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Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi: Cloth Diapers, Cosleeping, and My (Sometimes Successful) Quest for Conscious Parenting
In this hilarious, heartfelt book, Brian Leaf tackles parenting with a unique blend of research and humor. Explored is Attachment Parenting, as well as Playful, Unconditional, Simplicity, and good old Dr. Spock parenting. He tries cloth diapers, no diapers, co-sleeping, and no sleeping. Join him on his rollicking journey in this one-of-a-kind parenting guide.
240 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
13 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 16, 2014
I love memoirs, but I especially love memoirs where the author is recounting a stage of life similar to the one where I'm at. That's part of the reason why I thoroughly enjoyed this book-I'm right in the middle of parenting my little, and I could very much relate to many of the anecdotes in this book. What I also appreciated (and didn't know I was going to get) was the synopsis of other parenting books that I've wanted to read but may probably never get around to given said stage of life I'm at. It was like a humorously annotated cliff notes of the books I wanted to read: Playful Parenting, Elimination Communication, How To Talk So Kids Will Listen..., etc. I would definitely recommend this book to other parents of little who need a laugh (and maybe a bit of insight).
July 8, 2014
Absolutely loved this book! Brian leaf is fantastic writer! I found his memoir funny and easy to relate to. It was a great read for a first time mom to an 18 month old and another on the way. Brian leaf made me feel human and that I'm not alone in my fears and regrets of parenting.
June 26, 2014
Enjoyed it as a parenting book. References to anything yoga though are only with regards to how his practice and beliefs influence his parenting style and decisions.
April 17, 2025
This book absolutely infuriated me. At one point, after launching into a rant about some quote, my husband asked me, "Why don't you just stop reading it?" I told him I had to finish it just so I could write a scathing review.
Please note that in this review, I only discuss issues I had with specific quotes or things he said. However, his overall ideology is flawed in many ways. I'm sure someone could write a paper on the ideas he eschews and how they are entrenched in privilege and sexism, but I'm not that person. And maybe he’s a genuine, caring person and this book just doesn’t do him justice - I don’t know. I just know this book was terrible.
There are many more examples, but here are my top 11 issues with this book:
1.) He mentions some seriously problematic and outright dangerous ideas. Please do not "express a few drops of breast milk" right into your child's eye as a remedy for pink eye (ch. 10). No, the "humans who roll onto their babies" did not "evolve out long ago" (ch. 12) - SIDs is still a danger, and that's just cruel and callous. Simplifying your life might be helpful, sure, but it isn't going to just "take a child with ADHD or Asper's [which is no longer a diagnosis] and put them back into alignment" (ch. 36).
2.) Sometimes he chooses to make comparisons that are downright offensive. Some examples include: "I'm not a slave to the OCD sterilize-everything dragon" and "I'm not ready to channel the Great Depression into our children".
3.) This man is obsessed with sex, who is having it, and when he can have it. He mentions it in 13 of the chapters. It's...weird.
4.) He's really bad at math. In one chapter, he discusses the complication rate of circumcisions. Apparently, only 1/500 procedures end with a significant acute complication. He then says, "How long does it take five hundred babies to be born in the United States? One hour. So wait for it, wait for it....now. We just had a significant acute circumcision complication. And while we were waiting we had seven minor complications" (ch. 9). Hold up...has this man ever heard of girl babies? In another chapter, he says "only 0.003 percent of sixty-nine billion eggs produced each year carry salmonella" and even if you eat one, you had a "94 percent chance of never even needing to see a doctor" (ch. 42). Ok...but .003% of 69B is 2.07 million and that sounds like a lot to me?
5.) He romanticizes the past - and other cultures - constantly. There are too many examples for me to add here, but his views are the sort of rosy-colored glasses envy that isn't always rooted in truth.
6.) He is SO judgmental about topics he has no right to even discuss. There are too many examples for me to include, but the worst was his opinions on breastfeeding. He says, "It is very rare for a mother not to have enough milk" (ch. 10). Really, sir? Are you a certified lactation consultant? Or an OB? A researcher into this topic? No? Then be quiet. This infuriated me. There are SO many reasons why women cannot or choose not to breastfeed. He just comes across as so judgmental, callous, and pretentious with his "if your supply seems low, get help. Whatever your problem...[they] can help". Just STOP.
