parenting books that inspire independent, confident children and calm parents
my recommendations for 3 parenting books!!
Hey! Thanks for being here!
I'm excited to talk about one of my favorite things - BOOOOKS. I am an audiobook junkie. I have listened to over 300 audiobooks (LOL). I also always have a physical book that I am reading as well! During my pregnancy, I really enjoyed taking a walk and listening to pregnancy and parenting books.
It can be really overwhelming to digest information related to pregnancy and parenting and decipher what is fact, fiction, or seriously biased. As a doula, mom, and public health professional, these are three parenting books I highly recommend.
I read or listened to these books during my pregnancy and will definitely revisit each of them when my daughter is a little older.
The first three books I'm talking about today are
Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman (buy it here) (great audiobook)
The Montessori Baby by Simone Davis and Junnifa Uzodike (buy it here) (I suggest reading this book physically, not on audiobook. it’s a great visual guide)
The Danish Way of Parenting by Jessica Joelle Alexander (buy it here)
(Note: please check your library before buying!!!)
Bringing Up Bébé is written by Pamela Druckerman as she was parenting in France as an American. She compares her observations of French children and what she sees as the differences in parenting styles that create more autonomous, independent, respectful children.
The Danish Way of Parenting by Jessica Joelle Alexander uses the acronym PARENT to describe the Danish foundations of parenting: play, authenticity, reframing, empathy, no ultimatums, and togetherness.
The Montessori Baby by Simone Davis and Junnifa Uzodike is a visual and text guide to raising a confident baby from birth to infancy. This is the first of a series of Montessori guide books, including the Montessori Toddler, The Montessori Child, and The Montessori Family.
These books have helped form the basis of my parenting philosophy. They share a common emphasis on fostering independence, emotional well-being in both parents and children, and respect for children’s development.
All three advocate for raising children with a focus on independence and confidence. The Montessori Baby encourages autonomy through child-led learning and exploration. Diagrams, photos, and lists are provided to show you how to set up spaces in your house for baby to be completely safe and independent. Bringing Up Bébé promotes self-sufficiency and patience (le pause 🥖), and The Danish Way highlights the importance of teaching resilience and independence in a supportive family environment.
By biggest take away from each of these books:
- The Montessori Baby - this book outlines how to set up your nursery and play spaces to encourage independent play from infancy and I have taken many of the ideas from this book into our life so far.
- Bringing up Bebe - the most impactful lesson from this book for me is about taking a pause before responding to the baby. The French call it "le pause" haha. Take a deep breath before running to the baby when they cry immediately. I love this lesson.
- The Danish Way of Parenting - I love the importance of play, especially outdoors, regardless of the weather, and this book really aligned with me philosophically.
These recommendations emphasize the importance of emotional regulation and well-being in both children and adults. We have to be emotionally intelligent parents to raise emotionally intelligent children!
I think these books promote a parenting style that respects the child as an individual from birth. Babies need to be respected, trusted, and allowed to explore.
Have you read any of these? What did you think? What would you suggest for me to read next?! Let me know in the comments!