It is highly likely that all parents, at one time or another, have wished that they were handed an instruction manual upon leaving the hospital with their newborn babies. This manual would contain all of the answers to the multitude of parenting questions that we find ourselves asking from the moment our babies enter this world. There would be chapters chock-full of tips, tricks, and information regarding infancy, the toddler years, the pre-teen and teenage years, and beyond. While it is true that no such manual exists, we do have the benefit of the experience of others who have taken the time and effort to produce some of the most informative parenting books available.
The toddler years can be particularly challenging as our children move from babies to little people with their own distinct personalities, habits, and funny quirks. They are talking, learning, and reaching new developmental milestones every day. As parents, our responsibilities become greater in many ways, and there is much for us to learn from, and teach to, our toddlers. New parents especially may be unaware of some of the "tricks-of-the-parenting-trade", but, fortunately there are a few books that are particularly helpful for those who are just experiencing the joys and challenges of parenting a toddler.
The following are 5 of the best books on parenting toddlers:
~ "What to Expect the Toddler Years" by Heidi Murkoff
The very popular "What to Expect" series of books has been an invaluable resource to parents ever since "What to Expect When You're Expecting" first became available. "What to Expect the Toddler Years" covers all of the issues that the parents of toddlers will encounter, including potty training, temper tantrums, and eating and sleeping problems. The book is written in an easy-to-follow, month-by-month format, and provides a wealth of information from the twelfth month through the third year of the toddler's life.
~ "Happiest Toddler on the Block: How to Eliminate Tantrums and Raise a Patient, Respectful, and Cooperative One- to Four-Year-Old" by Harvey Karp
Harvey Karp, M.D. is an expert on child development, and in this book, he shares some of the behavioral techniques he has discovered in order for parents to raise the happiest and healthiest toddlers possible. He focuses on understanding your toddler through the use of a language that they can understand, and thoroughly explains how toddlers develop and advance from 12-18 months through 36-48 months. Dr. Karp teaches the ways in which many of the problems surrounding the toddler years can be eliminated through the use of his techniques and suggestions.
~ "The Girlfriends Guide to Toddlers: A Survival Manual to the Terrible Two's (and One's and Three's), From the First Step, the First Potty and the First Word (No) to the Last Blankie" by Vicki Iovine
This is the perfect book for parents who enjoy the lighter and more humorous side of parenting a toddler. Iovine takes a funny look at the challenges of raising toddlers, and the book is a much easier read than many of the books that are written by experts in the field. All mothers will find that they will quickly relate to the author's experiences due to the fact that she writes from a "real" mother's point of view. She does a wonderful job touching on the many aspects of having a toddler, such as eating and sleeping issues, potty training, and socializing.
~ "Naptime is the New Happy Hour: And Other Ways Toddlers Turn Your Life Upside Down" by Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
Written by a comedienne, this book offers a welcome and realistic break from parenting books authored by professional child development experts. Funny, yet insightful at the same time, Wilder-Taylor helps moms feel more at ease with the fact that none of us are perfect when it comes to raising our toddlers. This book truly provides the reader with a common-sense approach to the difficulties and joys of parenting.
~ "Fathering Your Toddler: A Dad's Guide to the Second and Third Years" by Armin A. Brott
Many parenting books tend to focus on mothers, but Armin A. Brott concentrates on the issues that fathers face in parenting a toddler. The author covers every imaginable concern that fathers of varying ages, stay-at-home dads, and even single fathers may have, and presents all of the information in an easy-to-understand manner. This book is written from the author's, and other father's, personal experiences, but there is also a great deal of advice based on the latest scientific research.