With each of my babies, I’ve read during feeds. Doomscrolling quickly gets boring. Seeing people living life when yours feels so incredibly different from before, is tough, too.
So this got me thinking, what book that I’ve read would I gift a new parent, or which one would I recommend you read as a new mum?
The books I’ve read aren’t all about parenting, some are, others are just nice easy reads for tired minds. I did find reading books about parenting and being a new mum was helpful when I was in the thick of it. Made me think, AHH YES THIS IS NORMAL. I FEEL THIS WEIRD, TOO. WHY DIDN’T ANY ONE TELL ME?
This leads me to my first recommendation of books to gift a new parent.
Parenting books to buy a new parent
Nobody Told Me – Hollie McNish
I absolutely love Hollie McNish. She’s a spoken word poet. But this book isn’t only poetry. It’s entries from a journal during her pregnancy and early years of her child’s life. So much in there I just keep thinking “ME TOO!” It’s a quick read and one you can easily pick up and put down as it’s in a diary format, which is helpful when you are up for night feeds.
Here’s her performing one of the poems from the book.
The Unmumsy Mum – Sarah Turner
I read this in the middle of the night with my first baby, it was funny. Easy to follow and reminded me that I wasn’t alone in all this.
The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read – Philippa Perry
I read this once and listened to the audiobook. It’s one to have in your drawer and dip into every now and then. By diving into childhoods you will even learn something about yourself and why you are triggered by certain things. It’s fantastic.
Listen to the first few chapters here:
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2kyq8WwyFro?si=bFpfttW8I1o7vp42" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen>Happy Mum Happy Baby – Giovanna Fletcher
In this book, Giovanna shares her experience of motherhood. Looking back through each child and pregnancy. If you like her and her podcast, you’ll enjoy this.
Dummy – Matt Coyne
I got this for my husband when we were having our baby. It’s light hearted, funny, and painfully true. Nice touch that it’s told from the perspective of a new dad.
Other non fiction books on my list about parenting and motherhood. When you first have a baby, or your friend does, you’re probably not thinking of that baby being a child with opinions etc. But, I wish I’d read the following books sooner to get a head start!
- No such thing as naughty
- How to be the grown up
- How to talk so little kids will listen
Fiction books to buy a new parent
These are easy reads for tired minds. That’s not to say they aren’t good stories!
Adrian Mole – Sue Townsend
Lighthearted and classic. The Adrian Mole series still makes me laugh. Written in the 1980s, it’s still great. Funny and in a diary format, it will be easy to dip in and out of.
The Hand that First Held Mine – Maggie O’Farrell
Such a great story. It’s really stayed with me. Maggie O’Farrell has a wonderful way with words. As a mum herself, she absolutely nails writing from the perspective of a new mum in one of the sections.
Other ones I’ve enjoyed with a motherhood/parent theme:
- Where Rainbows End – Cecilia Ahern
- Bridget Jones Baby – Helen Fielding
- Watermelon – Marian Keyes
Read some more easy read books on my blog.
Looking for other gifts to buy a new parent that are useful. Read the blog here.
Fromthemotherside 
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