7 of Australia’s latest and best baby books for new parents

Are you and your partner looking to acquire information from the best baby books for new parents? Australian authors have released several helpful reads in the last couple of years. You can draw on their up-to-date advice to smooth your ride from pregnancy to parenting.

Preparing for Birth: Mothers

Written by Jane Palmer and Andrea Robertson

What happens when an internationally acclaimed Australian speaker teams up with a well-known, privately practising midwife? You get up-to-date answers to all your pregnancy questions. Like, how do I keep healthy in pregnancy? How can I prepare for the first weeks following birth? What is a perineal massage?

The best baby books for new parents in Australia are not only up-to-date but written by natives who understand our Australian context. In Preparing for Birth: Mothers, it avoids irrelevant international information. Although comprehensive, Preparing for Birth: Mothers is also practical and reassuring. It draws on the years of experiences of the authors, both skilled in childbirth education. It provides balanced information on antenatal care and tests to let parents make informed decisions.

Beyond the birth plan: Getting real about pain and power

Written by Rhea Dempsey

Another one of the best pregnancy books recently is Beyond the Birth Plan. Of course, the physical side of birth might be at the front of your mind. But what about preparing emotionally and psychologically? Beyond the Birth Plan helps prepare you for this rite of passage.

Rhea brings wisdom from her years of working as a childbirth educator and perinatal counsellor. She explores your pre-existing baggage and fears and considersour cultural beliefs about birth. Rhea includes both her own experiences and stories from women around Australia.

The Healthy Baby Gut Guide: Prevent Allergies, Build Immunity and Develop Good Gut Health From Day One

Written by Dr Vincent Ho

The topic of gut health might sound a bit alternative and “out there”. However, the best pregnancy books draw on the latest scientific research, and so does this one. The Healthy Baby Gut Guide explains what scientists are discovering about the lifelong effect of our early gut health. Conditions like eczema, hay fever, allergies and asthma are linked to gut health. These conditions can have uncomfortable or even deadly consequences. But there are things we can do as parents to prevent them.

Dr Vincent Ho is a leading gastroenterologist and senior lecturer in Sydney. He has broken down the latest scientific evidence into actionable steps in this book. We have chances to intervene in our baby’s gut health from conception through to birth, when breastfeeding and when starting solids. The Healthy Baby Gut Guide offers practical strategies for strengthening your child’s immune system.

Beyond the Bump

Written by Sally Shepherd

A lot of advice for new parents focuses on looking after your little one. But the best baby books for new parents also talk about you. As of course, a happy, well parent is essential for a contented, well baby.

Clinical psychologist Sally Shepherd is also a young mum living on the Sunshine Coast. She draws on her personal and professional insights to help with the usual hurdles of first-time motherhood. Beyond the Bump addresses how to navigate your body after birth, relationships, plans to return to work (or not), and your identity. There’s also advice on depression, anxiety and rage.

Sally’s writing uses a conversational style like a savvy, kind friend. Along with honest stories from other mothers, it makes for a highly readable book.

Nurturing Your New Life

Written by Heidi Sze

Dietitian and mother, Heidi Sze, lives on the Mornington Peninsula. Her book helps new mothers nourish themselves both physically and emotionally. Using her own experiences, Nurturing Your New Life frees us from unrealistic expectations about parenting a new baby. Instead, she suggests tuning into your values and needs and surrendering to your new life with acceptance, not guilt. Her writing style is honest, non-judgmental and easy to read. Nurturing Your New Life backs up the advice on self-care with simple and nutritious recipes.

Anxious Mums

Written by Dr Jodi Richardson

Many women experience anxiety during and after pregnancy. Living with anxiety herself, Dr Jodi Richardson is only too aware of how becoming a parent can cause you to worry. And how concern can restrict your life and impact your family. Mothers grappling with anxiety will feel seen and understood by Jodi’s writing.

Anxious Mums shows you how to improve your mental health for yourself and your little one. It draws on science, positive psychology, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Jodi helps you develop the thinking skills and confidence to cope with the everyday troubles of motherhood. As a result, you can fulfil your own goals, strengthen your relationships and raise emotionally healthy children.

50 Risks to Take With Your Kids

Written by Daisy Turnbull

Some of the best baby books for new parents take you way beyond infancy. Daisy Turnbull, head of wellbeing at a Sydney school, sets 50 risky challenges for children from 0 to 10. It’s an antidote to “helicopter parenting” and being overprotective. Even before the baby arrives, we do our best to keep them safe. But to become confident, resilient, problem-solvers, children must explore outside their comfort zone. 50 Risks to Take with your Kids is an evidence-based guide to helping children push their boundaries.

The risks are for the parents to take in the first year, not the baby. Later on, risks include showing vulnerability, failing at something, and washing the car (as young as age 3!). 50 Risks to Take with your Kids is a humorous book written with warmth, not judgment.

Although humans have been having babies for centuries, we keep finding new ways to support fellow parents. So it’s helpful to tap into a breadth of perspectives among these latest and best baby books for new parents. So which of these recent Australian books offers the encouragement or information you most need right now?

Published on 27th December 2021