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Top 5 Best Practical Parenting Books For Useful and Realistic Parenting Help

Intentional parenting and child training takes a lot of effort. Moms like you and I, moms who are determined to raise great kids, need parenting books that understand our parenting goals. Parenting books and resources that tell you, “when your child does this, you should do this.” Boring ole’ facts. Strait to the point help! So… I made a list! Below are my top 5 best practical parenting books. Parenting books to give you just the right answer to your parenting question, when you need it!

young mom looking through one of the top 5 best parenting books while sitting with her baby in a stroller at her park

Dont you love that bittersweet feeling of finishing a good book?

You don’t really need to get anything out of pleasure reading except that great feeling, ya know? 

However, when you have parenting questions or face a challenge with your little one and you buy a book to help you solve it, the only great feeling you want is having fixed the problem! So, just what does make for good parenting books?

Good parenting books should answer this question:

“How do I  ___________?” And they should do so with this kind of answer, “To  ________, you should #1________ #2__________ #3_________!”

Just tell me what I need to know.

There are so many parenting topics to cover. It’s surprising that more parenting books are not written straight to the point. I love a good story, but when it comes to wanting to get something done, solutions are all that really matter.

It drives me crazy to thumb through pages of fluff to find one useful nugget of real information.

James Dobson parenting books are great. His years of experience, life’s work, and knowledge shine through in everything he writes. You’ll finish his books with a sense of parenting power. Ready to face whatever parenting challenges are ahead.

Unfortunately, however, often times, when a challenge does come up, you’re left asking yourself, “wait, what do I do right now? I know I read about it, but I can’t remember?” “Someone just tell me what to do!”

The problem is, the parenting answer you need is sorta buried in the book. After years of intentional parenting, I can pull the info I need from my brain’s library. Back in the day, though, I remember clearly how frustrating it was just needing an answer and not being able to put my finger on it.

What do I do?

I’ve created a list of my favorite top 5 best practical parenting books that give straightforward, easy-to-read info, in a strait-forward easy to read way. I have read many parenting books, but these books have helped me raise and train my handful of stellar kiddos.

They have the answers you need in a ready-and-waiting-for-you way. These books cover babies to teens. Topics from sleep training to discipline, to sibling rivalry. There’s a book in this list with an answer for you.

Top 5 Best Practical Parenting Books

Coming in at number 1.

Drum roll please… (alright that’s probably not necessary)

1. Focus On The Family’s Complete Book of Baby and Child Care.

Note: This site may earn from qualifying purchases through affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

2. God Knows How To Raising Your Kids… even if you don’t. by Joe McGee

**As a side note, it is my strong belief that the first 5 years of a child’s life are without a doubt the greatest opportunity parents have to train, teach and establish good habits within a child. Giving them a mental program of good conduct to carry through their lives. To get you started on the right track, I wrote this book here that you can have for free by clicking here.

3. The New Dare To Discipline. by Dr. James Dobson

Since there is a lot of creative writing to read in order to get to the nuts and bolts in this book. You should read this book with a highlighter! Have it ready to go. Highlight the sentences you know you’ll need later, along with a note at the top giving a brief explanation of what is mentioned.

4. Keep The Siblings Lose The Rivalry. by Dr. Todd Cartmell

5. Have A New Kid by Friday. by Dr. Kevin Leman

If you pick up this book to read it… then you need it. Don’t allow yourself to believe that a little bit of negative behavior is no big deal. After all, other kids are so much worse. Each and every moment you invest in training your child is a moment well spent. He will only be better off for it.

Therefore, take the information in this book and make it work for your family’s needs. Much of what he lays out was already in place at our home. However, reading this book helped me crank it up a notch with my preteen.

More Parenting Book Favorites

1, 2, 3 Magic for correctly and effectively disciplining ages 2-12.

Grace Based Parenting for learning how to discipline while maintaining a healthy relationship.

Bringing Up Boys for raising the world’s furture men.

Bringing Up Girls for raising the world’s future women.

Parenting Isn’t for Cowards for the truth about good parenting.

3 Things Left To Do

Finally, these 5 books will give you what you need. I’ve told you what each one has to offer and whatever it is you need to know, the answer is in one of them.

So, now you have 3 things left to do:

#1. buy the book (or books) you need

#2. read the book(s) 

#3. DO WHAT IT SAYS!

Reading the book is good. Understanding is great. Applying it can be life-changing.

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2 Comments

  • Kaveeta Rios says:

    I’m curious as to whether you have any book recommendations that are written by women for women? I realize that I may be a bit bias, but I want to hear from parents that have “been there, done that”, as opposed to middle aged men… some suggestions please.

    • Shelley says:

      Hi Kaveeta!

      What a great question! I vet my parenting books in this order: 1) is it rooted in scripture? 2) has the wisdom stood the test of time? 3) is it actionable and not full of fluff? The truth is the books that I appreciate the most all happen to have been written by men. While I do have a few book ideas and maybe even one in the works ? my best resource available is an online parenting course I created. Find out more here.

      Thanks so much for reaching out!
      Blessings!

Hi there! I'm Mama Duck,

I'm a stay-at-home/work-at-home, homeschooling Mama of 4 beautiful kiddos, wife to my loving husband, Parenting Coach, Speaker, and Writer. I adore the sound of my children's giggles, that first sip of hot coffee, and a snuggly blanket fresh out of the dryer. Here on Faithful Parenting, my heart is to equip mamas with the skills, knowledge, and biblical wisdom to raise fantastic kids and build a tethered family!