Book Reviews
Yvette O’Dowd has been a passionate reader since childhood. Her first pregnancy in the early 1980s saw her consuming the local library collection of books about pregnancy, childbirth, child development and child care. Having ignited a life-long interest in these subjects, Yvette went on to work at Merrily Merrily Enterprises [the retail arm of the Nursing Mothers’ Association of Australia (now known as The Australian Breastfeeding Association)] from 1995 - 2000. This included the recommendation and sale of books on breastfeeding and human lactation, parenting and related titles to both parents and health professionals.
From 2008 - 2013, Yvette ran The Breastfeeding Centre In Dandenong, Victoria - the Victorian Branch Office of the Australian Breastfeeding Association. Here she curated and maintained an extensive library of books available to both members and volunteers. When establishing the Southern Natural Parenting Network in 2014, Yvette had a vision of a collection of books available to members and the wider community, establishing a community library on wheels available at meets and events. Yvette’ family are resigned to her extensive personal collection! (Thank goodness for the digital revolution!)
Yvette also has a passion for children’s books - particularly picture books - and her collection expanded as her family has. Books for children about babies are of particular interest. Stay tuned for review soon!
Browse Yvette’s recommendations:
Sleeping Like a Baby
This title explores normal infant sleep through a gentle, biologically informed lens. Rejecting sleep training and rigid schedules, Pinky McKay offers advice on responsive night-time parenting, co-sleeping, sleep regressions, and balancing adult rest with baby needs.
Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep
This early work by Dr. William Sears offers a foundational perspective on infant and toddler sleep through the lens of attachment parenting. It addresses the biological and emotional aspects of children's sleep, emphasizing the importance of responsiveness and connection during nighttime hours. The book discusses topics such as co-sleeping, night nursing, and the developmental nature of sleep patterns, aiming to help parents understand and support their child's sleep needs without resorting to rigid training methods.
The Attachment Parenting Book
This book introduces the core principles of attachment parenting in an accessible, supportive format. It outlines the "7 Baby B's" — birth bonding, breastfeeding, babywearing, bedding close to baby, belief in the language value of your baby’s cry, beware of baby trainers, and balance — as foundational tools for building secure attachment. The authors emphasize flexibility, parental intuition, and emotional connection.
Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering
This book offers a comprehensive guide to natural childbirth and early parenting, blending scientific research with personal experience. Dr. Sarah Buckley, a family physician and mother of four, advocates for minimizing medical interventions during birth and emphasizes the importance of a calm, supportive environment. She explores topics such as undisturbed birth, the hormonal processes involved in labor, and the benefits of practices like co-sleeping and extended breastfeeding. The book is divided into two parts: "Gentle Birth," focusing on pregnancy and childbirth, and "Gentle Mothering," which addresses early parenting choices.
Three in the Bed: The Benefits of Sleeping with Your Children
This thoughtful book explores the cultural, emotional, and biological reasons why families throughout history and around the world have shared sleep. Deborah Jackson draws on anthropological insight, parenting experiences, and scientific evidence to advocate for co-sleeping as a natural, nurturing, and safe choice when done responsibly.
Let’s Talk About Your New Baby’s Sleep
In this compassionate and evidence-based book, paediatric nurse and IBCLC Lyndsey Hookway gently unpacks the realities of infant sleep. She challenges myths, reassures parents that frequent waking is normal, and offers practical strategies grounded in responsive care. The book also addresses parental wellbeing, safe sleep environments, and how to tune into your baby’s needs.
Why Your Baby’s Sleep Matters
This compact and informative book offers an evidence-based, gentle perspective on infant sleep. Ockwell-Smith explains why babies sleep the way they do and helps parents understand what’s normal, what’s not, and how to respond compassionately.
Our Babies, Ourselves – Meredith Small
Anthropologist Meredith Small examines how human infants are raised in cultures around the world — and how deeply biology and culture intertwine in shaping parenting practices. From co-sleeping to feeding to soothing, she shows that what we consider “normal” in parenting is far from universal. Instead, parenting is a reflection of social values, economic systems, and evolutionary history.