What Do I Do Now? The Best Baby and Parenting Books for First-Time Parents

One of the things that shocked me in the early days of my parenting life was the immediate way that I no longer felt like myself. I was easily flustered and overwhelmed with emotion, desperate to be away from the baby, but then I thought of nothing else if I did manage to go somewhere else. I was late for appointments, accidentally double-booked things, and couldn’t hold a conversation to save my life. Anxiety, always an undercurrent to my days, now rushed through me in the form of intrusive thoughts. In researching these changes, I came across Jones’s Matrescence, a book that I’ve since recommended far and wide. Part memoir and part scientific study, it examines the ways that motherhood changes women physiologically, psychologically, and socially. This is truly a fantastic book to help both parents understand what happens to women after giving birth.

This guide is designed to support birthing parents and partners during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Chidi Cohen is a doula and health educator whose mission is to destigmatize birth and postpartum. While some of her advice may not resonate—I certainly can’t afford to eat exclusively organic, for instance—there is still a lot here that will benefit first-time parents.

A ridiculous amount of time is spent on the floor when you have a baby or toddler. Playing with them. Stretching your sore body. Changing them so they don’t roll off a high surface. But you will often be thankful for this due to the consistent lack of sleep you get. Horizontal Parenting is a funny, illustrated book that gives you fifty silly, distracting games to play with your favorite little humans as you cleverly avoid standing for long periods.

Finding creative, healthy, and tasty meals is the bane of most parents I’ve met. We’re exhausted, stressed, and consumed with thoughts of what our little ones should and shouldn’t be eating. These recipes are simple and yummy, and they have given me ideas many times when the food idea well has runneth dry.

This was crucial for my family when we decided to start sleep training. Accessible and even funny at times, the book’s tone was especially comforting when my brain was still easily flustered by all the hormones and lack of rest. Plus, Dubief’s methods were easy to follow and emulate. Another aspect I appreciated was that Dubief gives a breakdown on what chapters will be relevant based on age, a time saver I loved.

Parenting comes with a lot of shame and guilt, and that’s inevitable because of how intensely you connect with your child. Part of what makes Dr. Becky Kennedy so popular with parents is that she genuinely provides support without judgment. She is also very accessible, providing help via her podcast and Instagram account. Though her philosophy is often dismissed as gentle parenting, it’s more about building boundaries while being empathetic—and that’s an important skill for parents to learn.

One of the big reasons I waited to have a kid was that I really wrestled with the climate crisis. Should I bring someone new into this often-scary world? It took me a lot of soul-searching to decide to go ahead, but those fears remain—as does the crisis. Dealing head-on with what’s going on in the world, this isn’t an easy read. Still, Shirvell is an environmental journalist, and she offers ways of approaching the subject with children from toddlers to teens.