Recently Pregnancy Birth and Beyond shared the best of the newest Australian baby books. Here we give you the tried-and-tested classics, covering pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. So, check out our picks of the best books to read for first-time mums and dads.

Pregnancy for Dummies

by Jane Palmer, Joanne Stone, Keith Eddleman & Mary Duenwald

One of the first things you realise when you read during pregnancy is that not all advice is good. However, Pregnancy for Dummies provides no-nonsense expert guidance.

It explains how your baby develops at each stage of pregnancy. It also covers taking care of yourself and making informed choices. In addition, it later talks about looking after a newborn baby, breastfeeding and issues such as parental leave. Make sure you look for the 3^rd Australian and New Zealand edition.

Birth with Confidence: Savvy Choices for Normal Birth

by Rhea Dempsey

This book will guide your choices if you want a “good birth” and reduced medical intervention.

Rhea Dempsey, a childbirth educator, calls them “savvy” choices. Instead of maintaining the status quo, ask yourself, where will you birth? Who does want to be your caregivers and support team? What is your attitude to pain? Plus, how can you raise your pain tolerance?

Rhea fleshes out Birth with Confidence with real-life stories from other mothers. In addition, she also includes current Australian statistics.

Up the Duff

by Kaz Cooke

After the excitement of that positive test, pregnancy can become daunting. Up the Duff brings a lighter perspective to the whole business.

A fictional character, Hermione, describes her pregnancy from week to week. Kaz’s comics illustrate Hermione’s experiences.

Although it’s one of the most humorous Australian baby books, Up the Duff is also educational. The 20^th-anniversary version is a revised and updated edition.

So You’re Going to be a Dad

by Peter Downey

Another entertaining guide to parenting is So You’re Going to be a Dad, but this one focuses on preparing for fatherhood.

The book’s humour and down-to-earth style make it an easy read, and it’s ideal for the dad-to-be who might not read many Australian baby books but appreciates a “Dad joke”.

As well as the humour, there are plenty of practical tips. For example, there’s advice on buying things for the baby, living with a newborn, and navigating sex. Ideally, this entertaining read will entice dads to read more widely.

Birth Skills: Proven Pain-Management Techniques for your Labour and Birth

by Juju Sundin and Sarah Murdoch 

Reduce pain in labour with simple, practical techniques? Sounds great – and even better, the methods are based on scientific knowledge. Juju provides know-how as an obstetric physiotherapist, and Sarah Murdoch shares her insights as a mum.

Together, they explain how your body works in labour and how to manage pain. For example, the techniques include breathing, movement, vocal sounds and visualisation—an empowering and positive book with no judgment about women’s choices.

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering: The Wisdom and Science of Gentle Choices in Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting

by Sarah Buckley

Although Sarah is a medical doctor, she’s not a conventional one. After all, she home-birthed four children.

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering describes how our bodies naturally facilitate birth. It then shows how common medical interventions can sometimes disturb the process.

Sarah takes a spiritual approach to birth, seeing it as a transformation. However, she also backs up her advice with research and statistics.

Having a Great Birth in Australia

by David Vernon

When you want to know what labour and birth are really like, the “textbook” answer may not be helpful. However, here is a candid collection of real-life anecdotes. They reveal how wonderful birth can be, with all its highs and lows. In addition, each woman writes about the informed decisions she made in her maternity care and their effects.

In most Australian baby books, you hear from one or two authors; here, you enjoy a range of perspectives. As a result, Having a Great Birth in Australia shows women the various paths labour and birth can take, providing a positive and inspiring way to prepare for birth.

Breastfeeding Naturally

by the Australian Breastfeeding Association

Who better than the Australian Breastfeeding Association to create this bible on breastfeeding? Breastfeeding Naturally combines up-to-date scientific information and the wisdom of thousands of mums. It helps you start and continue breastfeeding, no matter what obstacles you face.

Before your baby is even born, it starts to prepare you to breastfeed. It then covers topics like getting enough sleep, keeping a good supply of breastmilk and returning to work. It’s easy to read and well worth keeping on hand.

Sleeping Like a Baby

by Pinky McKay

After breastfeeding, sleep (and how to get more of it) is one of the hottest topics for new parents.

One of the best books to read for first time mums and dads is Pinky’s soothing book about sleep. Drawing on her experience as a lactation consultant, it provides practical instructions on reading bub’s cues, creating the right sleeping environment, settling little ones, and feeding them in a way that promotes more sleep.

Sleeping Like a Baby promotes a gentle approach to sleep. It can reduce your guilt, help you relax and enjoy parenting more – and sleep better!

The Complete Buddhism for Mothers

by Sarah Napthali

Your collection of classic Australian baby books should not only talk about the kids but also mums. The Complete Buddhism for Mothers shows mums how to use Buddhist teachings to navigate the ups and downs of parenthood.

Sarah uses her own experiences to help us be calmer, kinder, more patient and more present. And in doing so, be the best for ourselves and our little ones.

The Complete Buddhism for Mothers brings together Sarah’s three most popular books for mums.

Baby on Board

by Dr Howard Chilton and Georgina Dowden

Here is a comprehensive, reassuring and practical manual for the first year of your baby’s life. Howard is a doctor specialising in newborn babies. His daughter, Georgina, is a nurse, midwife and lactation consultant.

Baby on Board promotes “responsive parenting”. First, parents learn how evolution designed their baby’s body to work; then, they can better meet their baby’s needs. Learn about settling your baby, breastfeeding, crying, sleeping, solids and more. In its 4th edition, the authors updated Baby on Board in 2020.

Page Published on 26th January 2022