stay at home dad Archives - Leaf and Steel

Today I’m sharing the best dad books for Father’s Day 2022! These books make excellent gifts for dads for holidays or even gifts for new dads!

My daughter and husband love to read together – I know I’ll be adding some of these titles to our collection this year.

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I don’t know about you, but we have books strewn all over our house. They’re everywhere. There are books for the bathtub, books for the stroller, books for grandparents’ houses and books for the car….

“Can you read your book while you wait” is an everyday phrase in our house. My daughter has been a voracious reader since the beginning. I love how much she loves to read! I credit our dedication to reading every day since birth (okay, not every day, I’m human).

In my experience, reading and parenting go hand in hand!

There’s nothing sweeter than having my daughter crawl into my lap with her favorite book. As much as I love our snuggles during Puffin Rock or Elmo, reading a great children’s book with her is a joy like no other.

Looking for a gift for mom too? Check out our Gift Guide for the Tired Mama in Your Life!

When is Father’s Day this year?

Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 19th, 2022. Father’s Day is held on the third Sunday in June in the United States.

I have super special celebratory gifts planned. Since my daughter is young, she’ll probably give her dad a homemade card. But, I’m adding on one of these books so they can read it together!

When should I start reading to my baby?

As soon as possible! Even if it’s a quick little board book in the beginning, get into the habit of reading to your baby immediately. I remember adding it onto my list of things to do when I had a newborn.

Make it a point to read with your child every single day.

See this article from Parents for more information: “The Benefits of Reading to Your Newborn” (click here for reference):

Studies have also shown that children who were read to as newborns have a larger vocabulary, as well as more advanced mathematical skills, than other kids their age. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, for example, found that kids who are read to every day are exposed to around 78,000 words each year—over five years, that adds up to 1.4 million words heard during story time.
There’s also a direct link between how many words a baby hears each day and her language skills. One study found that babies whose parents spoke to them a lot scored higher on standard tests when they reached age 3 than children whose parents weren’t as verbal.
Parents, “The Benefits of Reading to Your Newborn”

Lessons from Stay-at-Home Moms

How do I read to my baby more?

I always say that the easiest way to read more books to your little one is to tack it onto an already formed routine. Reading before bedtime, around a mealtime, or after a nap are some of the best times to read with your baby.

Baby M loves to read by herself when I’m making her meals or in the car! By having lots of books in lots of places, it’s easy to keep your little one reading.

Baby Books to Celebrate Moms Everywhere

My Dad is Amazing by Sabrina Moyle

Why a Daughter Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang

Why a Son Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang

Made for Me by Zack Bush

My Dad Loves Me! by Marianne Richmond

I Love Dad with The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer

I Love You, Daddy by Jillian Harker

We Love Our Dad! by Jan Bernstain

Because of You, Dad by Kobi Yamada

Dad by My Side by Soosh

When Dads Don’t Grow Up by Marjorie Blain Parker

Your Baby’s First Word Will Be DADA by Jimmy Fallon

You Made Me a Dad by Laurenne Sala

Spot Loves His Daddy by Eric Hill

Because I’m Your Dad by Ahmet Zappa

So, there are some of the best books to help your little one celebrate Father’s Day in 2022!

Spot Loves His Daddy and My Dad is Amazing are my favorites!

Are you familiar with any of the dad books above?

Let me know below!

1. “Work” Time

Being a stay-at-home parent means that I take on more work around the house, simple as that. I take time throughout the day to work on the annoying tasks that have to get done, like

scheduling
being put on hold for half the day by Verizon, Staples, etc.
forgetting to put 1 essential food item on my shopping list and then spending an hour going back to the store to get it
spending several days taking my 10-year-old printer apart instead of biting the bullet and buying a new one

2. Walk

Walking is the only type of “exercise” that works for me. I really do it to clear my mind and get some fresh air for me and the baby. We like to find little waterfronts to explore and we always play this checklist game.

LOOK for 1 dog
LOOK for 1 cat
LISTEN for 1 bird
SMELL 1 new smell (fresh cut grass, laundry)

And of course, say hi to anyone we pass, because becoming a mom has made me friendly. Or, maybe it’s just the lack of socialization in 2021 ha!

3. Relax

I relax for part of nap time. I have to. I “work” 24 hours a day. It took me a little while to see that it’s perfectly okay for me to take time to relax as a stay at home parent. I have no lunch break. I have no “decompression” time on my commute home. It’s on me to manage my mental wellness and realize when it’s time to be productive and when it’s time to put my feet up and scroll Instagram or watch TV.

4. Reach out

It can be mind numbing to talk to a baby all day. The narration, the “oohs” “aahs” and “yayayays” make me feel like a robot some days. That’s why I’ve made it a priority since my daughter was born to make a phone call every day. It’s one of the easiest ways to stay grounded in the insanity

5. Get out of the house

I hate this one, but I do it anyway! Maybe it was the events of 2020 that caused me to be comfortable with being a shut-in. Leaving the house can be hard. Leaving the house with a baby can be even harder. Every day, we try to get out of the house. Even if it’s just those waterfront walks or the grocery store, being in public and getting a change of scenery keeps me grounded.

Our new favorite place is the pet store, or what I like to call the “free zoo”. Baby M loves looking at the fish and kittens up for adoption. It’s a quick and easy way to keep her entertained out of the house. We’re always looking for fun, easy, free things to do together – if you have any suggestions, let me know below!

6. Work on my hobbies

This is the hardest one on the list. I struggle with finding the motivation to work on the things that fill up my cup. Writing, reading and working on my side projects sometimes get put on the back burner. However, I’ve found I’m a better mom and an all around better person when I’m carving out time to work on the things that bring me joy. After spending %90 of my day giving my energy to other things, this time is necessary.

7. Play!

The most important thing I do as a stay-at-home is PLAY with my baby! There’s nothing better than sitting down on the floor and reading my daughter a book or playing peekaboo. The sound of her little laugh when I pretend to eat her feet fills my heart with so much joy. I know that after food, a safe place to live, and clean clothes, my uninterrupted time is the most valuable thing I can provide for my child.

What do you think of this list? What do you do to stay sane as a stay at home parent?

Let me know below.

The Best Books About Dads (for Father’s Day 2022)