7.) Speaking of pretentious ... this man has insane amounts of privilege that he completely ignores and diminishes. There is only one place in this book where he is remotely self aware, and that is when he discusses their sleep training methods ("I suppose we have the luxury of making this choice since Gwen is not back to work yet") (ch. 13). You live in the West, make enough money that your wife can stay home, wear Ibex pants, have plenty of food, can drop $400 on cloth diapers...could you at least acknowledge the privilege you have? And the fact that other people might not have that level of privilege?
8.) He does not hide his disdain for modern Western medicine, but also benefits from its practice. This infuriates me too. He uses words like "lockdown" and "trapped" to discuss being at the hospital (even though the doctors are concerned about his son's bilirubin levels, which is a legitimate concern!), pokes fun at the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology by calling them "a cog", scoffs at psychotherapy...you get the idea. And when his wife has to give birth in the hospital due to possible meconium and a six day labor, he is full of vitriol. He doesn't stop to think that perhaps his wife/son are healthy because of modern medicine. The cognitive dissonance is wild.
9.) The weaponized incompetence!! Let me give you a quote: "Without Gwen's sage counsel, my kids would be wearing shorts in the winter and fleece-lined pants in the spring." (ch. 24). Woah. Hold up. You're saying that you have had EIGHT years of being a parent and you still do not know how to dress your kids? So you just defer to your wife because you're too lazy to learn about layering yourself? Does she also pick out YOUR clothes, too? He says this as if it's a compliment to Gwen's intelligence and partially a joke, but really it's just super thinly veiled sexism.
10.) When his younger son hits his older son, the author tells them, "We don't hit or kick. In this family, we kiss or tickle" (ch. 31). So the younger son goes to the older son and begins to tickle him. How about "In this family, we respect others' bodies and do not touch them without permission?"
11.) PLEASE do NOT wash your cloth diapers without any laundry detergent whatsoever. Please do not soak them in water/vinegar. Check out some actual cloth diapering websites for assistance with your routine.
Do not read this book. Please. There are SO many other, better parenting books out there.
Please note that in this review, I only discuss issues I had with specific quotes or things he said. However, his overall ideology is flawed in many ways. I'm sure someone could write a paper on the ideas he eschews and how they are entrenched in privilege and sexism, but I'm not that person. And maybe he’s a genuine, caring person and this book just doesn’t do him justice - I don’t know. I just know this book was terrible.
There are many more examples, but here are my top 11 issues with this book:
1.) He mentions some seriously problematic and outright dangerous ideas. Please do not "express a few drops of breast milk" right into your child's eye as a remedy for pink eye (ch. 10). No, the "humans who roll onto their babies" did not "evolve out long ago" (ch. 12) - SIDs is still a danger, and that's just cruel and callous. Simplifying your life might be helpful, sure, but it isn't going to just "take a child with ADHD or Asper's [which is no longer a diagnosis] and put them back into alignment" (ch. 36).
2.) Sometimes he chooses to make comparisons that are downright offensive. Some examples include: "I'm not a slave to the OCD sterilize-everything dragon" and "I'm not ready to channel the Great Depression into our children".
3.) This man is obsessed with sex, who is having it, and when he can have it. He mentions it in 13 of the chapters. It's...weird.
4.) He's really bad at math. In one chapter, he discusses the complication rate of circumcisions. Apparently, only 1/500 procedures end with a significant acute complication. He then says, "How long does it take five hundred babies to be born in the United States? One hour. So wait for it, wait for it....now. We just had a significant acute circumcision complication. And while we were waiting we had seven minor complications" (ch. 9). Hold up...has this man ever heard of girl babies? In another chapter, he says "only 0.003 percent of sixty-nine billion eggs produced each year carry salmonella" and even if you eat one, you had a "94 percent chance of never even needing to see a doctor" (ch. 42). Ok...but .003% of 69B is 2.07 million and that sounds like a lot to me?
5.) He romanticizes the past - and other cultures - constantly. There are too many examples for me to add here, but his views are the sort of rosy-colored glasses envy that isn't always rooted in truth.
6.) He is SO judgmental about topics he has no right to even discuss. There are too many examples for me to include, but the worst was his opinions on breastfeeding. He says, "It is very rare for a mother not to have enough milk" (ch. 10). Really, sir? Are you a certified lactation consultant? Or an OB? A researcher into this topic? No? Then be quiet. This infuriated me. There are SO many reasons why women cannot or choose not to breastfeed. He just comes across as so judgmental, callous, and pretentious with his "if your supply seems low, get help. Whatever your problem...[they] can help". Just STOP.
