“Never stop learning.” Even highly experienced nannies should look to remain at the cutting edge of developments in childcare by reading around the subject – from cookery to discipline, play activities to health and safety. Here’s our pick of top nanny reads for your Kindle or nightstand.
River Cottage Baby & Toddler Cookbook
☑ This is a book about feeding children, but these recipes are for adults too. I don’t think there should be any sharp distinctions between ‘baby food’, ‘children’s food’ and ‘grown-up food’. It’s a spectrum the whole family can be on, the food each person eats becoming a little more sophisticated and seasoned as they mature.
Author Nikki Duffy brings the relaxed, River Cottage ethos to feeding children in this lovely cookbook, proving that it’s never too soon to get babies excited about food and really involved in family mealtimes. Her seasonal purées and simple, wholesome meals prioritise the nutritional needs and wants of babies and toddlers, but many are also dishes that adults will also love – great if you’re tasked with cooking for all the family. With clear and professional advice on nutrition and weaning, this is the perfect starting point for moving babies to solids.
Jo Frost’s Confident Toddler Care: The Ultimate Guide to The Toddler Years
☑ Jo Frost shares her wealth of knowledge and years of experience to help you raise your toddler with confidence and give him or her the best start in life.
This nanny bible is packed with practical advice, reassurance and effective techniques to help you deal with all the challenges that caring for a toddler involves. Super Nanny Jo will arm you with the know-how to raise a happy and contented toddler. She covers common challenges - eating, dressing, sleeping and potty training - and takes you step-by-step through her techniques to deal with each of them simply and effectively. Jo also offers advice on how to plan a toddler’s day to they are getting the right balance of stimulation and relaxation.
New Toddler Taming by Dr Christopher Green
☑ Dr Christopher Green’s classic bestselling parenting guide has been revised and updated to answer these questions and others like them in a way that parents of the twenty-first century will instantly grasp.
Nannies’ and parents’ favourite Dr Christopher Green uses no-nonsense advice and a dollop of humour in his bestselling tome. This latest edition brings invaluable practical advice from sleep problems and tantrums to potty training. This edition also includes updated sections on eating habits, sibling rivalry and discipline.
A Life. A Finger. A Pea Up a Nose: Essential First Aid Guide for Babies and Children
☑ From resuscitation, broken bones, choking and drowning to allergies, breathing problems and everything in between, this essential guide equips parents with skills to help your precious little ones safely and effectively in the event of a medical emergency.
Some essential reading to back up your paediatric first aid training. This book offers simple advice, nurse- and parent-tested methods, and handy illustrations to remind you how to: assess a situation and stay calm, treat an injury, recognise warning signs for serious illness, and child-proof the home.
What are your go-to nanny handbooks? Read anything good lately? Share your top tips on the Facebook page!