There are a bajillion books out there for first-time parents expecting their first child, and it can be hard to know where to start and which experts to trust. I’ve read over a hundred and narrowed down a list of my favorites here.
You’ll find that many of the most popular parenting books will not be found on this list, and that you have never seen of heard of many of the ones on this list. Most mainstream parenting books here in the US uphold mainstream narratives & cultural norms (capitalism is king; we exist to generate surplus value/profit, hyper-independence is the way, babies & children are lesser than adults, reactive healthcare management, etc). Some do this in subtle ways, and some in not-so-subtle ways.
Most of the parents in my practice are seeking to parent in a way that centers nurture and connection, incorporates some degree of holistic care, and bucks at least one of these mainstream narratives – and it is these goals that tend to be one of the reasons why they find they resonate with my approach to care.
In preparing for your first child’s arrival, I have found that no amount of reading can replace live classes. Books are a wonderful resource, but connecting with educators and providers in your community (as well as fellow parents) is vital. Consider taking a childbirth education course (I teach here!), hiring a doula, and/or booking a prenatal consult with me.
Since some of these more off-the-beaten-path books are not available at local libraries (though many are!), I try to keep at least one copy in my personal library to lend out to clients. Books with an asterisk (*) indicate I own at least one copy; top choices are bolded. 🙂 Please reach out if you’d like to borrow one!
Disclaimer: Links below are Bookshop affiliate links. I encourage you to buy used on BetterWorldBooks or ThriftBooks whenever possible (or borrow from me), but if you choose to buy new through my link(s), I may receive a small payment. All affiliate revenue is used to fund my sliding scale services.
Pregnancy
- The Mama Natural Week-to-Week Guide to Pregnancy by Genevieve Howland
- The Natural Pregnancy Book by Aviva Romm*
- Real Food for Pregnancy by Lily Nichols
- Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
Birth
- Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel*
- The Birth Partner by Penny Simkin*
- Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
- Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin
- Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way
Postpartum
- Fourth Trimester Companion by Cynthia Gabriel
- The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Johnson
Lactation & Infant Feeding:
I humbly acknowledge that many of the most useful books about lactation infant feeding use gendered language. If you come across a great book about feeding/nursing that is inclusive, please let me know so I can add it to my list.
- Latch: A Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage by Robin Kaplan
- Feed the Baby by Victoria Facelli
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding* by La Leche League
- Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins
- Work, Pump, Repeat by Jessica Shortall
- Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Nancy Mohrbacher
- Lactivate: A User’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Jill Krause
- Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin*
- Making More Milk by Lisa Marasco
If you are more of an auditory/visual learner, consider taking my First Week of Feeding course.
Sleep
- Sweet Sleep by La Leche League*
- Safe Infant Sleep by James McKenna*
- The Gentle Sleep Book by Sarah Ockwell-Smith*
- Sleeping with Your Baby by James McKenna*
- Let’s Talk About Your New Family’s Sleep by Lyndsey Hookway
- Why Your Baby’s Sleep Matters by Sarah Ockwell-Smith*
If you are more of an auditory/visual learner, consider taking my Supported Newborn Sleep course.
Parenting (Infants)
- The Nurture Revolution by Greer Kirshenbaum*
- The Whole-Brain Child by Dan Siegel
- Brain-Body Parenting by Mona Delahooke
Parenting (General)
- The Conscious Parent by Shefali Tsabary*
- Parenting from the Inside Out by Dan Siegel
- Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn*
- Free to Learn by Peter Gray*
- Raising Good Humans by Hunter Clarke-Fields
- Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy
- Hold On To Your Kids by by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate*
General/Lifestyle
These reads aren’t parenting-specific, but have absolutely informed my parenting in a big way, and I recommend them as excellent reads for anyone who cares for children.
- Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
- Inflamed: Deep Medicine & the Anatomy of Injustice by Rupa Marya & Raj Patel*
- Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World
- How We Show Up: Reclaiming Family, Friendship, and Community by Mia Birdsong*
If you’d like more personalized recommendations for books, podcasts, online courses, or other parenting education, consider booking a consultation with me!
Feel free to reach out with questions: jill@integrativelactation.com
You can also:
- follow me on Instagram
- follow me on Facebook
- join our Facebook group
- join my email list to receive blog posts, & be notified about upcoming classes & events
- put our weekly support group on your calendar
P.S. Here are a few books that have some great nuggets (some of which were formative in shaping my beliefs on parenting and nurturing children), but which I can’t unequivocally recommend due to some problematic elements. If you’re someone who can appreciate ancestral wisdom and overlook some author bias, you might like these:
- Hunt, Gather, Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff
- The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff*
- The Wonder Weeks by Frans X. Plooij*
P.P.S. More books on my shelf that I have been gifted, but haven’t ready and personally vetted yet, but suspect would be good resources based on what I know of the authors:
- Creative Parenting by William Sears
- The Baby Book by William Sears
- How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
- Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn
Integrative Lactation Care 