Looking for the best baby books for parents of all time? You’re in the right place!
Whether you’re struggling with sleeping at night, baffled by breastfeeding, floundering in the fourth trimester or just looking for some help raising your little one, you’ll find all the information you could need in the list of best books for new parents below.
Bonus: You might also like these best books on pregnancy and this list of the best parenting books of all time.
The Best Baby Books for Parents of All Time
Why these books about babies and not others? The best baby books for parents below are the top picks from my master database, ranked by a combination of Goodreads rating and the number of Goodreads reviews. The goal is to balance what’s most loved with what’s most popular.
NOTE: Since many of the baby books below are notable for their inclusion of recent scientific findings, I haven’t factored publication date (older books get ranked higher) into my ranking algorithm.
Think something’s missing? Leave a comment or email me and I’ll add it to the next round of updates. I honestly love hearing from you so please, do get in touch!
Best Baby Books: Top 10 General Reference Baby Books
1. Baby 411 – Denise Fields
Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Baby’s First Year
Published 2004 // 512 pages // Rated 4.3 over 2,400 reviews on Goodreads
2. The Baby Book – William Sears
Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two
Published 1993 // 784 pages // Rated 4.2 over 7,100 reviews on Goodreads
3. Cribsheet – Emily Oster
A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool
Published 2019 // 352 pages // Rated 4.1 over 7,100 reviews on Goodreads
4. Bringing Up Bébé – Pamela Druckerman
One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting
Published 2012 // 432 pages // Rated 4.0 over 44,700 reviews on Goodreads
5. How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor – Robert S. Mendelsohn
Published 1984 // 304 pages // Rated 4.3 over 900 reviews on Goodreads
6. Mayo Clinic Guide to Your Baby’s First Year – Mayo Clinic
From Doctors Who Are Parents, Too!
Published 2012 // 576 pages // Rated 4.2 over 900 reviews on Goodreads
7. Be Prepared – Gary Greenberg
A Practical Handbook for New Dads
Published 2004 // 240 pages // Rated 4.1 over 2,300 reviews on Goodreads
8. What to Expect the First Year – Heidi Murkoff
Published 1989 // 832 pages // Rated 3.9 over 15,700 reviews on Goodreads
9. The Portable Pediatrician – William Sears
Everything You Need to Know About Your Child’s Health
Published 2011 // 592 pages // Rated 4.4 over 100 reviews on Goodreads
10. Secrets of the Baby Whisperer – Tracy Hogg
How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate with Your Baby
Published 2000 // 352 pages // Rated 3.8 over 8,100 reviews on Goodreads
Best Baby Books: Top 5 Breastfeeding Books
1. Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding – Ina May Gaskin
Published 2009 // 352 pages // Rated 4.4 over 2,500 reviews on Goodreads
2. Work. Pump. Repeat. – Jessica Shortall
The New Mom’s Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work
Published 2015 // 208 pages // Rated 4.4 over 1,200 reviews on Goodreads
3. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – La Leche League International
Published 1958 // 463 pages // Rated 4.2 over 8,300 reviews on Goodreads
4. The Breastfeeding Mother’s Guide to Making More Milk – Diana West
Published 2008 // 278 pages // Rated 4.4 over 500 reviews on Goodreads
5. Breastfeeding Made Simple – Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett
Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers
Published 2005 // 296 pages // Rated 4.2 over 1,500 reviews on Goodreads
Best Baby Books: Top 10 Baby Sleep Books
1. The Happiest Baby on the Block – Harvey Karp
The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer
Published 2002 // 336 pages // Rated 3.9 over 21,900 reviews on Goodreads
2. Sweet Sleep – Diane Wiessinger
Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family
Published 2014 // 512 pages // Rated 4.3 over 800 reviews on Goodreads
3. The Happy Sleeper – Heather Turgeon
The Science-Backed Guide to Helping Your Baby Get a Good Night’s Sleep-Newborn to School Age
Published 2014 // 368 pages // Rated 4.1 over 1,100 reviews on Goodreads
4. The Sleepeasy Solution – Jennifer Waldburger
The Exhausted Parent’s Guide to Getting Your Child to Sleep from Birth to Age 5
Published 2007 // 320 pages // Rated 4.1 over 1,300 reviews on Goodreads
5. Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems – Richard Ferber
Published 1985 // 464 pages // Rated 3.9 over 2,800 reviews on Goodreads
6. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child – Marc Weissbluth
Published 1987 // 528 pages // Rated 3.9 over 10,300 reviews on Goodreads
7. On Becoming Baby Wise – Gary Ezzo
Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep
Published 1993 // 252 pages // Rated 3.7 over 13,900 reviews on Goodreads
8. The Good Sleeper – Janet Krone Kennedy
The Essential Guide to Sleep for Your Baby–and You
Published 2015 // 304 pages // Rated 4.2 over 200 reviews on Goodreads
9. The No-Cry Sleep Solution – Elizabeth Pantley
Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night
Published 2002 // 254 pages // Rated 3.5 over 8,300 reviews on Goodreads
10. The Baby Sleep Solution – Suzy Giordano
A Proven Program to Teach Your Baby to Sleep Twelve Hours a Night
Published 2006 // 180 pages // Rated 3.8 over 800 reviews on Goodreads
Best Baby Books: Top 10 Books on Baby Development
1. Brain Rules for Baby – John Medina
How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five
Published 2010 // 305 pages // Rated 4.3 over 9,800 reviews on Goodreads
2. The Whole-Brain Child – Daniel J. Siegel
12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, Survive Everyday Parenting Struggles, and Help Your Family Thrive
Published 2011 // 192 pages // Rated 4.2 over 18,000 reviews on Goodreads
3. The Montessori Toddler – Simone Davies
A Parent’s Guide to Raising a Curious and Responsible Human Being
Published 2018 // 245 pages // Rated 4.5 over 2,100 reviews on Goodreads
4. Free to Learn – Peter O. Gray
Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life
Published 2013 // 288 pages // Rated 4.3 over 2,300 reviews on Goodreads
5. How Children Learn – John C. Holt
Published 1967 // 320 pages // Rated 4.2 over 2,800 reviews on Goodreads
6. Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child – John M. Gottman
Published 1997 // 240 pages // Rated 4.2 over 3,600 reviews on Goodreads
7. The Gift of Failure – Jessica Lahey
How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed
Published 2014 // 243 pages // Rated 4.1 over 4,000 reviews on Goodreads
8. How Children Fail – John C. Holt
Published 1964 // 320 pages // Rated 4.2 over 1,700 reviews on Goodreads
9. Why Love Matters – Sue Gerhardt
How Affection Shapes a Baby’s Brain
Published 2003 // 256 pages // Rated 4.3 over 1,300 reviews on Goodreads
10. The Smartest Kids in the World – Amanda Ripley (Summary)
And How They Got That Way
Published 2013 // 306 pages // Rated 4.1 over 12,200 reviews on Goodreads
Best Baby Books: Top 5 Books on Food & Nutrition
1. Child of Mine – Ellyn Satter
Feeding with Love and Good Sense, Revised and Updated Edition
Published 1983 // 536 pages // Rated 4.1 over 900 reviews on Goodreads
2. The Pediatrician’s Guide to Feeding Babies and Toddlers – Anthony Porto
Practical Answers To Your Questions on Nutrition, Starting Solids, Allergies, Picky Eating, and More
Published 2016 // 256 pages // Rated 4.1 over 100 reviews on Goodreads
3. Baby-led Weaning – Gill Rapley
Helping Your Baby to Love Good Food
Published 2008 // 240 pages // Rated 3.9 over 5,600 reviews on Goodreads
4. French Kids Eat Everything – Karen Le Billon
How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered 10 Simple Rules for Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters
Published 2012 // 321 pages // Rated 3.9 over 7,300 reviews on Goodreads
5. Baby-Led Feeding – Jenna Helwig
A Natural Way to Raise Happy, Independent Eaters
Published 2018 // 208 pages // Rated 4.1 over 400 reviews on Goodreads
Best Baby Books: Top 10 Books on Parenting Styles & Discipline
1. Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids – Laura Markham
How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting
Published 2012 // 276 pages // Rated 4.3 over 5,800 reviews on Goodreads
2. No-Drama Discipline – Daniel J. Siegel
The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind
Published 2014 // 290 pages // Rated 4.2 over 7,900 reviews on Goodreads
3. Boundaries with Kids – Henry Cloud
When to Say Yes, When to Say No to Help Your Children Gain Control of Their Lives
Published 1998 // 223 pages // Rated 4.3 over 2,700 reviews on Goodreads
4. No Bad Kids – Janet Lansbury
Toddler Discipline Without Shame
Published 2014 // 162 pages // Rated 4.2 over 4,800 reviews on Goodreads
5. Positive Discipline – Jane Nelsen
Published 1981 // 349 pages // Rated 4.2 over 2,600 reviews on Goodreads
6. The Explosive Child – Ross W. Greene
Published 1998 // 298 pages // Rated 4.1 over 6,500 reviews on Goodreads
7. Unconditional Parenting – Alfie Kohn
Moving from Rewards and Punishments to Love and Reason
Published 2005 // 272 pages // Rated 4.1 over 5,800 reviews on Goodreads
8. 1-2-3 Magic – Thomas W. Phelan
Effective Discipline for Children 2-12
Published 1995 // 320 pages // Rated 3.9 over 7,300 reviews on Goodreads
9. Out of Control – Shefali Tsabary
Why Disciplining Your Child Doesn’t Work and What Will
Published 2013 // 225 pages // Rated 4.2 over 500 reviews on Goodreads
10. Kids Are Worth It! – Barbara Coloroso
Giving Your Child the Gift of Inner Discipline
Published 1994 // 352 pages // Rated 4.2 over 1,500 reviews on Goodreads
Best Baby Books: Top 5 Books on Potty Training
1. Potty Training in 3 Days – Brandi Brucks
The Step-by-Step Plan for a Clean Break from Dirty Diapers
Published 2016 // 96 pages // Rated 4.2 over 1,600 reviews on Goodreads
2. Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right – Jamie Glowacki
Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right
Published 2011 // 294 pages // Rated 4.0 over 5,700 reviews on Goodreads
3. Go Diaper Free – Andrea Olson
A Simplified Handbook for Elimination Communication
Published 2013 // 473 pages // Rated 4.2 over on Goodreads
4. The Tiny Potty Training Book – Andrea Olson
A simple guide for non-coercive potty training MULTIMEDIA VERSION
Published 2015 // 184 pages // Rated 4.2 over on Goodreads
5. Diaper Free – Ingrid Bauer
The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene
Published 2001 // 272 pages // Rated 3.9 over 600 reviews on Goodreads
BONUS: Top 5 Books About Toddlers & Preschoolers (Age 2 – 5)
1. How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen – Joanna Faber
A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7
Published 2017 // 385 pages // Rated 4.4 over 5,500 reviews on Goodreads
2. Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood – Jim Fay
Published 2000 // 200 pages // Rated 4.1 over 5,400 reviews on Goodreads
3. The Happiest Toddler on the Block – Harvey Karp
The New Way to Stop the Daily Battle of Wills and Raise a Secure and Well-Behaved One- To Four-Year-Old
Published 2005 // 336 pages // Rated 3.5 over 6,600 reviews on Goodreads
4. The Incredible Years – Carolyn Webster-Stratton
A Trouble-Shooting Guide for Parents of Children Aged 3-8
Published 1992 // 256 pages // Rated 4.2 over 300 reviews on Goodreads
5. Toddler 411 – Denise Fields
Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Toddler
Published 2006 // 496 pages // Rated 4.2 over 900 reviews on Goodreads
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