Good Information Books

Dr. Sears Baby Book is great, as is anything else by Dr. Sears. I was just flipping through the Baby Book the other night. Really positive approach to parenting issues. I personally didn't like the What to Expect books as there was a lot of unnecessary scaremongering. I tossed it in the trash (literally) after reading about cat scratch fever in a chapter on infants. Though it could happen, it is seriously unlikely and I realized I had enough things to worry about with adding the statistically unlikely to the list.

The baby book by Penelope Leach (Birth to age 5, I think)
Dr. Sears & Sears The Baby Book

And sign up for babycenter.com

I absolutely love "The Baby Book" by dr. Sears. It has tons of deveopmental info as well as medical info in dealing with a sick baby. I have referenced this book so many times.

I am mom to an 18 month old and a 2 month old. I absolutely LOVE the What to Expect series. There is: What to Expect When You're Expecting, What to Expect The First Year, and What to Expect The Toddler Years. These books have been my pregnancy and child-raising bibles. They give no-nonsense, well-rounded advice and information from many different popular parenting methods, which allows you to compare and choose what is best for you and your family in various situations. This is unlike most other books, like the Dr. Sears series, which tout only one type of parenting and rigidly insist that you stick with only that. They also have very clear lists of month to month milestones, growth charts, and the low-down on every childhood illness and special circumstance you could think of! I highly recommend these books! Best of luck and enjoy your baby!

I received "Caring for Your Young Baby and Child" by the American Academy of Pediatrics from the hospital where my first child was born. I think it's an excellent reference.

My fave for little babies (although it looks like you're past that stage now) was "The Happiest Baby on the Block" by Harvey Karp. "Touchpoints" by Brazelton can get a little wordy but has sections on different ages and difficult potential issues -- useful up through toddler / preschool age.

For an easy and highly illustrated reference I use The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Book of Pregnancy and Baby Care -- good quick lookups for normal sleep and eating patterns, when to call a Dr. for various symptoms, etc.

Baby 411 by Denise Fields. It's easy to reference and very much to the point. I also have the Sears book and the one by the American Academy of Pediatrics -- I still like Baby 411 the best. Hope that helps.

I have a 7 month old as well and have found Dr. Sears' "The Baby Book" to be a great overall reference. He also has smaller, topic-specific books such as nutrition, discipline, breastfeeding and sleep, which all delve a bit deeper into those subjects.

"Your Baby And Child" by Penelope Leach is AMAZING.

Go to www.babycenter.com and sign up. I love this site...I've been a member since I was 4 months pregnant and I get an email every week, and they have answered (without me even asking) just about every question I had/have...thrush, feeding, sleeping, SIDS concern, BPA-free bottles...you name it. Good luck!

Hi there.

A favorite of all my mommy friends is "Baby 411" Gives good medical advice and such also. It's a staple in my baby book pile.

The baby books by Dr. Sears are terrific, I always liked them. There is a lot of useful information in there, covering a broad range of relevant topics. There is also a wonderful cookbook-nutrition guide that is one of my absolute favorites, called Mommy-Made. I'm sure there are other good ones, but these were the ones I came back to over and over. And Dr Spock's baby book is still a classic, with a lot of good sane advice that hasn't gone out of fashion.

"The Baby Book" by Dr. and Martha Sears is the BEST baby book out there. It covers all areas without judgment, but they definitely lean towards close bonding/ no cry solutions to child raising.
He is a pediatrician and she, his wife is the mother of 7.

I also have "Your Baby And Child" by Penelope Leach. It's a good book too, but I feel like if it came to one - the Dr. sear's book(s) are more thorough and answer questions that mom probably has on her mind that you might have trouble finding addressed in other books.

I am really not a fan of the "what to expect" books. They are a good source for quick reading, but My 3 y.o. never fit into their time frame and the information , I found, was vague and not very broad or alternative minded.

I like the "What to Expect" book too, but I also use babycenter.com. It's a great resource and gives much more info than a single book could ever realistically provide. You have to join, but it's free and I don't get any unsolicited emails.

The Baby Book, by the Sears couple.

