Infant-and-Toddler-Development Books

As the parent of my now 18-month-old daughter, I find this book to be a valuable resource in understanding infant development. Even though it is designed to help teachers build a curriculum for infants from birth to 18 months, I found the activities, the theoretical discussions and the assessment tools to be also very useful in a parent-child environment. Each chapter is content-based (me, Mommies and Daddies, Big and Little, Cars, Trucks and Trains. etc.) and provides various ideas to promote movement, literacy, music, sensory/art and curiosity. My daughter, my husband and I had tremendous fun implementing these ideas indoors and outdoors. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

I have a 15 1/2 year old daughter living at home and a 20 1/2 year old who has moved out. This book is very helpful and very specific to specific issues. Each child is different but this gives you useful information to be used on different kinds of young people. The book is realistic and helpful.
Children don't come with a manual and this book is like having a manual. I have recommended it to several of my friends.
Great book!

While I always look out for new sources of songs and fingerplays, I rely upon Lapsit Services for the Very Young II and I'm a Little Teapot! Presenting Preschool Storytime as the two books which I repeatedly consult for toddler storytimes. I often recommend the book to new parents, too, because they are not likely to stumble across this source on the shelves of mainstream bookstores.

If you are considering starting lapsit services at your library this is a must have book. Are you a little nervous about starting this type of program? This book will walk you through the process of beginning a new program for your youngest patrons and their caregivers. It includes examples of programs so that you will not be starting from scratch. It includes the needed background information to begin a successful lapsit program, and how to get the support that you will need to keep it going. This book will motivate you to get out there are and serve those babies in your community.

I first used this when I began working at a library and they already had a successful lapsit program going on and I was to take on the role of programming for this group. This book was the key to my success. I began by using the programs that were included in the book. The programs give you are starting point then you can branch out to more. Goodluck!

This book is easy to read, and the scientific data on development is put into day-to-day activities and tasks, which makes it easy to relate to. The book talks about development week by week, month by month, how the child is developing and what you can do as a parent to guide your child's development; which toys are good, when crucial periods take place for learning certain tasks etc. The photographs in the book are also very illustrative, and makes the book a fun-read as well. I would recommend this book for all parents. Wouldn't we have a better world if every parent would have to read this kind of literature? I am a developmental psychologist and Ph.D.-trainee in educational psychology. I just had my first child and I loved this book.

This new revision by Mary Ellen Pelligrini tells what to expect during pregnancy and childbirth, and the baby's first year out in the world. The book assumes that the young reader is on a tight budget and may, perhaps, be a single Mom. Helpful instructions are brief and to the point,yet the reader can feel the warm concern of the writer. Each section is followed by a test which a mother can use to measure her own understanding of good childcare. Although useful to the individual, it will also be perfect in a small group setting.

This is just an awesome little book - one that I'm so glad I stumbled on accidentally! Due to the smaller size of the book, it's not as in-depth as others, but I actually found that refreshing. After reading all the detailed books that tend to characterize the subject of natural birth/parenting, this book was like a cool drink of water. Although an overview, it gives a very helpful amount of information about even "lesser-known" infant care ideas, such as elimination communication, baby massage, homeopathic/herbal remedies, and much more.

From the style and design of the book to it's beautiful photography (which truly make the book: DK style - multiple photos on each page), each page reminds you of the simple beauty of new life. Janet Balaskas is truly an expert in her field, and her writing style is both informative and encouraging. I only wish I lived in the United Kingdom, where her perspective is the norm, instead of here on the other side of the pond, where even mentioning "natural birth" still elicits all sorts of cynical comments. A truly great book, and one that I highly recommend to any parent interested in giving birth and caring for their baby in the most instinctive, natural, and loving way possible.

Some of the subjects covered include:
Life before birth
The last weeks of pregnancy
Approaching birth
Meeting your baby
First hour after birth
The babymoon
Preparing to breastfeed
Learning breastfeeding together
Baby-led feeding
Solving problems
Bottle-feeding for those unable to breastfeed
Approaches to baby care
Comforting your baby
Elimination
Step-by-step baby massage (with step-by-step pictures!)
Baby development and play
Sensory awakening
Social baby
Sitting, crawling, walking, talking, swimming
How babies sleep
A baby-centered sleep approach
Nighttime environment
Settling your baby for sleep
Family life
Well mother
Partner relationship
Sibling relationships
Parenting support
Natural healthcare for your baby
Complementary therapies (includes general information on homeopathic & herbal remedies and aromatherapy suggestions, and then specific remedies/suggestions are listed for all the health concerns below)
Caring for a sick baby
Allergies & respiratory problems
Ear & eye problems
Nutrition & digestion
Mouth & teeth
Skin problems
Childhood infections illnesses
Accidents and first aid

This book is very good for training people to observe children. The main idea behind it is that observations is not a tool for diagnosing children but rather a tool for discovering the uniqueness of the child. This book has been very helpful for my "Teaching young children" college class.

I would highly recommend this book. I was particularly interested in the 18-24 months section and found a lot of advice in this section. Well written and a good reference.

I love the organization of this book and how it's divided by developmental age and also by senses (taste, touch) and motor development. The ideas are easy, which is the point. Not only is it great for new parents but is terrific for grandparents or babysitters, who might wonder what there is to do with an infant beyond basic care. I like the baby karaoke and flashlight fun ideas. It's worth the money!