As Pediatricians we are often asked about good resources available to parents to more fully understand some component of child-rearing. Below is a list or recommended books for each topic.
General Parenting:
- “Your Baby and Child” by Penelope Leach. This is a good general book about child rearing from birth to age 5. It covers topics including sleep, nutrition, discipline, development, etc. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
- The “What to Expect” series by the American Academy of Pediatrics is a great resource for all things pediatric in this age range. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty
- “Parenting from the Inside Out” by Daniel Siegel and Mary Hartzell. “A child psychiatrist and an early childhood expert reveal that the first step in raising happy and healthy children is to fully understand and learn from your own childhood experiences.” A wonderful resource in thoughtful parenting. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
- “No, Why Kids — of All Ages — Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It” by David Walsh, PhD. This is a remarkably good book about how to set loving limits and raise thoughtful, considerate, and motivated children and help to “avoid the next Generation Me”. Please read the review in our Spring 2014 Pediatracks newsletter. Recommended by Dr. D.
Discipline:
- “1,2,3, Magic …” by Thomas W. Phelan. A helpful easy to understand guide to discipline for children ages 3-12. Also available on video so that you can observe the technique in action. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
- Setting Limits with Your Strong-willed Child: Eliminating Conflict by Establishing Clear, Firm and Respectful Boundaries” by Robert J. Mackenzie. This is a really helpful guide to discipline and parenting for those children for whom time-outs just don’t seem effective. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
- “How to Talk so Your Kids Will Listen and Listen so Your Kids Will Talk” by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish. This is a timeless guide to keeping the lines of communication open with your child. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
Sleep:
- “Solving Your Child’s Sleep Problems” by James Ferber. This is the classic text which has been advocated by the American Academy of Pediatrics and all of the pediatricians at PYAM.
Learning and Developmental Problems:
- “Taking Charge of ADHD” by Russell Barkley. An excellent description of the condition and both behavioral and pharmacotherapeutic interventions that can be helpful for children with ADHD. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty
- “Teenagers with ADD and ADHD” by Chris Dendy. A useful guide for parents to help their teenage children with school-related problems. Recommended by many of our consulting neuropsychologists.
- “When the Brain Can’t Hear” by Teri James Bellis. This book was given to me by a parent of a child with auditory processing disorder. It is a really insightful book for any parent of a child with this disorder. Recommended by Dr. D.
- “The Brain that Changes Itself” by Norman Doidge. An up-to-date look at the science behind neuroplasticity and a guide to understanding and a reason to be optimistic about developmental delays. Recommended by Dr. D.
- “Autism’s False Prophets” by Paul Offit. This is an excellent source for understanding the scientific facts about autism and helps to clarify the misinformation perpetuated by Hollywood spokespeople and the internet. Recommended by Dr. Saxton.
- “The Out of Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder” by Carol Stock Kranowitz and Lucy Jane Miller. This is a really good guide to understanding sensory processing disorder. Recommended by Dr. D.
- “Skills Training for Children with Behavior Disorders” by Michael L. Bloomquist. Helps with parenting around issues of attention, self-esteem,etc. Recommended by many of our consulting psychologists.
- “organizing the disorganized child: SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL” by Martin L. Kutscher & Marcella Moran. This is a must read for every parent of every child starting kindergarten and on up! As a pediatrician, I found myself wishing I had read this before having started medical school. Every student at every age can benefit from this quick read. Please read the review of this in our winter 2013 Pediatracks newsletter. Recommended by Dr. D.
Anxiety:
- “Helping Your Anxious Child” by Susan Spence. It can be extremely challenging to parent children with anxiety and this is a wonderful guide to help you help your child. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
- “I Bet I Won’t Fret” by Timothy Sizemore. This is a good workbook for kids dealing with anxiety. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
- “When My Worries Get Too Big” by Kari Dunn Buron. This is an excellent tool for children to help them gauge their own level of anxiety and it offers them tools to help calm themselves. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
Nutrition:
- “Super Baby Foods” by Ruth Yaron. This is an encyclopedia and step by step guide to feeding your baby and toddler. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
- “Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Foods” by Jessica Seinfeld. Every child goes through a food-fussy stage. This book can help you get through that period. Recommended by Dr. Delahunty.
- “Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense” by Ellyn Satter. Recommended by the Feeding Clinic at Children’s Hospital. This provides healthy guidelines for family meal time and behavior at meals.
Immunizations:
- “Immunizations and Infectious Diseases: An Informed Parent’s Guide AAP” Margaret Fischer, MD FAAP, Editor in Chief. This is a great place to read about the science behind immunizations and their importance in protecting your child. Recommended by Dr. Saxton.