Buying guide for Best parenting books
Being a parent can be thrilling, fulfilling, and sometimes frustrating. Some days, you might feel all three emotions within the same five minutes. You’re not alone. The right parenting book can provide profound insight and guidance when you need it most.
Parenting books explore parenting from various angles, from the old school to the new. They cover different philosophies and methods when it comes to communication, discipline, and even mindfulness. These books are written by psychologists, educators, and fellow parents.
More than anything, parenting books should be empowering and supportive. And just like parenting, it comes down to a matter of preference which book is right for you. It’s an understatement to say no two parenting books are like, especially in terms of format. Generally speaking, these books include a foreword followed by detailed chapters. Some contain exercises and Q & A sections. We assembled this buying guide on parenting books to help you land on the right one.
How to choose a parenting book
By your needs
What do you actually need from a parenting book? Some parents need support for personal issues. Others are looking for ways to improve their relationship with their children. It’s fair to say that these books are often chosen because they provide a method of coping with parenting challenges. A book provides an opportunity for private reflection and connection through text, which many find comforting and encouraging.
By critical issues
It can be helpful, and even relieving, to read a parenting book that helps you realize you’re not alone in dealing with certain issues. These books typically explain how to parent during a specific phase or episode in a child’s life.
By age
Some books address parenting based on the child’s age. A book might cover the difficulties of parenting a toddler (think tantrums) or a teenager (think puberty), for example. The book may offer unique solutions for the age group.
Many books also explain how to transition or adapt parenting methods to your child’s age. This is especially important for parents establishing new boundaries during pivotal moments, such as when children begin using social media or when it’s time to talk about safe sex.
Expert tip
Having a few parenting books on hand is always great. No book will be the catch-all for all information on parenting.
BestReviews Book Expert
Popular themes of parenting books
Communication-driven parenting
No matter which parenting book you choose, communication is prioritized. There are also communication-driven books which address challenges like digital over-engagement, talking through trauma, and handling outbursts.
Parenting through mindfulness
If you’re interested in exploring how to parent children toward peaceful coexistence, consider books with mindfulness themes. They introduce ways to forge deep connections with your child through reflection, positive reinforcement, and earnest conversation.
Health-conscious parenting
Health-conscious parenting books typically focus on wellness and often include dietary approaches. These books show you how to reinforce positive relationships with food at home so kids can adopt healthy eating habits, which in turn help develop their physical and mental well-being.
Parenting through illness
There are also health-conscious parenting books that focus on parenting children with chronic illnesses. These books teach you how to accept that certain things are beyond your control or scope of understanding. They offer advice on how parents can cope while remaining strong, especially in hospital settings.
Special needs parenting
Books for parents of children with special needs often revolve around understanding a child’s behavioral and developmental issues. They provide insight on parenting methods that are more appropriate for a special needs child with an emphasis on effective communication.
Parenting through trauma
These books offer specialized approaches to parenting children who have experienced emotionally charged events, like witnessing a crime or the sudden loss of a parent. They can help you cope with the challenging role of a supporter, and they sometimes offer exercises in self-expression or stoicism.
International parenting
In this type of book, you can explore how parents raise their children in different countries, picking up new approaches to discipline and understanding familial roles. A multicultural perspective also introduces you to social norms from around the world.
Expert tip
Not every book will work for every child. It is important to purchase a book that works well for your child rather than one that seems to be popular at the time.
BestReviews Book Expert
Parenting book prices
Parenting books range in price from $1 to $35, so there’s definitely a text for every budget.
Inexpensive
Parenting books up to $10 include a variety of independently published e-books as well as new paperbacks and classic parenting texts.
Mid-range
For $10 to $20, you’ll find new releases from major publishing houses, namely from well-known experts in the parenting and psychology fields.
Expensive
Books priced between $20 to $35 include hardcover editions as well as some child development textbooks.
Tips
- Pick a book from a new perspective. Visit parenting from a brand new perspective, namely one at the opposite end of the spectrum. You’ll learn why you don’t like a specific parenting method, which helps you better understand the ones you prefer.
- Read different books for different kids. It’s common to read parenting books for each of your kids. With differences in age, personality, and communication skills, it’s valuable to explore multiple perspectives.
- Discuss in family therapy. If you and your kids are in family therapy, speak with the therapist or psychologist about the book you’re reading. They may be able to offer valuable insight or clarification on the methods or modalities.
- Consider keeping your reading private. Sometimes when you discuss parenting books with others, they offer unsolicited advice, which can cause drama. When you choose to discuss your book or the challenges you’re facing as a parent, make sure it’s with someone who knows your boundaries and respects your feelings.
- There’s no miracle cure. While there are gems of parenting advice, there’s no miracle cure to be found in parenting books.
FAQ
Q. Who’s writing parenting books, anyway?
A. Psychologists and academics are often thought to be the main writers of parenting books, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Fellow parents, educators, medical doctors, philosophers, and spiritual leaders have also authored parenting books. There are even celebrities who have penned parenting books, such as Jessica Alba and Mayim Bialik.
Expert tip
A parenting book will only provide so much information. It is important to make decisions that you think are appropriate for your child and their needs.
BestReviews Book Expert
Q. Will a parent with the baby on the way be insulted if I give them a parenting book?
A. Err on the side of caution here. If you have to ask, you may want to find a more appropriate gift. Some people take parenting books in stride and welcome them as they would any other gift. Others may be offended or insulted. A possible exception is comedic anecdotal parenting books, in which the focus is on levity.
Q. I disagree with many suggestions from a parenting book I’m reading. Did I miss something?
A. Not at all. It simply means it’s not the book for you. One good thing to come of this scenario: you realize your true feelings about some of the advice. Even if you don’t enjoy or agree with a parenting book, it still affords you an analytical or reflective experience. And sometimes, finding out what you don’t want to do as a parent is the most valuable takeaway.
Q. Someone recommended a parenting book, but it’s decades old. Won’t it be too outdated for parenting in the 21st century?
A. It depends on the book. Some classics, like What to Expect the First Year by Heidi Murkoff, remain popular. Some have dated or inappropriate advice that you might find worth a read anyway, as you may find yourself pondering or analyzing the evolution of parenting.
