Parenthood doesn’t come with an instruction manual, but parenting books for every stage can be the next best thing. I put together a roadmap of recommendations to support you through every stage — whether you’re expecting, in the baby trenches, or navigating toddlerhood. I have read a lot of parenting books – and everyone always asks me what book do you recommend?. Well it’s not that simple, it depends on your kiddos age, and what you’re looking for. This flow chart and accompanying blog post should help you narrow down where to start.

👶 Parenting Books for Expecting Parents

Start with Expecting Better by Emily Oster for evidence-based guidance, or Like a Mother by Angela Garbes for a refreshingly honest take on pregnancy. Feeling nervous about breastfeeding? The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a classic go-to.

🤱 Parenting Books for the Early Months

The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson offers practical tools for healing and adjusting to life with a newborn. Essential Labor by Angela Garbes dives into the invisible work of motherhood with compassion. Finally, if you’re dealing with intrusive thoughts during your postpartum period, the book Good Moms have Scary Thoughts could help you work through those feelings.

👧 Parenting Books for Babies & Toddlers

When you’re ready for the next stage, Cribsheet and The Montessori Baby are parent favorites. For toddlers, The Montessori Toddler helps with independence, while Hunt, Gather, Parent brings wisdom from traditional cultures.

👦 Parenting Books for Behavior & Big Feelings

For navigating tantrums, power struggles, and tricky behaviors, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk, Good Inside, and How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes come highly recommended.

📚 Parenting Books for the Long Game

Books like The Family Firm (Emily Oster) and The Anxious Generation (Jonathan Haidt) help parents think ahead to school-aged challenges. If you’re interested in rounding out your Montessori reading journey, you might want to check out The Montessori Child. If you have a pre-teen, teenage or young adult, we would recommend checking out How to Raise an Antiracist as a guide for dismantling racist behaviors in ourselves and the world around us.

Because no matter the stage, parenting books for every stage can make the journey feel a little lighter, and remind you that you’re not alone. Parenthood is full of questions, surprises, and those “am I doing this right?” moments. The right book can offer reassurance, spark new ideas, or simply make you laugh on the hard days. Think of these reads not as rulebooks, but as companions you can return to again and again, each time finding something new that meets you exactly where you are. Whether you’re navigating sleepless nights, toddler tantrums, or big-kid milestones, remember: you don’t have to do it all perfectly, and you don’t have to do it all alone. 💕