I once tried to make a list of parenting books, but that time it was made on the basis of recommendations found in the Web, and now it’s very, very funny to me. But let’s leave it for the history and overall picture.
Today is the time for a second try, and this time most of the books are already in the category of read and strongly recommended by me. Let’s say more can be read, but these, in my opinion, are enough to miss nothing and more or less cover everything that worries the expectant mother or a mother of a child from zero to three. Most importantly, most of these books are Ukrainian or have already been translated and published in Ukrainian ♥ ️.
Books on natural family planning, childbirth and breastfeeding
1. Brilliant Ukrainian trilogy
- O. Cook, Z. Gorodenchuk, O. Sokalska – Learning to Recognize Fertility
- Z. Gorodenchuk, T. Lekhnovska, O. Struk – Learning to give a birth
- Z. Gorodenchuk, O. Shlemkevich – Learning to Breastfeed
2. Grantly Dick-Read – Childbirth without Fear
Grantly Dick-Read – Childbirth Without Fear is a classic work that laid the foundation for natural childbirth philosophy in the 20th century. First published in 1942, the book argues that much of the pain of childbirth is caused by fear, which leads to tension and thus increases pain—a cycle he termed the “fear–tension–pain” syndrome. Drawing from observations of women around the world, Dick-Read promotes education, relaxation, and trust in the body’s natural ability to give birth. His approach encourages a calm, supported, and informed experience, aiming to restore dignity and confidence to birthing women.
2a. Michel Odent – Birth Reborn
Michel Odent – Birth Reborn is a pioneering book that reimagines childbirth as a natural, instinctive process rather than a medicalized event. Drawing from his experience as a French obstetrician and founder of the birthing center in Pithiviers, Odent advocates for environments that support the physiological needs of birthing women—privacy, warmth, and freedom of movement. He challenges the overuse of interventions and emphasizes the role of hormones, emotional safety, and minimal interference. The book combines research, birth stories, and practical recommendations, inspiring a gentle, woman-centered approach that honors both mother and baby’s innate capabilities.
Parenting books
3. Ingrid Bauer – Diaper Free!
Ingrid Bauer – Diaper Free! The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene introduces the practice of Elimination Communication (EC), a natural, responsive approach to infant toileting based on reading a baby’s signals and timing. Drawing from traditional caregiving practices around the world, Bauer offers a respectful alternative to full-time diaper use, emphasizing communication, connection, and trust between caregiver and child. The book provides practical guidance on starting EC at any age, whether part-time or full-time, and encourages a flexible, intuitive mindset. It challenges Western norms about toileting and promotes early bodily awareness, reduced diaper dependency, and a deeper bond with the child.
Probably one of my most favorite parenting books.
4. John Medina – Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five
John Medina – Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five blends neuroscience with practical parenting advice to help caregivers support optimal brain development in early childhood. Medina, a developmental molecular biologist, presents evidence-based insights on how the brain grows and what truly influences a child’s emotional and cognitive outcomes. The book covers topics like pregnancy, bonding, discipline, empathy, sleep, and learning, debunking popular myths along the way. With clarity and humor, Medina emphasizes that a loving, responsive, and emotionally safe environment—not flashcards or overachievement—lays the foundation for both intelligence and happiness.
5. Deborah MacNamara – Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One)
Deborah MacNamara – Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One) is a developmental guide based on the attachment-based, relational approach of psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld. The book explores how young children grow through deep emotional bonds, play, and safe relationships rather than behavior control or early academics. MacNamara explains the inner world of preschoolers—their intense emotions, dependence, and need for connection—and offers compassionate, practical strategies for nurturing their development. Emphasizing the importance of rest (emotional safety), play (true, expressive play), and growth (maturation through relationship), the book helps adults support children with patience and insight.
A must-read among parenting books.
6. Alla Slotvinska – Playing Together or How to Cope with I-do-not-wants
Alla Slotvinska – Playing Together or How to Cope with I-do-not-wants is a light, clear and practical guide to a deeper understanding of a child and building a strategy of efficient dealing with confusing situations.
The book is not yet translated to English.
Top parenting books on Ukrainian market.
7. Carlos González
Kiss Me! How to Raise Your Children with Love
A very warm and soothing book from a father and a pediatrician. Carlos González – Kiss Me! How to Raise Your Children with Love is a passionate defense of attachment-based parenting. Drawing on scientific research and his experience as a pediatrician, González advocates for responsive, affectionate care—breastfeeding on demand, co-sleeping, holding, and comforting—as natural and beneficial. He challenges authoritarian methods, rigid routines, and myths about “spoiling,” arguing that love, trust, and physical closeness are essential to healthy child development. The book encourages parents to follow their instincts, reject fear-based advice, and raise children with empathy, freedom, and deep emotional connection.
My Child Won’t Eat
If you need to stop worrying about your child’s food behavior. Carlos González – My Child Won’t Eat! is a reassuring, evidence-based book that challenges common myths and anxieties around children’s eating habits. Written by a Spanish pediatrician, it emphasizes trust in a child’s natural appetite and growth patterns, arguing that most feeding problems stem from adult expectations rather than real health issues. González debunks the pressure to force-feed or over-monitor portions, instead promoting relaxed, respectful mealtimes. The book empowers parents to stop worrying and support their child’s autonomy, showing that healthy children rarely starve themselves and will eat what they need when they need it.
8. Mary Sheedy Kurcinka – Raising Your Spirited Child: A Guide for Parents Whose Child is More Intense, Sensitive, Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic
Raising Your Spirited Child by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka is a practical and empathetic guide for parents of children who are more intense, sensitive, perceptive, persistent, and energetic than average. The book offers tools to understand these traits not as problems but as strengths, helping families navigate daily challenges with warmth, structure, and effective communication. It emphasizes emotional coaching, consistent routines, and respectful discipline tailored to spirited children’s unique needs.
9. Jean Liedloff – The Continuum Theory
A bit of anthropology and fresh thinking in order to return the logic of nature to parenting. Jean Liedloff – The Continuum Concept: In Search of Happiness Lost is a groundbreaking book that explores how modern child-rearing practices conflict with our evolutionary instincts. Based on Liedloff’s time with the Yequana people of the Venezuelan jungle, the book introduces the “continuum concept”—the idea that humans thrive when their upbringing aligns with innate expectations shaped over millennia. It advocates for practices like constant physical closeness in infancy, responsive parenting, and natural social integration, challenging Western norms and offering a compelling vision of harmonious development and well-being.
10. Janusz Korczak – How to Love a Child
The kindest and deepest book about the inner world of a child. How to Love a Child is a seminal work by the Polish-Jewish educator, pediatrician, and children’s rights advocate. Written in the early 20th century, the book is both a heartfelt plea and a practical guide for respecting children as full human beings. Korczak emphasizes empathy, dignity, and trust in adult–child relationships, challenging authoritarian parenting and educational systems. Drawing from his experience running orphanages, he offers insights into children’s inner lives and advocates for their right to be heard, understood, and loved unconditionally. The work remains deeply relevant for modern parenting and pedagogy. A Queen of parenting books.
