I’m often asked what books HypnoBirthing moms in our classes are reading. Especially when it comes to parenting, your personal preferences should guide you in selecting reading material. I do recommend that you begin reading parenting books before giving birth. It can be difficult to try to read a book about getting your baby on a routine, for example, after you have determined that you need a routine. Here’s a short list of books that are often mentioned:
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HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method - Marie Mongan (of course!)
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Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin
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Spiritual Midwifery - Ina May Gaskin
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The Baby Catcher - Peggy Vincent
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The Secret Life of the Unborn Child - Thomas Verny and John Kelly
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Gentle Birthing, Gentle Mothering – Dr. Sarah Buckley
- Secrets of the Baby Whisperer - Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau
- Smart Love - Martha Pieper
- Parent Effectiveness Training (PET) – Thomas Gordon
- Playful Parenting - Lawrence Cohen
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On Becoming Baby Wise* – Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam
- Sign with your Baby - Baby Sign Language (ASL) Kit – Joseph Garcia
- Einstein Never Used Flash Cards - Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, Ph.D. with Diane Eyer, Ph.D.
* Please Note: On Becoming Baby Wise is a controversial book. Like everything you read, you should do your research and ultimately decide what makes sense to you. Checking out what reviewers on Amazon.com are saying about the book is a good place to start: Amazon Review of Baby Wise. Also, like any controversial book, I don’t recommend making it the first parenting book you read. Get your feet wet with other parenting books so that when you read it, you have some context for it.
Email me at deana@nchypnobirthing.com or post a comment to let me know what books and programs have been helpful to you or that you’re looking forward to using.
Hmmmm. . . Babywise really seems out of place with the rest of those books.
Babywise is definitely different from the other books listed. As you know, this book has had its ups and downs. Five years ago, recommendations for this book were given in whispers and with caveats, like, “I don’t use the whole system”. Now I’m finding that parents in our HypnoBirthing classes are openly reading, discussing and using this book.
Because we tend to parent based on how we were parented, usually either emulating our parents or attempting to do the opposite of what they did, I’m happy that so many of the parents in our classes are thinking critically about how they want to parent before giving birth. Everyone will be drawn to different theories and styles of parenting and they’ll create their own unique style based on research, experiences and ultimately, what makes sense to them.
For some, Babywise, or some adaptation of it, will work for their family. When parents talk about Babywise or setting up a routine, I often mention that they also read Secrets of the Baby Whisperer with her E.A.S.Y (Eat, Activity, Sleep, You Time) plan to get another perspective on routines.