However this depends on the kind of advice you are seeking For instance it s understandable not to expect an advanced degree from an author writing solely about their personal experience as a parent On the other hand if you are looking for an instruction manual that helps you shape children s behavior or make actionable changes the credentials take on a lot more importance Backed by research A parenting book grounded in scientific research will provide you with a better foundation and give you the confidence to apply its strategies Claims backed by citations references or lists of sources invoke trust and lend credibility to the author Subject matter Does the book engage your attention Is it easy to understand and follow Is the content palatable for both parents or other caregivers These are some questions to ask yourself when deciding which parenting book to buy The more interesting you find the contents the likelier you are to finish reading it Why Trust MomJunction Wedetso Chirhah has compiled this list of the best parenting books to help you learn new parental strategies and skills He has chosen these books based on detailed research and provided you with the author s name and a short description of each book to help you choose the right one Moreover he has also selected those books that can help improve your skills to deal with specific issues such as child s sleeping problems and tantrums While parenting can be challenging the best parenting books for raising strong and confident kids can come in handy Written by experts they help you keep yourself well informed and can give insight into the common challenges and strategies that work for parenting They also cover various aspects including physical growth teaching children responsibilities and how to deal with tantrums We hope our list of these books can equip you with all you need for effective parenting and raising confident kids in the long run Recommended Articles Pregnancy Books For To Be Moms And Dads Books On Single Parenting Parenting Problems And Solutions Ways To Enhance Your Parenting Skills

9 Books That All Stay-At-Home Moms Should Read

Looking for a book to inspire your life as a SAHM? Here are 9 great options that will encourage you, simplify your life, and help you raise well and balanced kids!

The Best Christian Books for Moms

Today as we get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day I want to celebrate some of the best Christian books for moms. I’ve been a mom for well over two decades now. Mothering has singlehandedly been the biggest task God has used to chisel and shape me. I’m honestly grateful for the good and the hard days. The good days have been glorious. The hard days have stretched me far past my own ability, revealed the sin I so comfortably hold to and sent me desperate to God to make me more like him. How many times I have had to

10 Best Parenting Books Every Mom and Dad Should Read

Parenting can be challenging! These ten parenting books are must reads for all moms and dads looking for solutions to go from surviving to thriving as parents.

Pieter (haasbroekpieter) – Profile | Pinterest

5 Parenting Styles Illustrated Through GIFs

Curious what extreme millennial parenting styles look like? Check out these hilarious GIFs that say it all.

The Best Christian Parenting Books for 2021!

When you find parenting to be a struggle, grab one of the best Christian parenting books to help you parent your kids in a more Godly way.

Best Parenting Books

The best books on parenting including a wide variety of topics

Top Parenting Books + Other Resources For Raising Toddlers — Love & LaRock

he other day I was desperate for some guidance after two long days of having tantrum after tantrum with Winter. Even though I have a background in child development and child psychology, raising your own kid can bring on doubt and insecurities. So, I asked you guys to tell me what parentin

Three Books That Changed My Mothering

these three books have been most impactful on improving my motherhood and my family. review of secrets of happy families, never say no, raising an emotionally intelligent child

