7 Baby Books All the Cool Moms Are Reading Right Now

You hear the big no-nos of pregnancy from the media, friends and family, but where does that advice actually come from? Emily Oster is an economist when she's not writing baby books, and she breaks down the myth vs. fact of all the classic things you're told not to engage in while pregnant — including the things you may not have even heard of. She specifically doesn't provide any recommendations (you have an OB for that) but simply presents the information for what it really is. Read it!

I've never necessarily thought about the behavior patterns of French children, but apparently they're very mature and well-slept little angels! Pamela Druckerman is an American journalist, but she became a mother in Paris and was immediately curious about the differences between American and European parenting. The result is a take-it-or-leave-it exploration about how we can reevaluate some of our parenting patterns here in the U.S. Read it!

It's the middle of the night, and you're going on hour two of trying to soothe the baby back to sleep. You could fall into a Google rabbit hole that leaves you feeling more worn out than when you started, or you could thumb the pages of "Moms on Call," full of actual, tangible routines and schedule ideas you can implement right then, right there. And it's the TL;DR version, because the pediatric nurses that wrote the series (oh yeah, there are two more where this came from!) know you're short on time these days. Read it!

It's a classic for a reason. If you ever find yourself wondering, "Is this a pregnancy symptom, or am I losing my mind?" This absolute tome of a read has the answer (and, BTW, the answer is usually that it's all normal). The chapters are split into each gestational month of pregnancy, so you can follow along at the pace of your pregnancy and into postpartum life. Read it!

Following "Expecting Better," Emily Oster took her unique approach back to the studies and data, this time covering decision-making from birth to preschool. Find the actually relevant info — not just vague advice — pertaining to breastfeeding, sleep and potty training, early talkers and more. Read it!

No matter how many times people will say it, it's hard to imagine that you have an instinct for motherhood. But Hollie de Cruz's book wants you to lean into that. It's a "you got this" read that doesn't feel trite, based in confidence-boosting, mindfulness and compassion that encourages all moms to find their groove in their own, unique way. Read it!

If you're like me, you assume Montessori parenting solely involves beige onesies and wooden toys. But the method goes deeper than that, more about empowering your child to experience the world around them in a safe, controlled environment as a way to understand themselves and, well, life. If that sounds like a philosophy you'd be into as a parent, this book will teach you how to feel confident in leading your little one. Read it!