7.) Speaking of pretentious ... this man has insane amounts of privilege that he completely ignores and diminishes. There is only one place in this book where he is remotely self aware, and that is when he discusses their sleep training methods ("I suppose we have the luxury of making this choice since Gwen is not back to work yet") (ch. 13). You live in the West, make enough money that your wife can stay home, wear Ibex pants, have plenty of food, can drop $400 on cloth diapers...could you at least acknowledge the privilege you have? And the fact that other people might not have that level of privilege?
8.) He does not hide his disdain for modern Western medicine, but also benefits from its practice. This infuriates me too. He uses words like "lockdown" and "trapped" to discuss being at the hospital (even though the doctors are concerned about his son's bilirubin levels, which is a legitimate concern!), pokes fun at the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology by calling them "a cog", scoffs at psychotherapy...you get the idea. And when his wife has to give birth in the hospital due to possible meconium and a six day labor, he is full of vitriol. He doesn't stop to think that perhaps his wife/son are healthy because of modern medicine. The cognitive dissonance is wild.
9.) The weaponized incompetence!! Let me give you a quote: "Without Gwen's sage counsel, my kids would be wearing shorts in the winter and fleece-lined pants in the spring." (ch. 24). Woah. Hold up. You're saying that you have had EIGHT years of being a parent and you still do not know how to dress your kids? So you just defer to your wife because you're too lazy to learn about layering yourself? Does she also pick out YOUR clothes, too? He says this as if it's a compliment to Gwen's intelligence and partially a joke, but really it's just super thinly veiled sexism.
10.) When his younger son hits his older son, the author tells them, "We don't hit or kick. In this family, we kiss or tickle" (ch. 31). So the younger son goes to the older son and begins to tickle him. How about "In this family, we respect others' bodies and do not touch them without permission?"
11.) PLEASE do NOT wash your cloth diapers without any laundry detergent whatsoever. Please do not soak them in water/vinegar. Check out some actual cloth diapering websites for assistance with your routine.
Do not read this book. Please. There are SO many other, better parenting books out there.
June 20, 2017
I'm glad I didn't read this right after Leaf's first memoir because it's definitely more enjoyable now that I'm a parent. I don't think I would have appreciated it. Leaf does a nice job going through his favorite parenting styles and providing humorous stories to provide examples. This was a launching pad for me to read similar books.
November 28, 2017
The structure of the book was strange to me. It’s a quick and easy read. As someone who has been interested in a more “yogi” lifestyle at points, it was fun to read about how parenting is parenting, almost any way you look at it. We all make mistakes. Our kids embarrass us.
January 13, 2020
An enjoyable parenting memoir. I don't think I particularly learned anything new, but it was helpful to read a book like this written by a dad and not the birth mom. He sums it all up at the end as CTFD (calm the fuck down), which I feel like is a good mantra to keep in mind going into parenting.
June 2, 2014
Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi is the title Brian Leaf gives to his new book, whose subtitle is "Cloth Diapers, Cosleeping, and My (Sometimes Successful) Quest for Conscious Parenting." Together, the title and subtitle pretty much say it all. It's a humorous look at the sometimes sage, sometimes just plain wacky, post hippie, post New Age, twenty-first century mindfulness approach to bringing up baby. It's also a follow-up book to Leaf's Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi, whose subtitle, regular readers might remember from my October, 2012 review, was "My Humble Quest to Heal My Colitis, Calm My ADD, and Find the Key to Happiness."
Just so you know: Leaf is a self-confessed Woody Allen type, a cheerful neurotic who happily indulges his least symptom of anxiety or distress--and now those of his two young sons, Noah and Benji. Obsessed with getting everything just right, the author and his Canadian wife, Gwen, leave no leaf (excuse the pun!) unturned in their search for the optimal method of birth for both mother and arriving baby (and for father), and we are regaled to a sometimes hilarious menu of the current options available to the consciousness-oriented parent. Thus, too, with infancy and the growth from toddler years to early childhood, with all the attendant challenges and potential pitfalls.
