Being pregnant can be totally overwhelming, so it helps to have a slew of books to read to help ease all of your fear and anxiety! We reached out to some of our favorite bloggers and writers and asked them what books helped them prepare for pregnancy, baby, and beyond!
Heather Brooker, host of Motherhood in Hollywood Podcast – book recommendation: Baby Day By Day
“Before Chan was born I had no idea what I was doing. My experience with babies was limited to a few babysitting jobs as a teen and that’s it. So I really felt like I needed a book that gave me practical advice on the day-to-day experience of having a baby. So I read “Baby Day by Day” (DK Publishing) which gives a chronological outline of what to expect from day 1 of your baby’s birth. It was written by a panel of pediatricians, child psychologists, nutritionists, and complementary medicine experts, to provide an unbiased approach to baby care that gives the pros and cons of various approaches, including sleep training, managing crying, and breastfeeding issues. I have such an analytical mind and this was a huge source of comfort for me knowing what to expect and how to handle it.”
Also seen: Overcoming Obstacles with Heather Brooker
Ellie Knaus, host of Atomic Moms Podcast – book recommendation: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
“I have so many book recommendations based on the dozens of delightful and brilliant parenting experts I have interviewed on Atomic Moms podcast. But the book I would recommend to every single mother is Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. As a new parent, I felt overextended and overwhelmed. The more I dug into my role as mom, the more it felt like there was zero time for pursuing my goals outside of keeping my baby alive. And that was not a happy place for me to be. This book addresses the pressure that we put on ourselves to do it all and encourages us to get clear about our priorities. Once I was able to get intentional about where I was focusing my limited energy and resources, I could feel less guilty about declining the “non-essential” opportunities or distractions that pop up in the day to day. This book has helped me make decisions much more easily and without the guilt trip. I am more present with my child and more focused on making what matters most to me a reality. Toddlers love saying “no”, and it’s time moms say it more often too.”
Also Seen: Atomic Moms Hot Mama Summer Must Haves
Jordan Reid, author and blogger, Ramshackle Glam – book recommendation: Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy
“I read What To Expect and The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy, of course, but if I’m being honest the book I enjoyed the most was Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. She’s just kind of…a mess. And it was refreshing to hear someone not know what they were doing (I certainly didn’t), while maintaining a sense of humor about it.”
The Gugu Guru Team highly recommends Jordan Reid’s two parenting books – Ramshackle Glam: The New Mom’s Haphazard Guide to (Almost) Having It All and Carrying On: Style, Beauty, Décor (and More) for the Nervous New Mom; as well as Jordan Reid and Erin Williams’ newest creation, The Big Fat Activity Book for Pregnant People
Also seen: Mompreneur Spotlight: Jordan Reid of Ramshackle Glam
Jill Simonian, author and parenting expert – book recommendations: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy and The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp
“The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy scared the you-know-what out of me — the way it described all the ways women change, not necessarily for the better, during and after pregnancy. I loved the funny and conversational writing style, but my fear of becoming a mom was amplified after reading that book… which was a partial motivator for me to write my own book addressing all the way women get better and more focused after babies (f-a-b) instead of falling apart. The Happiest Baby on the Block — This book was my FAVORITE! It gave me a road-map for taking control of a newborn and gave detailed instructions for how to comfort babies and control crying by swaddling infants in a specific way. Anyone that tells you swaddling doesn’t work to calm a fussy newborn, by they way, did not properly follow the steps and instructions in this book. The how-to details (and science behind the method) in the book were fascinating and effective. I loved it so much that I continue to compliment and ask author Dr. Harvey Karp about it every time I see him now (we often speak at the same Los Angeles events). I even recommended reading Happiest Baby in my own book too — it’s that life-changing.”
The Gugu Guru Team highly recommends Jill Simonian’s book, The Fab Mom’s Guide: How to Get Over the Bump & Bounce Back Fast After Baby; The FAB Mom’s Guide is a unique, must-read for first-time pregnant moms with practical motivation to tackle the ‘bumps’ of new motherhood — because bouncing back after baby is not all about the body. It is a fast-paced, unfiltered telling of personal choices, tactical lifestyle tips and unexpected celebrity lessons to lead first-time moms on a distinctive path to build CONFIDENCE and RESILIENCE (mind, spirit and a little bit of body) from mid-pregnancy through the first year with baby.
Also seen: Mompreneur Spotlight: FAB Mom Jill Simonian
Amandine Liepmann, founder of Mitz Accessories – book recommendation: Bright from the Start: The Simple, Science-Backed Way to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind from Birth to Age 3
“I love this book because it’s all backed by neuroscience and isn’t filled with any sort of parenting guilt/opinions. It’s a very no nonsense approach to what’s worked for child development through studies from around the world.”
Also seen: Gender neural baby style; A Post-Consumer Recycled Baby Registry; Foodie Find, Mitz Children’s Clothing
Paige Wolf, author and activist – book recommendations – The Parent Trip: From High Heels and Parties to Highchairs and Potties and The Second Nine Months: One Woman Tells the REAL Truth About Becoming a Mom. Finally.
The Gugu Guru Team highly recommends Paige’s book, Spit that Out!: The Overly Informed Parent’s Guide to Raising Healthy Kids in the Age of Environmental Guilt
Also seen: Sustainable Nursery: Splurge or Save
