3 Most Helpful Parenting Books for Baby and Toddler Years
After a busy day, once the kids are asleep, I like to sit down on the sofa with a cup of tea. I rarely go to bed without having my mint tea, this habit is so strong! I like to imagine myself having my tea and reading a book to relax in the evening. The reality is I almost always have other things to catch up on while having the tea. And I often spend time with the laptop and photography instead of reading. But I still manage to read from time to time. Even more so I care to read the books that will make a difference to my life and will bring me joy at the same time. Here are my three favourites for baby and toddler years.
Your Baby Week by Week. This is my ultimate guide to zero to six months babies’ parenting. I loved reading this book when my girl was born first, and I read it again when my boy was born. It feels like someone is holding your hand and guiding you through parenting step by step and it's perfect for new or even not-so-new parents. The book has short chapters for each week paying parents’ attention to the key points, reminding them about things that are coming up, and not forgetting to discuss the mother’s health and wellbeing.
French Children Don’t Throw Food. I loved loved loved this book. First of all the style is a storybook and not at all instructive. It aims to share observations and compare approaches commonly used in English speaking world and France, all the while sharing the story of the author. I love to learn about European cultures and was very interested to hear what the French do differently in parenting. The book is captivating and easy to read, yet I found it making so many good points! In fact, it helped us to resolve sleep issues with my daughter. Now that I have a baby boy I am considering rereading it.
Learning Together: What Montessori Can Offer Your Family. It took me a while to start paying more attention to Montessori methods. Reading about them here and there I gradually realised the methods resonate with me a great deal: teaching a child to be independent and to be able to play and explore by themselves; learning through projects, connecting with nature, and enjoying a walk around the block every day in different ways. I have the Global Pandemic to thank for paying attention to those things and realising I want to look into Montessori methods more. I then found this book. What I like about it is that it’s simple and to the point. As a busy Mom, I didn’t want to go deep into the theory. I wanted simple and practical tips on how to introduce more Montessori methods to our everyday lives. The book is perfect for that. My boy is over the moon with his Montessori basket, my girl is now choosing her clothes to wear and I am looking forward to implementing more ideas as the kids grow.