It's actually my daughter who should be writing about this book (I ordered her a copy), rather than myself. She's the mother of a two-and-a-half year old who has more energy than a nuclear reactor, and is dealing with all those things I had to deal with forty (and fifty!) years ago. Back then, all I knew how to do was muddle through, with the help of the amiable Dr. Spock. I tend to be of the rather cynical philosophical opinion that the parent's principal job is to make a dreadful mess of things so that the child has to sort out the inevitable sufferings of life for him- or herself. No matter how wonderful the "parenting", there will be difficulties to overcome and suffering to experience...
Still, I did have fun with Leaf. His self-deprecating and, yes, insistently neurotic humor keeps the pace going. It's often laugh-out-loud funny, even though (Woody Allen phobes be warned) it can rapidly descend into the tiresomely cute. But the parenting approaches he and his wife work with--and sometimes embrace--are eminently sound and practicable, and often as entertaining for the parent as for the fortunate child--fortunate, that is, to have so much conscious, caring attention fostered upon him. There's a lot of wisdom here, though I may add that it's of the kind that may be harder to practice than it is to preach. In my own experience, every bit of wonderful child-rearing theory has a tendency to fly out the real-world window when push comes to shove. The first half of the book--and the less interesting half to myself, as the grandfather of a toddler--is devoted to pre-birth and infancy. I found myself more engaged by the second half, devoted largely to the post-infancy periods of the toddler and the very young child.
All in all, I'd say, an excellent gift for the kind of young mother who is open to the mindful approach to life, and won't be too annoyed by receiving good advice on how to care for her young.
Just so you know: Leaf is a self-confessed Woody Allen type, a cheerful neurotic who happily indulges his least symptom of anxiety or distress--and now those of his two young sons, Noah and Benji. Obsessed with getting everything just right, the author and his Canadian wife, Gwen, leave no leaf (excuse the pun!) unturned in their search for the optimal method of birth for both mother and arriving baby (and for father), and we are regaled to a sometimes hilarious menu of the current options available to the consciousness-oriented parent. Thus, too, with infancy and the growth from toddler years to early childhood, with all the attendant challenges and potential pitfalls.
It's actually my daughter who should be writing about this book (I ordered her a copy), rather than myself. She's the mother of a two-and-a-half year old who has more energy than a nuclear reactor, and is dealing with all those things I had to deal with forty (and fifty!) years ago. Back then, all I knew how to do was muddle through, with the help of the amiable Dr. Spock. I tend to be of the rather cynical philosophical opinion that the parent's principal job is to make a dreadful mess of things so that the child has to sort out the inevitable sufferings of life for him- or herself. No matter how wonderful the "parenting", there will be difficulties to overcome and suffering to experience...
Still, I did have fun with Leaf. His self-deprecating and, yes, insistently neurotic humor keeps the pace going. It's often laugh-out-loud funny, even though (Woody Allen phobes be warned) it can rapidly descend into the tiresomely cute. But the parenting approaches he and his wife work with--and sometimes embrace--are eminently sound and practicable, and often as entertaining for the parent as for the fortunate child--fortunate, that is, to have so much conscious, caring attention fostered upon him. There's a lot of wisdom here, though I may add that it's of the kind that may be harder to practice than it is to preach. In my own experience, every bit of wonderful child-rearing theory has a tendency to fly out the real-world window when push comes to shove. The first half of the book--and the less interesting half to myself, as the grandfather of a toddler--is devoted to pre-birth and infancy. I found myself more engaged by the second half, devoted largely to the post-infancy periods of the toddler and the very young child.
All in all, I'd say, an excellent gift for the kind of young mother who is open to the mindful approach to life, and won't be too annoyed by receiving good advice on how to care for her young.
July 3, 2016
There are tons and tons of parenting books out there written for women and by women, but not so many good ones written by men. And very few of those approach it from an “alternative” lifestyle. Brian Leaf’s Misadventures of a Parenting Yogi takes a great step toward remedying that imbalance. Leaf, a longtime yoga practitioner, tried from the very beginning to apply a sense of mindfulness to being a parent. This book chronicles his experiences. From cloth diapers to cosleeping, from homebirth to circumcision, Leaf tackles a variety of issues that are regular topics of conversation among many parents, but which can sometimes be difficult to discuss with those who aren’t of a similar mindset. Leaf discusses his quest to find a parenting “style” that embodies his ideals of conscious parenting, and outlines the principles of a number of very good parenting books. (Consequently, I have recently added a number of books to my reading list!) Interspersed between “bigger” issues are a bunch of everyday stories from his life as a parent. Every section is told with a sense of humor, and Leaf talks about his reasons for adopting certain practices without judgment for those who have taken a different route. This book is HIGHLY recommended for parents of all stripes!
Originally written for San Francisco Book Review.
Originally written for San Francisco Book Review.
March 11, 2015
I am to be a a parent a to a baby in 5 months and I'm expecting to have a lot of misadventures myself. So, I'm thankful that Brian introduced me to new parenting style like attachment parenting, playful parenting, simplicity parenting and free range parenting. Further I learned more about the dirty side (pun intended) of cloth diapers, but this won't deter me from embarking on doing the cloth diaper things any way.
This is a memoir and more for entertainment than learning anything substantial. One reviewer mentioned the author's Woody Allen-esque neurotic humor. This book isn't for me because I really don't need more neurotic in my life. I'm an expecting father, I already imagining all kinds of crazy.
Book was laborious to read. It's readable but not particularly enjoyable.
May 28, 2016
This is the kind of book you can pretty much read in one sitting. It's a parenting memoir and I think it's greatest value is for new or expecting 1st time parents.
He does a good job of synthesizing and simplifying the BIG IDEAS from various parenting gurus. He won me over by including the very best parenting book EVER, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk. He also touches on Dr. Sears and Dr. Spock, Free Range Kids, Simplicity Parenting, Playful Parenting, and a few others.
So, if you are a new parent or about to become a parent and you want a funny and very easy to read introduction to the various styles of conscious and/or attachment parenting, give this book a couple of hours of your time.
He does a good job of synthesizing and simplifying the BIG IDEAS from various parenting gurus. He won me over by including the very best parenting book EVER, How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk. He also touches on Dr. Sears and Dr. Spock, Free Range Kids, Simplicity Parenting, Playful Parenting, and a few others.
So, if you are a new parent or about to become a parent and you want a funny and very easy to read introduction to the various styles of conscious and/or attachment parenting, give this book a couple of hours of your time.
July 15, 2014
This book was reviewed by Mamalode on June 12, 2014, excerpted here:
Brian Leaf knows yoga. For the father and author, yoga is a way of life. It’s not something you slip in between kindergarten drop off and the laundry. Yoga is the way he connects with himself. With his body. With his soul. With his mind. He says, “Yoga and meditation allow me to tune into my feelings and my heart and to parent from that place.”
This book is highly recommended for people who practice yoga and parenting in some combination.
Brian Leaf knows yoga. For the father and author, yoga is a way of life. It’s not something you slip in between kindergarten drop off and the laundry. Yoga is the way he connects with himself. With his body. With his soul. With his mind. He says, “Yoga and meditation allow me to tune into my feelings and my heart and to parent from that place.”
This book is highly recommended for people who practice yoga and parenting in some combination.
April 19, 2015
A great book to read during pregnancy, particularly as it's from the father's perspective, and baby books can feel very woman-centric. I picked this up when I was desperate for anything baby-related in my first trimester, and it brought some enlightening humor to my somewhat overwhelmed mind. If you have any family history of hippie-esque parenting, or you just really want to find a psycho-spiritual balance in life as a parent, I'd recommend this quick read.
August 2, 2014
While this is a niche parenting book, Brian expresses many aspects of parenting rather brillantly. So this book is not for every kind of parent, but if you are open minded, he certainly gives you things to think about.
September 10, 2014
I loved this book, I loved his philosophy, and I loved that he gave you a run down of the research and findings that he's found through reading other parenting books.
Love it! Very down to earth, easy to read, and enjoyable!
Love it! Very down to earth, easy to read, and enjoyable!
May 8, 2014
Liked the chapter on cloth diapering -- EXCEPT for the instructions someone gave them on how to wash!!
Read
August 13, 20142014- A quick, light read from a father than looks at pregnancy and what some may call "alternative" child-rearing methods. Had some good humor too!
November 25, 2014
So good, funny and informative. I will definitely be reading this one again.
June 24, 2015
You don't have to be a parent, OR a yogi to appreciate the humor and joy contained within the pages of this short memoir. It was a quick, fun read.
June 19, 2015
I need to reread this book every couple years. Some good stuff in here.
August 24, 2015
Loved this book! Full of great anecdotes, and SO funny!
November 4, 2015
I thought the Yogi part was him being clever with the title. Nope. It was weird. That is all.
November 18, 2014
A fantastic and humorous summary of all the parenting books Brian Leaf read.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews