Our Favorite Books and Blogs for New Parents

With a baby due in just over a month, we've been doing lots of reading to see what we're in for. Here are some of our favorite books and blogs for new parents—if you've got a baby on the way, or just a baby shower or two to attend this summer, you might find something worth checking out!

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on July 28 2009

In just a month and a half, my husband Jeff (who also designed this lovely website and manages all things tech here at Gimundo) and I are planning to welcome a baby girl into this world. We are incredibly excited to meet our little one, but also a bit nervous about everything that goes along with her arrival: Will we have everything we need by the time she gets here? Will we be able to adjust to working with a baby in the house? And, most importantly, will we ever sleep again?

While we still have a teensy bit of free time, we’ve been reading up and stocking up on stuff to help us prepare for our daughter’s imminent arrival. These are some of the books that have helped us get ready—whether you’re a maybe-one-day, soon-to-be, new, or experienced parent, or merely an occasional baby shower attendee, you may find something here, too.

From the Hips: A Comprehensive, Open-Minded, Uncensored, Totally Honest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and Becoming a Parent, by Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris

If you’ve picked up the What to Expect… books and been turned off by their preachy tone and rigid dietary requirements, this cool commonsense alternative from the editors of Babble might be the book for you. Filled with honest commentary and practical advice about all aspects of pregnancy, along with plenty of anecdotes from real-world new moms and dads, this book will help parents-to-be through their initial jitters and get them ready for the joy that awaits.

Your Best Birth, by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein

Everyone knows that the end result—a healthy newborn baby—is more important than the process. But even so, in many cases, medical staff may take interventions that aren’t necessarily in the best interest of the mother or her baby. Your Best Birth, from the makers of the compelling documentary The Business of Being Born, provides useful tips and anecdotes to show how an expectant mother can stay informed and empowered to have the best birth for her own circumstances, whatever they may be.

The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two, by William Sears, Martha Sears, Robert Sears, and James Sears

Dr. William Sears may be known as “America’s pediatrician,” but he’s also the father of eight children—and this comprehensive guide to caring for a new baby provides warm and practical advice based on his own experiences as both a doctor and a father, along with plenty of great anecdotes from his wife Martha (a nurse), and two doctor sons.

Operating Instructions, by Anne Lamott

When writer Anne Lamott unexpectedly became pregnant, she decided to start keeping a daily diary to commemorate the first year of her new baby’s life. The resulting book, Operating Instructions, provides a wise, funny, and heartbreaking look at life as a new single mom, dealing with the wonders and tragedies that befall her. You’ll laugh, cry, and then want to read it all over again.

Parenting Websites

There are tons of great blogs out there that deal with the fun and horrors of child-raising. We’ll be exploring plenty more in the years to come, we’re sure, but among our current favorites, there’s Heather Armstrong’s infamous Dooce (and her hilarious new book, It Sucked and Then I Cried); Babble, a fantastic site dedicated to intelligent parent-focused journalism; and Honest Baby, a hilarious and sometimes horrifying site dedicated to “celebrating the imperfect journey of parenthood.” We can’t wait to see what we’re in for.

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