30+ Gentle Parenting Books to Help Families Heal, Grow & Thrive Together
Gentle parenting books are gaining in popularity, and I, for one, am thrilled. People are starting to take notice that positive parenting is not a passing fad, but rather, a way of raising happy kids while doing no harm to them. Plus, there’s now plenty of evidence that gentle parenting “works.”
When we opt for positive discipline rather than punitive methods, we nurture the child’s developing mind. When we parent gently, children feel safe to grow and thrive at their own pace. Kids will listen to people they trust, and when they no longer fear their parents, that trust grows naturally.
This greater trust offers us a paradigm shift from loving our kids unconditionally to also blessing them with unconditional parenting. It’s not just what we feel for them; it’s also what our children perceive we feel about them. How incredible it would feel to be raised in a home that feels full of love.
Raising happier children is a win/win
When we’re calmer and more peaceful, we raise calmer children. This comes from a beautiful concept called co-regulation, which essentially means that when we set a peaceful emotional tone in our homes, our children reflect it back to us. We all want to enjoy our parenting journey, and being peaceful together is certainly part of that.
When we’re a gentle parent and model being a good human, the result is that we end up raising good humans, too. I truly believe we can change the world for the better when we raise children who feel loved, respected, seen, and valued from the very beginning.
More About
Sarah R. Moore
Gentle Parenting Book Announcement
With that, I am humbled to announce the release of my first gentle parenting book. It’s called Peaceful Discipline: Story Teaching, Brain Science & Better Behavior. I am SO excited to share this piece of my heart with you, and deeply appreciative that was named the #1 New Release for Parenting School-Age Children within its very first 24 hours of being available! It’s within the top 50 in numerous other categories, as well, including Conflict Management, Popular Child Psychology, and Medical Child Psychology.
Here’s some of the early feedback I’ve received, and for which I feel immense gratitude:
Offering a balance of science, practical experience, and new perspectives, Peaceful Discipline guides parents to a lifetime of easier, deeper, and stronger relationships with their kids. – Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D., New York Times Bestselling author of The Whole-Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline.
Accessible, tender and wise, this book provides parents with actionable tips and strategies that will forge more connected and joyful relationships! – Mona Delahooke, Ph.D.
Order your copy here!
Additionally, here are some other gentle parenting books I recommend. I know many of these authors personally and can vouch for them being truly good and decent humans. I’d trust them with my child…and I’m extremely picky about who I trust to watch my child!
Best Gentle Parenting Books
If you want to be a gentle parent — and you’re here, so I’m guessing you do — you’ve come to the right place. Below are the gentle parenting books I’ve read and used in my own life as a parent. These are, in my experience, the best gentle parenting books available today. Many of them helped shape my own parenting methods and the advice I offer others.
Indeed, I know there are other books that might deserve to be on my list of best gentle parenting books. As soon as I read them, I’ll add them here! I have a few on my list right now.
I’ve organized this list by age, but know that many of these books would apply to more than one age range.
Books For Parents Of Babies & Toddlers
These books are for children ages birth to about two or three.
Peaceful Discipline
Using best practices from gentle parenting, improv comedy, and trauma recovery, this peaceful p… Read Review
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer argues for a slower, simpler life, showin… Read Review
Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps To Help Your Child Cope With Big Emotions and Build Resilience
This book will help you navigate the tricky territory of feelings, and help your child (and you… Read Review
Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids
Dr. Mona Delahooke is among my favorite parenting authors…. Read Review
Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges 1st Edition
A gold standard for helping adults look beneath the surface of their child’s behaviors an… Read Review
The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen’s Wellness and Academic Journey in Today’s Competitive World Paperback – September 15, 2020
Have a tween or teen and want them to feel fulfilled and happy in life? This is a must-read. It… Read Review
Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults
In Happy Campers, Audrey Monke shares nine parenting techniques inspired by summer camp practic… Read Review
For the Sake of Our Youth: A Therapist’s Perspective on Raising Your Family in Today’s Culture
In For the Sake of Our Youth, Tessa Stuckey offers advice for parents on building resilience an… Read Review
Feng Shui Mommy: Creating Balance and Harmony for Blissful Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood
Feng Shui Mommy by Bailey Gaddis offers a holistic guide to pregnancy, providing mind-body-spir… Read Review
Books For Parents Of Kids In The Early Years
Note: some people ask me which potty training book I recommend, and in all transparency, I never potty trained my child! After researching options, I felt that child-led toilet learning was best for our family. With this approach, my daughter was completely out of diapers, day and night, by age 2.5. I’ve made a mini-course about what we did. It’s available here (and yes, that’s my daughter with a clean training toilet stuck on her head like a very unfortunate hat).
