Some of you have stated that I seem like a great mother (aww... seriously, that makes me want to cry), and even some of you have said you'd like to get advice from me when you have kids. I'm so, so, not the expert, I'm a kind of broken woman trying to repair herself while not screwing up her kids. I have, however, done a lot of research in to the subject of raising kids without screwing them up. I've read way too many books on the subject and many of them were not so great. If you are wondering where I go for my own parenting support and information, check out the following books and websites.
1. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin
I
read this book during my ninth month of pregnancy and it totally got
rid of any fear I had about giving birth. It should be required reading
for all pregnant ladies. It gives great ideas for getting through
labor and backs them up with stories of women who had amazing things happen. I used the inner mantra of "I'm going to get huge (ie my cervical opening is going to get huge)" during
my labor and they told me I was dilated to 11 cm when I started
pushing. :) It was a fabulous book to make you realize that you're just
one of billions of women who have successfully and naturally birthed
their babies. If you read nothing else about birth, read this!
2. Confident Parents, Remarkable Kids, by Bonnie Harris
I think this is my favorite so far and I don't even own it, I got it from the library a good year ago. It focuses around 8 principles of awesome parenting. It is non-formulaic and I think works well with all kinds of families. If you read no other book on discipline, read this one.
3. Kids Are Worth It, by Barbara Coloroso
This author worked in a school with special needs kids and was able to get them to cooperate without yelling or threats or punishment, so I have to give her legitimate props.
She has another book that I haven't read yet, but would love to called Parenting Through Crisis.
4. Baby Led Weaning, by Gil Rapley and Tracy Murkett
Skip the baby food! Have a confident eater! I'm so glad I was told about the concept of baby led weaning. It has made our meal times low-stress and has had our kid eating what we eat (most of the time) from the beginning (at about 6 months of age). This is the definitive guide.
5. Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene, by Ingrid Bauer
This book completely changed my views on potty training and diapering. I was very worried about potty training long before getting pregnant and this book let me see it from an entirely new perspective. She says a few things in there about vaccines I don't agree with, but other than that it is a great book for anyone interested in Elimination Communication.
6. Go Diaper Free!
This site and eBook offers more help for those wanting to do Elimination Communication. "Diaper Free" offers a lot of good philosophy and Go Diaper Free has more things about the practice. I wish I would have read this before beginning EC.
7. Oh Crap Potty Training
This is an awesome potty training eBook. It goes extremely well with the philosophy of EC, she even mentions EC in the book. Her potty training philosophy begs us to not under-estimate our kids capabilities, and to potty train without coercion or rewards, it is not a method, because it will look different for everyone! Much like every other aspect of parenting.
8. Baby Love MN
This is "an independent childbirth education center offering Lamaze childbirth classes, Breastfeeding classes and support,
Infant Care classes, and Infant Safety classes." That about sums it up. These two women are amazing educators and the offer a great breastfeeding moms support group, go to it if you need support! I did for a few months, it was great, they even have coffee and snacks that they give you! They even have an Elimination Communication class there. If you are curious about EC, take it! I know no other place that offers such a thing. They will also teach you how to use cloth diapers and how to baby wear, with carriers to try out. I plan on taking many classes from them the next time around.
9.
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
This is the best of the baby books I have come accross, I've read other popular ones, but I think this one is the best. It was how I decided to use a midwife, hire a doula, breastfeed until age 2, co-sleep, baby wear, and look more into the attachment parenting. I read this cover to cover, so when people say dumb things like, "Dr. Sears says you can't leave your kid with anyone else for two years," I can say, "um, actually, no he doesn't say that at all." The only thing I need to add is that this book is relatively old for baby book standards, I hope there is a newer edition, but I couldn't find it. Some of the safety and baby wearing and breastfeeding things in it might not be the best, most current information. Which is why you should go take a baby wearing and breastfeeding class from Baby Love MN!
10. The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, by Robert Sears
If you want to know the latest info on vaccines and are interested in modified vaccine schedules, read this book, it makes it very clear. It's a valuable resource in the age of polarizing vaccine views.
11. Attachment Parenting International
Go here and read through this site before you form any assumptions about attachment parenting. My son was 5 months old before I really found this group. I was basically looking for a parenting group of people who wanted to use positive discipline and who did not use punishment and I found this organization. There really isn't another organization around that is so committed to the AP principles. If you want support for your positive parenting style, please check them out and remember that AP parents are a diverse set of parents, if so called "crunchy" things aren't appealing to you, have no worries, that is not what they are about at their core. If anyone finds a better organization for parents, please let me know, until then I'm going to keep referring to this one.
12. Kelly Mom
Got a breastfeeding question at 2 am? Go to this site first and see if you can find out the answer. It has loads of wonderful information on breastfeeding.
13. Infant Risk Center
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding and aren't sure if something is safe for you to take? DON'T ask your doctor, they probably won't know. Call the Infant Risk Center at (806)-352-2519, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm central time. They have the best information available, because it's all they do. Make your doctor call them if he or she is refusing to prescribe something you think you need. I called it once, it was wonderful! Everyone who works with pregnant or breastfeeding women should have this number. Most of them do not.
