Books you need to read in 2025

It's time to explore the 9 parenting books that will change your life…

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Here is my updated reading list for 2025. Before I became a parent, I had no idea what type of parent I would (or wanted to) be. Thankfully, when our first was just a few months old, I stumbled upon a parenting book that would change my life forever. These aren't the best books of all time, I'm sure many great parenting books aren't on my list, but these books are the ones that are meaningful to me, and they've all played a crucial role in my journey. So, let’s dive into the 9 parenting books that will change your life…

#9 - Calm Parents, Happy Kids.

To kick off my reading list, we have Calm Parents, Happy Kids, the UK version of Dr. Laura Markham's successful and ground-breaking book, Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids.

This was the first parenting book I ever purchased back in 2018 when our first was just a few months old. At the time I didn't have any idea of the type of parent I wanted to be, but the thought of creating an environment where I could be a calm parent in a stress-free world appealed to me, so when I saw this book I hit purchase immediately, and it's without doubt one of the best decisions I've made.

At the time, before I'd started my parenting journey, this book changed my perception of what being a parent was all about. I assumed I needed to be the leader, and my job was to raise a compliant child. How wrong was I? I have this book to thank for thrusting me into the world of conscious and respectful parenting.

This book will help parents who seek an alternative to coercing their children into compliance. The central theme revolves around replacing threats, power struggles, and manipulation with empathetic communication while setting boundaries.

If I'm brutally honest, 5 years on from reading this book and having transitioned through toddlerhood with our first, this book reads differently.

It's difficult to get through this book and not feel guilty or like you're doing something wrong. Regardless, there's so much gold in this book, and it means a lot to me, so I had to include it in my top 9.

Any time your child pushes your buttons, he’s showing you an unresolved issue from your own childhood.

This book will get you thinking about how you engage with your child, and it will change the way you see your kids, so, for me, judgments aside, it's worth a read.

#8 - Still Awake

No parenting reading list is complete without a book all about sleep, and anything written by the amazing Lyndsey Hookway is always gentle and kind. Still Awake is a relatable and non-judgmental book for parents of children aged 18 months to 12 years old.