Baby Shower: Informative Books to Read

I admit it, when I was pregnant with Roo, I read a lot of baby books.

A lot.

I absorbed every little bit of information I could get my hands on. I was positive that if I did read all these books, I would sooo be ready when she came home.

I was sure that reading all those books would make me the perfect Mother.

Of course, I came to find out that me being a close-to-perfect Mother (because there's no such thing as a perfect Mother), came with time.

But the info I absorbed from reading did come in handy.

Lists of my favorite (and most helpful) books to have on your nightstand are the following:

You: Having a Baby The Owner's Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy by Dr. Michael F. Roizen and Dr. Mehmet C. Oz.

This is my alternative pick to the traditional What to Expect book. It’s packed full of great information about what you can do and can’t do, what you should do and what you shouldn’t do while pregnant. The book is written with great humor that makes this book an easy read. Plus, the funny cartoons will crack you up.

The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth, and Everything In Between by Ann Douglas

Full of charts, tables and grafts about anything and everything to do with pregnancy. This book covers everything and then some.

The Child: An Encyclopedic Companion (Hardcover)
~ Richard A. Shweder (Editor), Thomas R. Bidell (Editor), Anne C. Dailey (Editor), Suzanne D. Dixon (Editor), Peggy J. Miller (Editor), John Modell (Editor)

Yes, it’s a huge, new reference book that weighs more than your newborn does, but it’s packed full of great info. A perfect source when you need answers right on the spot.

The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Dr. Harvey Karp

This was the first book I read after bringing Roo home from the hospital. While nursing her, I propped it up against my pillow and was absorbed in it while nursed then napped. It’s full of great advice and is a really easy read for a crazy new Mommy.

The Best Baby Name Treasury by Emily Larson

Yes it’s from 2008, but it’s still got tons and tons of information regarding names. I spent hours upon hours reading this book and looking up meanings of names.

But remember not to fret if you can't even get through one parenting book. Being a good parent comes with time and patience. Plus, the advice of your Mother goes a long way.