In the first six months of parenthood, moms can face all kinds of stress. A study published in the journal of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare found that first-time mothers’ confidence scores fell to 13% just two to six months after birth. As they settle into their new role as mothers, they might experience a lack of confidence and even postpartum depression. For this reason, moms are going to need all the help and guidance they can get. So, here are five must-read books to prepare you for parenthood.
What to Expect the First Year
by Heidi Murkoff
The What to Expect series has sold over 33 million copies worldwide. It’s even praised as the “pregnancy bible” and is said to have been read by over 90% of women interested in pregnancy books. It includes advice on caring for a young infant, a month-by-month guide to baby development, and practical tips. The success of this book led author Heidi Murkoff to be named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World by TIME. If you’re looking for a classic, tried-and-tested title, then pick up one of the new editions of the What to Expect series.
Your Baby’s Bottle-feeding Aversion, Reasons and Solutions
by Rowena Bennett
Your baby’s diet and eating habits are probably some of the most pressing worries you’ll have as a new mom. To help new moms with this, Rowena Bennett wrote this book to outline the many reasons babies display aversive feeding behaviors. By helping readers identify the cause, they can then find an effective solution. Bennett is a nurse with qualifications in multiple nursing fields, including pediatrics, midwifery, child health, and lactation consultancy, so she’s more than capable of giving you sound advice.
Precious Little Sleep:
The Complete Baby Sleep Guide for Modern Parents by Alexis Dubief
If your newborn’s sleeping habits are keeping you awake at night, you might want to pick up this book by Alexis Dubief. It’s an indispensable guide that explains how to record and form napping cycles, feeding times, and a healthy routine for new parents. Reviewers also praise the book for relying heavily on the latest scientific research. Given its informative and often humorous nature, Precious Little Sleep is a must-read for sleep-deprived parents.
Stretch Marks:
A Self-Development Tool for Mothers Who are Being Stretched in Every Direction by Amber Trueblood
This particular book tackles the changes mothers can experience with their postpartum body, which is something other books fail to touch on. Author Amber Trueblood holds a degree in clinical psychology and is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She says she wrote her book after reading more than 250 others on behavior, management, symptoms, meditation, and self-development. Stretch Marks is light, funny, but still holds loads of tips and tricks readers would find useful in their busy lives as new parents.
IQ Baby – Improve the IQ of Your Future Baby:
Facts and Tips to Improve the IQ of Your Child, from Conception to School by Gabriel Morales and Julie Harvard
Gabriel Morales and Dr. Julie Harvard seek to debunk the notion that a child’s intelligence is reliant on circumstantial luck. In IQ Baby, they teach parents that they can prepare for and control the factors that help determine their baby’s intelligence by providing a step-by-step guide. From pregnancy to education and beyond, every chapter in this book includes ways to stimulate baby brain development, as well as basic components of emotional intelligence (EQ) and general intelligence (IQ). With our top picks, you’re sure to find a book that will fit your needs. No doubt, these titles will transform you into a tougher, smarter, and more confident mom. For more tips and tricks to help you through motherhood, check out the rest of our content on Mom News Daily.
