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The Anxious Parents' Guide to
Quality Childcare
by Michelle Ehrich
(List: $11.95/Amazon Price: $9.56)
Take an in-depth look at the process of selecting a caregiver, from assessing prospects to choosing the type of childcare arrangement that is best for your children, schedule, and budget. The Anxious Parents' Guide to Quality Childcare guides and supports you through the often intimidating process of interviewing nannies, visiting daycare centers, and thoroughly checking references. The book dispels the "I am a bad parent" blues and instead helps parents concentrate on finding a daycare facility or nanny that they can trust. It is an invaluable and compact guide to assist you in making the right decision for your child's well-being...and your own peace of mind. Buy it today
Your Child's Health : The Parents' Guide to Symptoms,
Emergencies, Common
Illnesses, Behavior and School Problems
by Dr. Barton
Schmitt (List: $18.95/Amazon Price: $15.16)
Without a doubt, this is the BEST children's healthcare book on the market (my apologies to Dr. Spock). When you find the text on your child's illness, or on a set of symptoms, Dr. Schmitt give a thorough explanation of what is going on and the home treatment. He also tells you what else the condition may be so you can clarify your "diagnosis". THEN (this is the best part), depending upon your child's specific condition, he tells you if you should 1) go to the emergency room; 2) call the pediatrician right away; 3) wait until morning to call the doctor during office hours or 4) call the day after or a specific number of days if the symptoms/illness does not go away. This method gives the parent some perspective on how ill or hurt the child really is at a time when it can be tough to keep a level head. Furthermore, Dr. Schmitt give some really clear explanations and guidance on general child-rearing issues (discipline, sleep problems, developmental issues etc. etc.) that I found very comforting. Our copy of this book is well-thumbed! If you get only one children's healthcare book, make it this one! Buy it today
Confessions of a Happily Organized Family
by Deneice Schofield (List: $11.99/Amazon Price: $9.59)
I bought this book at a time when I felt my house (and life) was crashing down around me. No, it does not clean or cook for you but, it does give you some really simple, easy-to-do ideas about how to make things run smoother in your home, your schedule and your life. For example, Deniece (mother of five) advises that you should store items near where you use them. Sounds simple, right? Well, why were all my screwdrivers and hammers in the basement toolbox when I used them in our living space? They never got put away down there and thus, were always lost in the shuffle. So, I moved the three most used tools to a drawer in the kitchen - easy to get to and easy to put away. Duh! The book has so many of these "Why didn't I think of that?" ideas; it will make a big and visible difference in your hectic life! Buy it today
Dr. Spock's Baby and Child CareAfter Your Child's Health by Dr. Schmitt
(see above), if you want a second opinion, then Dr. Spock is the one to
see. Sometimes, especially when my kids were young and I was really unsure
of myself, I would read Dr. Schmitt, then cross-reference with Dr. Spock - just
to be sure. That "second opinion" often made me feel SO much
better! Buy it today
What to Expect the First Year
by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff, Sandee Eisenberg-Hathaway (List:
$13.95/Amazon Price: $11.16)
How
do parents survive that first year of their child's life - especially their
first child???? When I left that hospital with my firstborn, I
wondered how they could let me leave without an instruction manual. This book
is that manual! It is divided into months so you can tell if
"things" are on schedule with your bundle of joy. Each chapter
opens with a summary of developmental milestones USUALLY seem at this age.
Plus, there is information on the weird stuff too: Green poop?
Spitting up all the time? Colic? Acne? Not sleeping? You name it, it's in this
book! (Warning: There are parents who find this book to be objectionable:
too rigid or too relaxed or just plain wrong. I still think it is a great
book.) Buy it today
Siblings Without Rivalry : 
How to Help Your Children Live
Together So You Can Live Too
by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish (List: $12.00/Amazon Price: $9.60)
If you have more than one child, then you MUST
have this book on your shelf! Childrearing books tend to be very verbose,
giving a lot of "whys" and less of the "what to do".
Faber and Mazlish have a different approach. This book describes each of
those nightmare sibling situations (no, they don't just happen with YOUR kids!),
and then discusses how you probably responded (usually they were right about
me), how your kids would interpret that, and then they suggest alternative, more
productive ways to handle the situation. Their advice usually works, quite
well, I'd say (although as my kids change, I have to change my approach).
The book is easy to read: short chapters and some cartoons (for the sibling
scenarios). Of all the "child psych." books I have bought, this
is the only one I read again and again. Buy it today
How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk
by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish (List: $12.50/Amazon Price: $10.00)
Again, a wonderful book by Faber and Mazlish, this time dealing with how to establish productive and constructive dialogue with your children.
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