Books I Wish Someone Gave Me at My Baby Shower
A mom-to-mom list of thought-provoking books on children’s health, toxins, homeopathy, herbal remedies, and informed parenting. These are the books I wish someone had handed me at my baby shower to help me ask better questions and feel confident navigating motherhood.
Becoming a mom is beautiful and sacred and overwhelming all at once. You open tiny onesies, unwrap swaddles, maybe laugh at the mountain of diapers… and everyone hands you sweet picture books for baby.
But if I’m honest?
There are books I wish someone had quietly tucked into a gift bag for me.
Not to scare me. Not to make me anxious. But to help me think critically, ask better questions, and feel empowered in exam rooms, grocery aisles, and late-night Google spirals.
These are the books I wish someone had handed me at my baby shower.
1. How to Raise a Healthy Child... in Spite of Your Doctor by Robert S. Mendelsohn
This one would have stretched me right away.
It challenges blind trust in the medical system and encourages parents to be active participants in their child’s care. I don’t read it as “don’t trust doctors,” but rather as: learn, ask questions, and understand your options.
As a new mom, that confidence would have been priceless.
2. The Unvaccinated Child: A Treatment Guide for Parents and Caregivers by Judith Thompsonand Eli Camp
Regardless of where you land on medical decisions, this book focuses on building resilience — nutrition, immune support, and practical home care tools.
When you’re holding a feverish toddler at 2 a.m., practical guidance matters. I wish I’d felt more equipped instead of panicked.
(Always partner with a trusted healthcare professional when making medical decisions for your child.)
3. Thimerosal: Let the Science Speak by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
This book dives into research debates surrounding vaccine ingredients. Whether you agree with its conclusions or not, it pushes readers to examine data and understand how public health decisions are made.
For me, learning to read studies and ask informed questions became part of my motherhood journey.
4. Vaccines, Autoimmunity, and the Changing Nature of Childhood Illness by Thomas Cowan
This book explores theories about immune health and chronic childhood illness. Even if you approach it thoughtfully and critically, it opens up conversations about environmental factors, immune development, and lifestyle influences.
It encouraged me to zoom out and think about the bigger health picture.
5. Miller's Review of Critical Vaccine Studies by Neil Z. Miller
This one compiles research studies related to vaccines and health outcomes. It’s dense — definitely not light baby-shower reading — but it reinforced the importance of understanding original sources instead of headlines.
Motherhood made me want to slow down and really read.
6. Slow Death by Rubber Duck by Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie
This book isn’t vaccine-focused — it’s about environmental toxins in everyday life.
Household products. Plastics. Personal care items.
It made me rethink what we bring into our homes and how small swaps can reduce overall toxic load. That awareness changed how I shop, clean, and feed my family.
7. Dirty Genes by Ben Lynch
This one helped me understand genetics in a practical way — not as destiny, but as something influenced by lifestyle.
Nutrition, stress, sleep, environment.
Motherhood made me care deeply about long-term health, and this book connected some dots for me.
8. The Complete Family Guide to Homeopathy by Christopher Hammond
I wish I had basic homeopathic tools in my back pocket sooner. This book lays out remedies for common childhood ailments in a straightforward way.
Whether you use homeopathy occasionally or regularly, having options beyond “wait it out” can feel empowering.
9. The Earthwise Herbal Repertory by Matthew Wood
Herbs intimidated me at first.
This book feels like sitting with a wise teacher who helps you understand plant medicine in a grounded, respectful way. It deepened my appreciation for traditional remedies and the role they’ve played for generations.
What I Really Wish Someone Had Given Me
Not just the books.
But permission.
Permission to:
Ask questions.
Read widely.
Think critically.
Partner thoughtfully with healthcare providers.
Take responsibility for my family’s health decisions.
And stay humble enough to keep learning.
Motherhood has a way of waking something up in you. You start paying attention to ingredients, labels, research, long-term outcomes. You realize how much you didn’t know and how much you want to understand.
These books were part of that journey for me.
And whether you read them cover to cover, skim them, or simply let them spark curiosity, the greatest gift is becoming an informed, engaged, thoughtful mom.
That’s the kind of baby-shower gift that keeps giving.
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