I have refused to ready any pregnancy/parenting books up until now. 20 week gender scan is fast approaching and I'm realizing I should probably know what I'm getting myself into... 
Please recommend 2-3 books (birthing/breastfeeding/parenting/sleeping or ??). What books were essential for you? Thanks!!
You might also enjoy...
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@NorCalWayfarer: becoming the parent you want to be. Not preachy, down to earth, not a specific philosophy. Must read IMO.
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It really depends on your parenting style/philosophy.
I thought Baby 411 was the most helpful of all of the books, especially the first year. The section on when should I call my doctor/how serious is this symptom was extremely helpful.
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I probably wouldn't read any if I could go back to my pregnancy. I'm sure that sounds like a strange answer, but parenting books did nothing but cause me to question my own instincts and keep trying things over and over again (because the book said to be consistent and give it plenty of time!) when in the end I would have been better off just going with my gut and doing what felt right. It also causes freak-outs where you needlessly worry that your baby is behind or that something is wrong when in reality everything is fine. I used the internet (and my awesome birth month group from weddingbee!), and now this group, when I needed some advice or just an ear to vent to, but the books never helped me.
ETA: This explains pretty well why I'm not a fan of most parenting books...and it is hilarious!! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ava-neyer/i-read-all-the-baby-sleep-advice-books_b_3143253.html
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Honestly, skip the books! I'm a avid reader, but they books stressed me out with their contridictions! So, I skipped them and I think I survived newborn stage just fine, and DD seems to be doing well too at 16 months
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The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding for sure. I also enjoyed Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.
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I found the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, and Dr. Sears The Baby Book to be helpful. You will google a million things once the baby gets here. I liked have a little base knowledge, and those two helped.
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I would get the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD close to your delivery date. Seeing (not just reading about) the techniques during the newborn period were very helpful for me as a first-time mom! I also read The Baby Whisperer during maternity leave and it totally helped too.
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I didn't read any...I had Baby 411 that I skimmed and a few sleep books.
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Oh and I would skip all sleep books. They just stressed me out. I really liked nursing mothers companion- I have it FD in the classifieds
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Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child got us through the bulk of our sleeping issues, but other than that, I would skip the books and renew your HB Gold! Those are the most educational and well-used $25 I've ever spent
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The What to Expect books, Happiest Baby on the Block, and No Cry Sleep Solution. Otherwise I pretty much wing it
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@lemondrop: these were the books i had. I enjoyed the Happiest Baby on the Block book the most.
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As a nanny I sometimes referenced "what to expect for the first year" but I don't care much for most parenting books. To hetero for me. I don't know if it counts as a parenting book but I'm reading "Far From the Tree: parents, children, and the search for identity" and recommend it highly. The only other "parenting" book I will probably purchase is "confessions of the other mother" but that probably won't help you.
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I ordered "baby 411" on DH's ipad from my hospital bed the day after M was born. I realized the baby had come early and I had no idea what I was doing! It's a great reference-book style book. Just look up topics as they come up. Best purchase ever.
"healthy sleep habits, happy child" is still my sleep bible at 16 months. Saved my sanity.
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The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - I knew so little about breastfeeding even with a biology degree. Sometimes I found it a little off putting but it has a ton of good info.
Happiest Baby on the Block video.
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I very highly recommend The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding!
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The baby book by dr. Sears was my favorite and go-to.
Grace based parenting was my second favorite parenting book, but it is Christian-based, so not for everyone. It has great principles, though.
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The only one I really read was The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Otherwise I took things as they came...googled and asked here
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A friend gave me Dr Sears. It was nice to have a reference, and read about what I could expect. I self diagnosed some plugged ducts and fixed them. I still use it as a reference for illnesses and remedies.
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@Fronkinzankinsbride: Ahhh Far From The Tree is SO heavy. I would've been bawling my eyes out if I'd read it while pregnant!
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@SAHM0811: yes! happiest baby on the block dvd.
i could have taken or left everything else although i did go by the EASY routine, but i really think you can get all the info you need on that online!
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I only read the parts that I needed to. But I have taken quite a few child development courses so I kind of already had a philosophy. That said I knew how I wanted to parent an older child, not a baby.
I watched the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD and it showed the techniques. They teach most of that stuff in newborn care classes (or they did in ours) but it really is a good follow up. I wish I had read one on breastfeeding, but more on "how to" rather than "why to" or the history of or anything like that. But that can also be solved with having a LC's number on hand....
Overall though I agree with @wonderstruck. It's hard to REALLY know what you need to know until you're in the thick of it, and I think sometimes reading books you think you "should" be doing things a certain way. I think at least in the first six months the books I skimmed/looked at caused me more stress rather than less.
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Other than skimming the what to expect books, I didn't read any.
