The concept of a parenting advice book dates back to immemorial years. While many mothers and fathers find parenting books useful, there is a negative effect to consuming parenting advice. A study published by a maternal and infant health researcher at Swansea university in 2017, found that reading parenting books can contribute to depressive symptoms in new mothers. The study specifically focused on parenting books that advocated strict routines for very young infants; parenting books frequently made parents feel worse rather than better.