I saw that someone else already suggested my favorite-
Baby 411. I've been through a few and have found this one to be very mommy friendly and full of good,useful information.
Happy reading!

Hi M.,

Try Dear Parent and Your Self Confident Baby - both by Magda Gerber. L. S.

Hi M.!
I have read "What to Expect the First Year" by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, and Sandee Hathaway, B.S.N. They have several other books, "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and "What to Expect the Toddler Years" to name a couple. They are very informative! Good luck and have fun!
L.

I would like to recommend "Secrets of the Baby Whisper," by Tracy Hogg with Melinda Blau. This is an excellent book about how to calm, connect, and communicate with your baby. It also gives geat suggestions for other problems we new mom's sometimes face. I am sure you'll enjoy this book.

Anything by Dr. Sears. He is the absolute BEST!!!!

i vote Dr. sears, but now I'll have to go out and get 411.
cross referencing is always good.

I have a 4.5 YO and an 19 MO and have either received or have actually read many of the books mentioned here. The one I still go back to time and time again to this day is "Caring for Your Young Baby and Child" by the American Academy of Pediatrics. It's a true "resource" book and doesn't contain as much opinion as the others. It's fact based for the most part, especially the part that deals with specific symptoms and illnesses. It's the kind of book I use to gauge how much my youngest should sleep at this age, or what to do with a fever, etc. As for more developmental milestones, I found "Touchpoints - Birth to Age 3" by Brazelton the most helpful.

I'm a huge fan of the "What to Expect..." series. I tend to read a chapter or two ahead, and then the index for issues that come up. I also used the 411 baby book, but I found the What to Expect to be more comprehensive.

I loved the Dr. Sears Baby Book. I called it my "baby bible". It's very comprehensive and reassuring. He promotes attachment parenting which is something you may or may not be into but it is the best baby book I read regardless. Dr. Sears is a pediatrician and his wife Martha is an RN. They raised 8 kids, two of whom are pediatricians as well, who also contribute to hos books and website. Good Luck!

Hi M.,

I have been very happy with the "What To Expect..." series of books. I have each--pregnancy, first year, toddler years. I found them all most helpful with my first child and have consulted them still with my second, although not quite as much. Another book that I have found both helpful and interesting has been the Dr. Spock book. I know, I know, but, it has been updated for the 21st century. What is most interesting is that the current authors have given both what Dr. Spock's book said in regard to certain issues, and then how that translates to today's world. The advice is from birth through the teen years.

I have found that for me, getting information from multiple sources has been the most helpful. That way, if they all agree on something, I can rest assured that it is probably a good way to go, but if each source gives a totally different view, then I know that whatever I do can't be detrimental and I have to go with my gut.

Good luck, and enjoy that precious little baby of yours!

The Babybook by Sears and Sears is our absolute favourite. It's comprehensive, well-written, up to date, and just always helpful! We love it.

D. (mom of 2)

Yes I can! RUN - do not walk - to your nearest bookstore and get "Your Baby And Child" by Penelope Leach. It is by far the BEST bible on babies and children.

After you get it for yourself, you will always know what to get to a baby shower gift!

I always found the "What to Expect...." line of books very helpful for me.

I loved "What To Expect the First Year" and I am now using "What to Expect The Toddler Years" with my 18 month old. I find them very informative and always an answer to my questions. I highly recommend it!

Ditto on Aimee's answer. I've used all three "What to Expect..." books. They're great! There's good suggestions, medically & socially sound info provided therein, and it gives realistic milestones in such a way that it tells you what your child should, probably, and possibly may be able to do so you can see your child's advancements in a spectrum, if you will. I don't know what I'd do without them. I've used the one on pregnancy, the first year and now I'm up to the toddler issue. Good luck!

I vote for Baby 411 and then Toddler 411. Baby 411 is still our go to book. I found it clear and simple to read - where I was bored and never wanted to pick up the "What to Expect..." books - We know give the Baby / Toddler 411 set as a gift to each of our friends who are expecting b/c we think they are a great resource. Good luck!

the american academy of pediatrics has one. it is the most accurate book out there

The baby book by Dr. sears is great. check out his website too its askdrsears.com