Best-ever books on toddler taming

If you’ve ever experienced the joy that is carrying a screaming toddler sideways across a car park while an entire suburb looks on in judgement, you’ll understand what we mean when we say, “Why can’t these crazy tykes come with an ‘off’ button?”

Sadly, there’s no such thing as an off button (believe us, we’ve looked), but what we do have is an endless array of parental guides offering assistance when it comes to soothing difficult situations.

Not sure which one’s for you? Any of the following should soon put you back in control. Good luck!

Top Tips for Coping with Toddler Tantrums by Gina Ford

Opinions are divided over Gina Ford, a former maternity nurse and bestselling author who is known for her strict, regimented style (She’s hasn’t been dubbed the “Queen of Routine” for nothing).

Fortunately, it’s a style which works well with controlling tantrums, and Ford’s no-nonsense book offers quick tips to help you to learn how to prevent tantrums, understand why they’re even having them and soothe a toddler who’s smack bang in the middle of one.

Why, she’ll even teach you a thing or two about learning how to remain calm yourself – even when you too want to get on to floor and pummel the ground with your fists (It happens).

The Happiest Toddler on the Block: How to Eliminate Tantrums and Raise a Patient, Respectful, and Cooperative One-to-Four-Year-Old, by Dr Harvey Karp.

This book did the rounds of my mothers group, with every single mum and dad professing it to be a ‘life changer’. A quick look at Amazon shows almost every reviewer feels exactly the same way and so it’s on the list.

Written by respected paediatrician and child development expert, Dr Harvey Karp, the secret in the success of this book is that it focuses on teaching expectant parents and mums and dads of new babies to start preparing for the toddler years early.

Prevention and education are key messages here, but don’t worry - the book is still brimming with solid advice on how to stop a tantrum in its tracks and tips on remaining calm. A true classic.

For more parenting tips, tune into our podcast Honey Mums, hosted by Melinda Ayre and Kelly Baker - regular mums dealing with the every day stuff, just like you. Simply click on the link below.

https://omny.fm/shows/9honey-super-mums/something-schools-dont-teach-how-to-fight-a-bully/embed?style=artwork

No-Drama Discipline: The Whole-Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind, by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.

The pioneering experts behind The Whole-Brain Child and The Yes Brain tackle the ultimate parenting challenge: discipline.

The book – complete with illustrations and candid stories you can definitely relate to – highlights the link between your little one’s neurological development and the way you as a parent react to misbehaviour.

This doesn’t mean it’s all about finding fault; only about finding new ways to understand your child, redirect emotions and turn a meltdown into an opportunity for growth for everyone involved.

The book includes strategies to help parents identify their own discipline philosophy, facts on brain development, tips on navigating tantrums, and the lowdown on discipline mistakes we all make. A fascinating read for every parent.

Poor baby - poor mama too. We've all been there. Image: Getty.

How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen by Joanna Faber and Julie King

You might have heard of a parenting bible titled, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk? Written by parenting expert Adele Faber, it’s been doing the rounds for the last 30 odd years and has been hugely successful with generation after generation.

Now meet How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen, written by Faber’s daughter, Joanna, who is also a parenting expert in her own right.

Organised according to everyday challenges and conflicts every parent of a young child faces, this book is all about providing parents with tried and tested communication strategies to survive – and thrive - with children between the ages of two to seven.

Best of all, it also includes a chapter that addresses the special needs of children with sensory processing or autism spectrum disorder.