Parenting Books?

I'm curious if anyone here uses any parenting books? I have a good friend who is pregnant and due in January (just found out it's a boy - yay!). She's always talking about books. She wants a book about breastfeeding, sleeping, etc. I LOVE reading and I've read LOADS of parenting books, but I'm not a real "by the book" kind of person so I never latched on to any certain theory about any aspect of parenting - I ended up just doing whatever worked for my daughter and I. I have a feeling she's going to be that kind of person though, that she wants something to base everything on, if that makes sense? So, since I've read lots of books but never felt particularly attached to them, I'm not sure what to recommend for her. Actually, I'm wanting to buy a couple for her, but like I said, I have no idea which ones! I don't completely agree with aligning a child with a book and trying to mold them in a certain way (although I know in some cases it CAN help), but my friend seems to be set on wanting to really lay down a schedule and have rules and such about what they will or will not do with their infant (like feeding on demand and such) and I'm totally willing to buy her something (to give at her shower) she actually wants and will use, versus something like a baby blanket (which she'll get millions of), you know? Of course, she'll probably end up dropping the whole book thing after she has the baby just like I did (its her first) lol. But still, I want to help her in any way I can and right now this seems to be what she's after. So can anyone point me in the right direction? She already has the "What To Expect..." series. I'm not sure what else she has though, so any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!

This is the book that was recommended to me. My husband and I both read it. We didn't follow it to the letter, but it did help us in general establish Lucy's night time plan. If only we could do the same for the days.....sigh

On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Night Time Sleep by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam.
Amazon listing




There is a whole series of different age groups, but I haven't read any of the others yet.

I was pretty unknowledgeable about infant care too, and have been finding this book very helpful in giving me half a clue.....


The Babytalk Insider's Guide to Your Baby's First Year by Babytalk Magazine
Amazon listing

lol thanks Nika

Thanks dolly's momma. I actually read the Baby Wise book, but put it away, as it was a bit different than what I planned to do w/my daughter. For example, we fed on demand and that book strongly discourages that (IMO). I might think about getting it for my friend though, as I DID agree on some of the points made (not that that really matters anyway, seeing as how its for HER) and it did have some good first time parenting info in it

Yeah, we used the three hours as more of a guideline too, but went by her hunger, which was pretty close to the same time table anyways.