Peaceful Discipline
Using best practices from gentle parenting, improv comedy, and trauma recovery, this peaceful p… Read Review
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer argues for a slower, simpler life, showin… Read Review
Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps To Help Your Child Cope With Big Emotions and Build Resilience
This book will help you navigate the tricky territory of feelings, and help your child (and you… Read Review
Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids
Dr. Mona Delahooke is among my favorite parenting authors…. Read Review
Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges 1st Edition
A gold standard for helping adults look beneath the surface of their child’s behaviors an… Read Review
The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen’s Wellness and Academic Journey in Today’s Competitive World Paperback – September 15, 2020
Have a tween or teen and want them to feel fulfilled and happy in life? This is a must-read. It… Read Review
Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults
In Happy Campers, Audrey Monke shares nine parenting techniques inspired by summer camp practic… Read Review
For the Sake of Our Youth: A Therapist’s Perspective on Raising Your Family in Today’s Culture
In For the Sake of Our Youth, Tessa Stuckey offers advice for parents on building resilience an… Read Review
Feng Shui Mommy: Creating Balance and Harmony for Blissful Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood
Feng Shui Mommy by Bailey Gaddis offers a holistic guide to pregnancy, providing mind-body-spir… Read Review
Books For Parents Of Middle Years And Older
Peaceful Discipline
Using best practices from gentle parenting, improv comedy, and trauma recovery, this peaceful p… Read Review
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer argues for a slower, simpler life, showin… Read Review
Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps To Help Your Child Cope With Big Emotions and Build Resilience
This book will help you navigate the tricky territory of feelings, and help your child (and you… Read Review
Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids
Dr. Mona Delahooke is among my favorite parenting authors…. Read Review
Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges 1st Edition
A gold standard for helping adults look beneath the surface of their child’s behaviors an… Read Review
The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen’s Wellness and Academic Journey in Today’s Competitive World Paperback – September 15, 2020
Have a tween or teen and want them to feel fulfilled and happy in life? This is a must-read. It… Read Review
Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults
In Happy Campers, Audrey Monke shares nine parenting techniques inspired by summer camp practic… Read Review
For the Sake of Our Youth: A Therapist’s Perspective on Raising Your Family in Today’s Culture
In For the Sake of Our Youth, Tessa Stuckey offers advice for parents on building resilience an… Read Review
Feng Shui Mommy: Creating Balance and Harmony for Blissful Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood
Feng Shui Mommy by Bailey Gaddis offers a holistic guide to pregnancy, providing mind-body-spir… Read Review
Books For Educators
Peaceful Discipline
Using best practices from gentle parenting, improv comedy, and trauma recovery, this peaceful p… Read Review
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer argues for a slower, simpler life, showin… Read Review
Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps To Help Your Child Cope With Big Emotions and Build Resilience
This book will help you navigate the tricky territory of feelings, and help your child (and you… Read Review
Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids
Dr. Mona Delahooke is among my favorite parenting authors…. Read Review
Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges 1st Edition
A gold standard for helping adults look beneath the surface of their child’s behaviors an… Read Review
The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen’s Wellness and Academic Journey in Today’s Competitive World Paperback – September 15, 2020
Have a tween or teen and want them to feel fulfilled and happy in life? This is a must-read. It… Read Review
Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults
In Happy Campers, Audrey Monke shares nine parenting techniques inspired by summer camp practic… Read Review
For the Sake of Our Youth: A Therapist’s Perspective on Raising Your Family in Today’s Culture
In For the Sake of Our Youth, Tessa Stuckey offers advice for parents on building resilience an… Read Review
Feng Shui Mommy: Creating Balance and Harmony for Blissful Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood
Feng Shui Mommy by Bailey Gaddis offers a holistic guide to pregnancy, providing mind-body-spir… Read Review
Children’s Books For Social-Emotional Development
Peaceful Discipline
Using best practices from gentle parenting, improv comedy, and trauma recovery, this peaceful p… Read Review
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry: How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Spiritually Alive in the Chaos of the Modern World
In The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer argues for a slower, simpler life, showin… Read Review
Nurture Your Child’s Emotional Intelligence: 5 Steps To Help Your Child Cope With Big Emotions and Build Resilience
This book will help you navigate the tricky territory of feelings, and help your child (and you… Read Review
Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids
Dr. Mona Delahooke is among my favorite parenting authors…. Read Review
Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges 1st Edition
A gold standard for helping adults look beneath the surface of their child’s behaviors an… Read Review
The Parent Compass: Navigating Your Teen’s Wellness and Academic Journey in Today’s Competitive World Paperback – September 15, 2020
Have a tween or teen and want them to feel fulfilled and happy in life? This is a must-read. It… Read Review
Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults
In Happy Campers, Audrey Monke shares nine parenting techniques inspired by summer camp practic… Read Review
For the Sake of Our Youth: A Therapist’s Perspective on Raising Your Family in Today’s Culture
In For the Sake of Our Youth, Tessa Stuckey offers advice for parents on building resilience an… Read Review
Feng Shui Mommy: Creating Balance and Harmony for Blissful Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood
Feng Shui Mommy by Bailey Gaddis offers a holistic guide to pregnancy, providing mind-body-spir… Read Review
Reading the best gentle parenting books has been a big part of my life, personally, and I’m eternally grateful for the authors who’ve helped bring peace to my home.
If you prefer videos over gentle parenting books, you’re welcome to take my courses. This is one of my most popular personal videos to get you started. Here, you’ll see how this approach has influenced my relationship with my own daughter.
I’m wishing you peace in your home, and welcoming any questions and comments you may have about these recommendations!