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Every child is different and honestly, all the parenting books are somewhat contradictory and they just stressed me out more. They act like kids are supposed to fit the same mold, especially in regard to sleep and how much babies of certain ages should get (which can drive a person with a kid who doesn't sleep that much absolutely crazy). I felt like trusting my intuition, and think a lot of books almost advise against that, causing more stress. Instead of books, I'd refer to Dr. Sears' website if I really was unsure about something. Trust yourself and your baby's cues and you'll do great.
Other than books, I took a one night newborn care and breastfeeding class before DD1 that I thought was great, and I definitely agree with the Happiest Baby on the Block DVD for some great newborn soothing ideas.
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I really liked Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.
I don't read parenting books in general, per the same reasons @erinpye wrote out above. I think it's good to know some tricks about sleep, so I really liked Weissbluth for that, but again, if you have a good sleeper, it's not so useful.
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I really liked How to Have Your Second Child First, it's a book of 100 tips and the aim is to make your more relaxed / not as crazy with your first kid. It had a lot of helpful advice that I liked!
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Happiest Baby on the Block
Breastfeeding bookI read parts of the Baby Whisper and it had me in tears that I was doing everything wrong cause my baby wouldn't go on a schedule.
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Happiest Baby on the Block.
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn.I agree with a lot of other people, though, in that over-reading can just cloud your mind and make you question yourself. I like PCN because it just laid out facts - no bias, no particular "philosophy," etc. And we NEEDED the 5Ss from HBB like woah, so that book was invaluable, though you could absolutely get away with just watching the video and not even reading the book.
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If you plan to breastfeed, I would recommend The Nursing Mother's Companion. I liked Baby 411 for general baby care information because I really did know nothing.
I think you can google re: the general sleep philosophies, although I like the Troublesome Tots website.
As for everything else, you can wing it. We all are to some degree.
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I wouldn't read any. Honestly, they just caused me stress because my son never fit their guidelines. It's amazing how much will be instinctual.
Eta: I do agree the methods in the Happiest Baby on the Block book/DVD were helpful. But I didn't get either. Our newborn photographer did it while taking pictures and showed us. Always worked to calm him down.
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happiest baby on the block (watch the dvd)
healthy sleep habits
how to talk so your kids will listen (this is more for older kids, but you asked for 2-3).
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What I found most helpful: Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child. Baby 411 (very easy to read and reference for quick questions - recommended by my ped). Happiest baby on the block.
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1) Baby Bargains - will help immensely with completing your registry and will give recommendations on what's frivolous and what's not. Make sure to look into the latest edition.
http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bargains-furniture-strollers-maternity/dp/1889392448/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390924236&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+bargains2) Bringing Up Bebe. It's just a good read...
http://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Up-Bebe-Discovers-Parenting/dp/0143122967/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=13909242893) Gina Ford's books - Contented Little Baby and the The Complete Sleep Guide.
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@scg00387: ha good point! So good though. For all parents. So maybe its a TWW read.
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Happiest Baby on the Block for sure!
Great tips that really worked with my fussy DS!
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I liked Baby 411, Heading Home with Your Newborn, and the Happiest Baby on the Block DVDs the best. I hated the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, I found it judgmental, and I EBF successfully.
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I actually read a book called Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay. It's nothing like a how to book but it was a very funny but realistic look at parenting and put a lot in perspective for me.
I also liked bringi up bebe and happiest baby on the block. The 5Ss saved us in those early days! -
I have a slightly different perspective as a nanny but I agree with the others that in general you are better off skipping books for the most part. I would suggest the Happiest Baby on the Block dvd (or honestly just watch the clips on YouTube), Baby 411-- but just skim it and stick it on a shelf for later, and maybe Dr. Sears' Baby Book or something similar-- read the intro and maybe the first chapter or two and then shelve it until later, read bits of it as you start to wonder what is going on. Then download the Wonderweeks app.
ETA: Part of why I vote to skip books largely is because unless you read a wide variety of options you are going to think you are failing at something or that these authors are nuts. The truth is there are as many ways to parent a baby as there are babies so no one book is going to have all the answers. You have to be able to read it and take the good and leave the stuff that isn't applicable which in the beginning is really hard. I remember the first time I tried to institute one of these books-- I tried for a week and then the mom handed me a different one and said to try that one. Turns out the kid didn't magically fit one of these "solutions", we had to just take the good ideas and stick them all together to find what works. If you don't have time to read 20 it isn't worth it, just google stuff and ask on here!
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I somewhat agree with the people who said there is no need to read anything. On the other hand, I never would have taken that advice because I love to read. Sooo if you're like me, then read, but with a critical eye! Some things you have to take with a grain of salt! I recommend the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I also read the Mayo Clinic's Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. It was pretty good, but something you could skim.
If you are interested in natural childbirth, I recommend the second half of the Ina May book!
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