Toddler Parenting Books I've Read

Up until about the 18 month mark, I wasn’t really “parenting” as much as I was doing baby care mechanics. The mission is keep baby alive. You can add some bells and whistles like listening to Mozart or take them to a gym class, but more or less they are like a Tamagotchi - they require the basic vital needs of feeding, sleeping.

I am not diminishing the work in that first stage! It’s a lot of work for sure! But I also knew that at a certain point I would be required to expand my role beyond diaper changing mechanics. I would need to add some sort of philosophy and approach to discipline to my mom resume. What does this job promotion entail? What was it going to mean for me personally? How was I going to handle tantrums?

At the 18 month mark, I did a toddler parenting book haul, because Lord knows I love a good user manual. I find comfort and nourishment in a clearly defined process. I was hoping some of these books would provide that for me. A pre-meditated, already-proven logical sequence that will set me up for success? Awwww!

So here’s what I read: