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The best parenting books for every stage of the journey
We've rounded up the best parenting books currently available to help guide you through every stage of the journey, from (long) newborn nights to teenage tantrums.
By Jenny Wonnacott | Last updated Aug 19, 2025
Every child is different and there's no one 'right way' to parent them all - some parents will swear by the strict methods of one parenting book while others will find them little to no help at all. On that note, there's no one parenting book which has all the answers, but there are some which are mentioned time and time again on the Mumsnet forums as particularly useful, informative and enlightening for certain stages and phases of the parenting journey.
As home to the largest online network of parents in the UK, Mumsnet is the place to go for all advice, tips and tricks of the trade when it comes to parenting, from the best pregnancy tests to buy at the very start of the journey to the most effective stretch mark cream to choose as your pregnancy progresses.
The best parenting books: at a glance
Overall best parenting book
First-Time Parent
Lucy Atkins
Best parenting book for communication
How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen
Joanna Faber and Julie King
Best parenting book for potty training
Oh Crap! Potty Training
Jamie Glowacki
We've taken a deep dive into the Mumsnet forums to find the best parenting books recommended for each stage of the journey, from the days of sleeping routines and weaning advice to navigating the teenage years. We then cross-referenced the top recommendations from Mumsnetters with parenting book best buy lists, consumer reviews and expert endorsements. Whatever your parenting style and whichever stage of parenting you're looking for guidance on, we've got you covered. So sit back, relax into your favourite pregnancy pillow and read on to discover our pick of the best books to guide you through the years to come.
Here's our top 10 best parenting books UK 2026.
Best parenting book overall
First-Time Parent: The Honest Guide to Coping Brilliantly and Staying Sane in Your Baby’s First Year
Offers an in-depth guide to the first year
Includes information on single-parenting, adoption, multiples and babies with special needs
Easy to read, non-preachy
Pricey
Published in 2009 so some advice may be a little outdated
Key specs
Price on writing: £15 paperback, £9 Kindle | Stage covered: First year | Length of book: 224 pages | Latest edition: 2009
What Mumsnet users say
One of the best parenting books in terms of popularity on the Mumsnet forums, users love this book for its 'non-preachy' approach for first-timers. Written by health journalist and mum-of-three Lucy Atkins, First-Time Parent provides a comprehensive guide to all aspects of parenting in the first 12 months, from the heady first few hours to coping with holidays and making decisions on childcare.
Mumsnet users particularly like the humorous, non-judgmental tone of this book and though it was published over 10 years ago, much of the advice and information covered remains relevant today, making this the perfect follow-up read to the best pregnancy books.
Best parenting book for psychological development
Your Baby and Child: From Birth to Age Five
Covers a wide range of years and stages
Recently updated
Pricey
Key specs
Price on writing: £18 Paperback, £10 Kindle | Stage covered: Birth to age five | Length: 576 pages | Latest edition: 2022
What Mumsnet users say
With a new edition published recently, Your Baby & Child offers an up-to-date, in-depth guide to your child's psychological development from the newborn days to their first year at school. Widely regarded and respected as one of the world's leading writers on parenting, Penelope Leach combines expertise on child psychology with new scientific research, making this one of the best parenting books for authoritative advice and tips.
Mumsnet users describe Leach's advice as 'sensible' and 'non-judgmental' and the book features useful diagrams for every stage of early parenthood from feeding to walking. It's divided into five sections covering newborns, the first six months, six to twelve months, toddlers and children aged two to five. Milestones covered include sleep, play, communication, potty training and navigating the early years of education.
Read next: Discover the best gifts for new mums and top recommendations for the best prenatal vitamins.
Best parenting book about communication
How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7
Good tips laid out comprehensively
Follow-up books available for the next stages of development
Some reviewers said the techniques don't work as well if a child has SEN
Key specs
Price on writing: £10 paperback, £7 Kindle | Stage covered: Age 2 - 7 | Length: 432 pages | Latest edition: 2017
What Mumsnet users say
Answering questions such as how to respond to a child who hurts their baby sibling or what to say to the stubborn pre-schooler who refuses to go to bed, this popular parenting book by Julie King and Joanna Faber comes from the 'How To Talk' series and covers a wide range of communication must-knows when it comes to the early childhood years. Along with How To Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk and How To Talk So Teens Will Listen and Listen So Teens Will Talk, these are some of the best parenting books you can buy on the subject of communication.
Mumsnet users praise it for its insightful approach to communicating with small children, with key tips and advice on positive discipline to help avoid a shouty household and reduce frustration from parents and children alike.
Related: Pregnant and feeling in need of a wardrobe overhaul to accommodate your changing body? We've got you covered with our guides to the top-ranking maternity clothes, from the best maternity bras to the comfiest maternity leggings, all recommended by Mumsnet users.
Best parenting book about potty training
Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right
Easy and enjoyable to read
Covers a huge range of potty training scenarios/questions
Some reviewers weren't keen on the style of writing
Requires child to go commando for a month or so, which can be impractical
Key specs
Price on writing: £19 Paperback, £7 Kindle | Stage covered: Potty training | Length: 304 pages | Latest edition: 2015
What Mumsnet users say
Few stages of early parenthood are as tough as potty training can be, so a parenting book which promises to make the whole process easier and faster can be worth its weight in gold.
Mumsnetters love the 'Oh Crap!' method - or, to give the book its full title: Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right. Written by social worker and so-called 'Pied Piper of Poop' Jamie Glowacki, the book uses age-appropriate strategies to guide you through the entire process step by step without the need for bribery or gimmicks and promises 'self initiation' results in three weeks for the vast majority of children. Hands down one of the best parenting books on the subject of potty training.
Best parenting book for 'big picture' perspective
The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will Be Glad That You Did)
Offers insight into how your own upbringing influences parenting style
Endorsed by Richard Osman, Nigella Lawson and Elizabeth Day
Some reviewers say some of the advice is impractical in terms of realistic parenting goals
Key specs
Price on writing: £9 paperback, £6 Kindle | Stage covered: Childhood | Length: 272 pages | Latest edition: 2020
What Mumsnet users say
Coming highly recommended on Mumsnet as well as by celebrities including Richard Osman, Josh Widdicombe and Nigella Lawson, this parenting book by pyschotherapist Philippa Perry takes a deep dive into family relationships, revealing how your own upbringing shapes and influences your choices as a parent.
This book offers parents a valuable insight not only into how and why children act the way they do, but why we do too as parents. Although some reviewers said that some of the tips and advice are not the most realistic in terms of modern day parenting, many say that its 'big picture' perspective has helped them making better parenting choices.
Best parenting book covering 'what to expect'
Your Baby Week by Week: The ultimate guide to caring for your new baby
Updated in 2018
Provides an in-depth guide to what to expect week by week
Only covers first six months
Key specs
Price on writing: £13 paperback, £10 Kindle | Stage covered: First six months | Length: 336 pages | Latest edition: 2018
What Mumsnet users say
Full of reassuring advice, Your Baby Week by Week tells you what to expect before it happens so you needn't be unnecessarily alarmed. Written by paediatrician Dr Caroline Fertleman and health writer Simone Cave, it covers all the basics like sleep, feeding, washing, crying, play and development, as well as other topics including vaccinations and colic.
Although first published in 2007, the latest edition was updated in 2018 so the advice is fairly up-to-date. Much like love-it-or-hate-it items such as TENS machines, week-by-week guides often divide opinions, with some readers liking the reassurance of knowing what they can reasonably expect to happen in minute detail, and others disliking the feel of expectation/pressure it can place on parents.
Read next: Discover more written advice and tips from experts with our guide to the best hypnobirthing book.
Best parenting book for teenagers
Get Out of My Life: The bestselling guide to the twenty-first-century teenager
Updated version covers latest issues teens face
Easy to read
Some reviewers said it was more intent on explaining behaviour rather than offering advice on what to do
Key specs
Price on writing: £11 paperback, £6 Kindle | Stage covered: Teenagers | Length: 320 pages | Latest edition: 2020
What Mumsnet users say
Updated from its earlier version to encompass new issues such as social media, porn and online threats, Get Out of My Life offers a witty insight into the mind of teenagers, explaining the reasons behind what they do and say. Written by a clinical psychologist (Wolf) and professor of journalism (Franks) the book has been described as a lifeline for many a parent of teens, helping explain their motives and giving tips to help improve relationships and behaviour.
Many Mumsnet users recommend this for the teen and 'tween' years for reassurance that others are going through the same trials as you are as much as the tips and advice offered.
Best parenting book for dads
The Expectant Dad's Survival Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Non-patronising
Contains lots of useful information
Might be a little dated now
Only covers up to 6 weeks post-birth
Key specs
Price on writing: £12 paperback, £10 Kindle | Stage covered: Pregnancy - newborn up to six weeks | Length: 272 pages | Latest edition: 2010
What Mumsnet users say
There are plenty of parenting books out there specifically for new dads but Rob Kemp's 'survival guide' is continuously recommended on the Mumsnet forums for being genuinely useful and the least patronising. See also: The New Dad's Survival Guide which we rank as one of the best parenting books for up to 18 months.
Covering topics from buying newborn essentials to cutting the umbilical cord, The Expectant Dad's Survival Guide offers a funny, no-nonsense approach to impending fatherhood and although it's over ten years old now, remains one of the most popular parenting books for dads on the market.
Related: If you're pregnant and feeling the strain, don't miss our guides to the best birthing ball to help ease aches and pains, as well as the top-ranking pregnancy support belts according to Mumsnet users.
What books should I read about parenting?
Parenting books (like all books) can be a hugely contentious subject, with some parents swearing by the tips of one, only for others to regard it as useless. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to parenting, and as such there isn't one best parenting book or even list of parenting books which will solve all the possible questions, issues, problems that parents may face. Having said that, there are certain books which crop up time and time again on the Mumsnet forums in answer to the question of 'which parenting book is best' and we've done our best to reflect those books here.
When should I start reading parenting books?
As a general rule, it's probably best to start reading the early years parenting books during pregnancy as once the baby arrives it can prove extremely tricky to find the time (and concentration) for reading anything. Why not make it part of your self-care routine after applying your favourite skincare for pregnancy products?
Having said that, there probably isn't much point cracking out your guide to teenage years while you're still in the throes of pregnancy, newborns and nappies (for one thing all the advice will probably be scarily out of date by the time it becomes relevant).
Where do I start with parenting books?
With so many parenting books to choose from it can be hard to know where to start. Here’s some things to take into account when making your choice:
Area of focus: Are you looking for one book that covers everything from pregnancy to teenagers, or are you happy to read a book focused on a specific stage such as communication, potty training, starting school, growing up?
Format: We’ve linked to the paperback copies and Kindle/e-readers, but audiobooks are also becoming an increasingly popular format (and can be a great option for busy parents-to-be) so it could be worth checking whether your book of choice comes in this format too.
Expert author?: What is the expertise of the author and can you trust their advice? Look for books written from reliable sources of information, particularly if they are focused on a particular approach to parenting, i.e. psychological.
Ease of reading: Look for books that have short chapters, easy to read formatting or bitesized chunks of information. These are much easier to dip in and out of as you wish and make some of the more overwhelming information easier to digest. A non-preachy, approachable tone is always a winner in our eyes too. Parenting is hard enough without being preached at, right?!
What are your preferences?: It's always a good idea to know what sort of parenting tips you don't want - i.e., if you are against sleep training, don't go for an author known to advocate controlled crying.
How we chose our recommendations
There are a huge number of parenting books to choose from, some covering pregnancy up to the first few months of babyhood and others going right through to the parenting of young adults.
In order to make sure we were confident with our recommendations, we thoroughly investigated expert online reviews and tried and tested experiences on retailer sites such as Amazon and Waterstones, as well as our Mumsnetters' own recommendations on the best parenting books they read and enjoyed. We also paid close attention to parenting books with updated editions to ensure our recommendations for the best parenting books reflected advice and tips that were as relevant to modern-day parents as possible, particularly when it came to books about older children and teenagers.
We researched the pros and cons of each parenting book, including its format, the complexity of the information and the reputations of the authors. Finally we looked at which parenting books worked best for each scenario to bring you our final list of recommendations.
About the author
Mum-of-three Jenny Wonnacott is a Content Editor for Mumsnet, specialising in writing, editing and optimising pregnancy care and child play content.
Before joining the content team at Mumsnet, Jenny worked as a journalist for newspapers, radio, TV and b2b trades magazines for over a decade. She is also a bestselling sci-fi author (writing as J M Briscoe) and parenting blogger.
As a parent of three primary school-aged children, Jenny is passionate about making Mumsetters' lives easier through rigorous research of all items recommended in buyers' guides such as these, as well as product reviews and expert advice on all things pregnancy and child play related.
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