Sassy Mama’s Top Picks: 8 Great Parenting Books For Baby And Up

Because knowledge means (parenting) power!

Becoming a mama is amazing but it can also be tricky. Just when you think you’ve gotten to grips with your little one, they suddenly switch things up leaving you scratching your head as to what to do next.  While you’re probably getting advice from all angles (some of which you’d rather not!), sometimes it’s nice to research things on your own. With that in mind, we asked the great mums (and doting aunts) around the Sassy Mama office to suggest some great parenting books that’ll guide you through.

Read more: Listening Is The New Reading: 5 Audiobooks For Kids And Parents

Jess Mizzi, Sassy Mama Editor

This book is full of really practical advice from a GP with the underlining theme being: trust your instincts and you’re going to be absolutely fine. There’s no guilt if you can’t follow a plan, it’s not a dry, full of facts, baby encyclopaedia, just genuine advice on the multitude of ways to address everything from sleep to weaning to vaccinations and doctors visits.

Available from Amazon

Anita Balagopalan, Sassy Mama Editor

It’s not strictly a parenting book but written by a journalist in Paris and she sets out to understand the difference between French parenting and Brit/American parenting. She isn’t necessarily saying that French parenting is better – she fairly explores the pros and cons of both and explores reasons for how and French parenting is almost like a cultural/societal phenomenon (as opposed to being dependent on an individual parent’s parenting skills in other parts of the world).

I loved it because it is funny, with great observation and insight and I realised to my surprise, I am more like a French parent than an Anglophone parent. Perhaps apt now that my kids are going to the French International School!

Available from Book Depository

Elle Noble, Sassy Mama Partnerships Manager

I really liked Cherish The First 6 Weeks, by Helen Moon. I found it really helped us figure out a good routine around feeding, playtime, naptime and now our daughter sleeps through the night like a dream (most of the time!).

Available from Amazon

Read more: Newborn Sleep: Healthy Habits For Your Baby’s First Months

Daisy Costello, Art Director

You’ve mastered breast or bottle-feeding and then, pow, it’s time to start thinking about weaning your little one! But don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be a tricky process. Enter, Annabel Karmel and her tried and tested tips with Weaning Made Simple.

This easy to follow book will guide you right through on reducing your milk feed to purees, finger food, meal plans, critical nutrients and more.

Available from Book Depository

Read more: Annabel Karmel’s Essential Guide To Weaning

Jess Mizzi, Sassy Mama Editor

Another parenting book that helped me through an incredibly tough time was The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. Attitudes around babies sleep and sleep training are controversial at the best of times and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. But the No-Cry Sleep Solution was so gentle in its approach, had loads of practical ideas to get you through and the message at the end of each chapter was along the lines of, if you ended up rocking your baby to sleep, don’t worry and enjoy the cuddle! They won’t be this small forever and tomorrow is a new day to try again.

Available from Amazon

Alex Purcell Garcia, Sassy Mama Editor

This is a lovely book that a friend gave to me just after my daughter was born called The Little Book of Motherhood by Alison Davies. While it’s not directly “parenting advice” It’s packed with charming quotes, anecdotes, fun facts and inspirational slogans, and I loved reading it when she was napping in her Moses basket during the day (five minutes of downtime!), or when feeding her quietly in the evening. Aside from the fact that I had a newborn in my arms – my newborn – this book helped me truly comprehend that I was now a mama. I’d recommend it to all mums with kids of all ages.

Available from Book Depository

Daisy Costello, Art Director

Straight-talking Instamum, Anna Whitehouse, is the woman behind Mother Pukka. This successful blog, and numerous social sites, posts content that is “for people who happen to be parents”. Anna is also a strong advocate of flexible working hours for mamas (hence her Flex Appeal campaign) and has launched a book: Parenting The Sh*t Out Of Life (co-penned by her husband Matt, aka Papa Pukka).

While it promises “not to help you grow or raise a human successfully”, it does hope to give you a giggle and make parents feel less alone when dealing with the inevitable challenges, tears and sleepless nights that raising little people can sometimes cause.

Available from Book Depository

Sam Book, Marketing Manager

Joe Wicks (The Body Coach) is a British fitness coach, TV presenter, author, dad of two and man on a mission. He was already known on the wellness circuit before social distancing but has since sky-rocketed into global stardom – taking it upon himself to get home-bound kids everywhere healthy with his daily workouts.

One glance at this Instagram account shows a dedicated family man intent on raising his youngsters in the best way possible. His latest cookbook, Wean In 15 promises to be packed full of tastes ideas (even for fussy eaters!) to get your little ones eating at the dinner table with you in no time.

Available from 15, May 2020 from Book Depository 

Read more: Fitness Influencers And Online Workouts For The Whole Family