It’s no secret around here that I am a consumer of books on toddler discipline. While I don’t implement every strategy that various books have suggested, they have–by far–made parenting easier for me. These books gave me the tools I needed to develop my own thoughts, ideas and strategies on positive toddler discipline. As a new mom, I spent a serious amount of time reading and digesting information about baby sleep tips. What I learned helped us guide both are kids into well sleeping babies, who were able to consolidate their sleep from a very early age.post contains affiliate links, see my full disclosure here.Talk about a sanity saver! Those tips helped keep our family rested and peaceful. Now that we are well into the strong willed toddler parenting trenches, books again came to our rescue.1. No Bad Kids: Toddler Discipline Without Shame“No Bad Kids” is a collection of Janet’s most popular and widely read articles pertaining to common toddler behaviors and how respectful parenting practices can be applied to benefit both parents and children. It covers such common topics as punishment, cooperation, boundaries, testing, tantrums, hitting, and more.“No Bad Kids” provides a ton practical and useful advice parents who are anticipating or experiencing the toddlers years when the limits of patience and love are tested beyond belief.2. Positive Discipline for PreschoolersThis book helps you find practical solutions for how to avoid the power struggles that often come with mastering sleeping, eating, and potty training, see misbehavior as an opportunity to teach non-punitive discipline—not punishment, instill valuable social skills and positive behavior inside and outside the home by using methods that teach important life skills, employ family and class meetings to tackle behavioral challenges, and much, much more!3. Say What You See for Parents and TeachersThis quick how-to guide offers practical tips for communicating effectively, setting boundaries like walls and using acknowledgments instead of constant praise. It’s loaded with real-life examples and playful illustrations, teaching you exactly how to “say what you see” to start from where the child is – in the physical world of the here and now…and provide guidance from there.4. Parenting With Love and LogicThis parenting book shows you how to raise self-confident, motivated children who are ready for the real world. Learn how to parent effectively while teaching your children responsibility and growing their character.Establish healthy control through easy-to-implement steps without anger, threats, nagging, or power struggles.5. The Whole-Brain ChildComplete with age-appropriate strategies for dealing with day-to-day struggles and illustrations that will help you explain these concepts to your child, The Whole-Brain Child shows you how to cultivate healthy emotional and intellectual development so that your children can lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives. Learn why your child does the things they do–according to science.A great compliment to this is book is No-Drama Discipline–also written by Dan Siegel.6. How to Talk So Kids Will ListenWe gave this book a try and loved it. We found that we were able to correct behaviors without time-out at all. And it helped us create a peaceful home. Another reader shared a similiar experience…
We haven’t even been tempted to put anyone in time-out for almost a year. Most surprising, our 3-year-old COMPLETELY stopped throwing tantrums within about two days of our stopping time-outs. It was a dramatic change for a child who had always been a little difficult to handle.
7. Between the Parent and ChildThis book goes beyond vague theory and gives you practical advice and easy-to-follow examples. You can begin to use the ideas the day you start reading it. It works so well, as soon as you begin using Ginott’s advice, you will have countless alternatives to yelling, nagging and reminding.8. The Parent Survival GuideThrough a series of guided exercises, Kellam gives parents the skills they need to begin to set aside special playtimes with their children, during which the most important part of the process is simply “being there” in a way that promotes healing, growth, and communication.The beauty of this approach is that in only 30 minutes, once a week, the results can be seen in only a few weeks. I used these “special playtimes” with our oldest and saw fewer tantrums and power struggles after only a few playtimes.9. Helpful PhrasesLearn 100+ helpful phrases to respond to your kids in almost any situation. When parenting books seem long and arduous, this quick and practical read dives straight into tips you can use immediately. Get the tools you need to hold your boundaries without power struggles and tantrums. Plus, get access to 12+ printables to help you remember all the phrases you love the most.10. Printable Routine Picture Cards for KidsSurprise! This is not a book on toddler discipline, but this is an amazing tool to help you get your toddler to follow directions and a routine without yelling, nagging or reminding. Here are just a few things a reader shared about the cards…
These printed out beautifully. Exactly as pictured. I can’t believe how much my 3 year old loves them. She is already started to remember the pictures and doing the next step of her routine without reminders! I would absolutely buy an expansion pack with more chores for when she gets older f you ever make one! — Diane
This list of best books on toddler discipline has truly made a positive impact on our family. I haven’t read every book cover-to-cover, but I’ve taken nuggets of wisdom from each book and I continue to pick up, read them, and gain more knowledge month after month. If you have a favorite book on toddler discipline, share in the comments!Print this free toddler listening checklist.This post comes with a free printable checklist to help with toddler listening. I always have the hardest time remembering these phrases. This printable simplifies it!Here is a sneak preview…
Download Your Free PrintableDownload the checklist. You’ll get the printable, plus join 37,000+ parents who receive my weekly parenting tips and ideas!
Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock would be ideal.
Place it on your refrigerator. Check things off as you go and don’t forget a thing!
More on parenting…The Easiest Way to Respond When Your Child Hits, Kicks or Bites
How to Get Your Child to Follow a Routine Without Reminders
5 Sample Daily Toddler Schedules from Real Moms
2 Year Old Not Listening? Try This Remarkable Tip
Two Words That Will Tame Temper Tantrums – Every Time
50+ Best Simple Games for 2 Year Olds and Up
The Ultimate List of Board Games for 2 Year Olds