While the author doesn’t need to be a medical doctor or world-renowned expert, make sure they are credible and the book aligns with your lifestyle and family. We carefully considered author credibility, reputable information, lifestyle alignment, and value when reviewing products. Here are the best parenting books to read when you are raising a toddler. Jo Frost’s “Toddler Rules: Your 5-Step Guide to Shaping Proper Behavior” ranks high on our list because it’s easy to understand and follow. Author Jo Frost is a world-renowned expert best known for her TV show Supernanny. The praise is well deserved as this guide focuses on practical advice to help parents during the tough toddler years. Frost’s five-step program is easy to digest and zeroes in on key problem areas including sleep, food, learning, play, and manners. Easy-to-remember acronyms, like the “S.O.S.” method of Step Back, Observe, Step In will provide parents with straightforward, honest, and easy-to-implement advice. Price at time of publication: $18 A simple four-step program will help parents create strategies for handling common pain points like mealtime, sibling struggles, bedtime, school, and other daily situations. Price at time of publication: $19 Price at time of publication: $17 Price at time of publication: $17 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $11 Price at time of publication: $13 A “parenting toolbox” allows moms and dads to quickly reference what they’ve learned. Some readers find the toolbox so helpful that it takes up a permanent spot on their fridge. Price at time of publication: $18 Price at time of publication: $16
Lifestyle Alignment
Find the right book for your family and lifestyle. If you are religious, are raising twins or siblings, have a gifted child, or anything else, a book that is catered more toward your needs will be most helpful. If you aren’t a big reader, aim for a short or funny book. If you prefer lists, go with a workbook-style guide. Choose a book that you’ll actually want to read so that you can absorb the advice and apply it.
Why Trust Verywell Family?
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an 11-year-old son, a 7-year-old son, and a 3-year-old daughter. Maya has lived through the toddler years three times over and has found the most useful book to be How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk. Somehow she finds herself checking it out from the library once every year or so for a quick refresher. Since tantrums are normal, harsh punishment isn’t the answer. Instead, address the underlying cause. If a child has trouble saying they don’t want to eat a certain food, teach them the words and let them practice. If it’s difficult for them to leave the playground when it’s time to go, teach them to take a deep breath when they are feeling upset, and give them a 5-minute warning next time so they are not so surprised. In general, toddlers do not always understand the underlying reason for a rule, such as why they can’t take a toy out of a store without paying. It’s fine to skip the background info or give them a quick explanation, such as, “No hitting. Hitting hurts.” But skip the long-winded discussions and focus on the behavior you want to encourage: “Hitting hurts. Use gentle touches.”
