Infant-and-Toddler-Development Books

This book has tons of activities for babies broken down by skill enhanced and then developmental stage. I think it would have been better organized and easier to use if it had been broken down in reverse, developmental stage and then skill. A lot of the activities are things that come naturally and you don't need to be told to do them, but there were still a lot of things to help you keep baby busy, and to help you to remember to work on certain skills you might not think of. It also helped you to really think about and understand the different activities and why they help certain skills, which sort of helps you gain perspective on how everything around you can be turned into an activity you can use to your and your baby's advantage. Worth the investment!

As a first time mom,of a child with special needs to boot, I had no idea. This book and the others in the series are great resources for finding things to do with your child other than watching Teletubbies for the thousandth time. If your child needs extra help in a certain area, like fine motor or listening skills, you can easily find a variety of exercises to help here. The later books in the series (Threes, Fours, and Fives) would also be a great resource for a homeschooling parent.

I am on a one year leave from teaching second grade to stay home with my 5 month old. The teacher in me purchased this product because I wanted to make sure my baby was not missing out on any learning. I wish I would have discovered it sooner as the guide is set up for babies not able to sit up, babies able to sit up, and babies able to crawl. It gives activities to do at each of these stages. It is easy to use and activities are divided into categories: listening and talking, physical development, creative and learning from the work around them. We were already doing some of the activities included, but the book offers many ideas I would not have thought of. Overall, I feel it is a great resource to have.

It's almost overwhelming. There is no way you can spend this much time teaching everything, but it's nice to be able to pick and choose fun things to do with your baby. It's easy to use in a well thought out layout from birth on, divided by sensory perception.

Not just for daycare! I am a first-time, stay-at-home mom and needed a way to tell if I was "doing all the right stuff" in regards to play, development, speech, music, etc. This book gives you exercises that are so easy for each stage of the first year of life. There is not a lot to read like a typical baby care book, but each section outlines what the child should be accomplishing and gives you exercises to ensure that your child reaches those development milestones. If you can look past the idea that it is written for daycare providers, you will find this book extremely helpful. I knew I was giving my child all he needed because I had these exercises to use as a handy guide. Good luck to you!

es una de las mejores cosas q tengo, evito q llame desesperada muchas veces al doctor por pequenas y simples cosas q hacia el bebe.
Resuelve muchas dudas, excelente libro.
El indice es malo, se hace dificil encontrar cosas a veces

My wife found this book very useful. It has all you need to know for the first year.

Compré este libro por recomendación de un buen amigo que había sido padre diez meses atrás, a mi me toca esta misma semana. Mi impresión ha sido muy positiva: contiene una explicación muy pormenorizada y meticulosa de todos los aspectos del día a día del cuidado del bebé y no se anda por las ramas. Está estructurado por meses, siguiendo el crecimiento del bebé y desarrollando más extensamente algunos aspectos específicos como el que se refiere a la lactancia. Cada capítulo se inicia con una explicación de lo que debemos esperar de nuestro bebé durante el mes en curso y continúa con una amplia descripción de todas las dudas que nos pueden surgir y de la forma como hacerles frente, estos apartados son el mayor acierto del libro, bien estructurados y completísimos. Las explicaciones son claras, concisas y resolutivas. El índice es de muy fácil acceso y permite localizar con facilidad aquello que buscamos. No le he puesto la máxima valoración al libro porque la traducción resulta un tanto confusa y poco agradecida para los que somos nativos de España. Los traductores utilizan construcciones gramaticales, localismos, anglicismos y expresiones que incomodan la lectura a un español.

Yo no sabía nada de bebés y quedé embarazada sin planearlo. De todos los libros que he leído en distintos idiomas. Este es el más completo que he conseguido. Altamente recomendado en todo sentido!

this is a verigood book because im a first time father and i foud all my anwers to my questions in this book

I was waiting until the Essential Baby Organizer I gifted was in use to write this review. The new mom really uses it! Which we all know speaks volumes about its value. So well put together that it is informative and easy to navigate. Every new mom should have this product.

Everyone always tells you to write down all of the little moments or you will forget, but as a harried Mom, we rarely heed this advice. This book makes it easy. All the little details, memories, doctor visits and important contact information can be stored in one place, and this type of organization is essential when between the baby pooping and eating, all you want to do is sleep.

The Essential Baby Organizer takes organizers one step further than any other I've ever used... It is streamlined, stylish, and remembers all the details -- teething charts, gift lists, easy weekly journals. It also leaves space for 'real life' stuff -- sentimental moments, precious firsts. Essentially, it includes everything a sleep-deprived parent is bound to otherwise forget.

The organizer was especially important to me when I went back to work. I didn't want to miss anything, but would have been unsure what questions to ask our baby's caregivers at the end of the day. I'd have them use the charts and journals so that I could have a real picture of my baby's days -- sleeping and eating habits, memorable moments, likes and dislikes... The organizer also includes a Resources and Extras section that pared down the info in my 200+ page parenting books to exactly what I needed, or it told me where to find it (at a time in my life when I needed to keep it simple).

This organizer is obviously designed by experienced parents, with a talent for making other parents' lives easier...

I'm on my second kid and have seen a bunch of books like this. This one is definitely the most organized and helpful. Everything is all in one place by date, so poor tired Mommy doesn't have to go hunting each time she switches from feeding to diapering baby (and so on). There is a place for little notes on baby's mood and milestones for baby each week. There are quick-reference charts in back on things like breastfeeding and milestones to look for. This is something I will recommend to ALL my friends about to have babies. The pregnancy planner by these people is the BEST, too!

As a first time dad, I can tell you this much: adjusting to parenthood is like entering a time warp. All the new experiences and responsibilities can leave you exhausted and overwhelmed.

That's when this organizer shines.

Its care charts provide much needed structure, shepherding you through those first weeks (months?) of no sleep and constant feedings and changings. It also gathers key information in one place--which comes in handy when you're at the pediatrician's office or when you're already late for dinner and the sitter's asking when the baby was last fed.

More than anything, though, it reminds you to reserve time each week to make notes and build a journal about your child. Without a reminder, months can pass without recording all the strange and wonderful events you witness as a parent. For that reason alone, I give it five stars.

I love this book. I've read some chapters with my daughter (instead of just me reading it, I read it to her like a story book, ha), and it works! Especially the "won't say hello to greeters" & "won't give a relative a hug or kiss"...works right way!!!

Wow! This book is truly amazing. The information is really practical and applicable for both parents and early childhood teachers. The table of contents makes it especially user friendly; no need to reread the entire book for problem-specific solutions, though you may find it impossible to put down! Thank you, Michelle and Barbara!

In addition to its ultra-helpful table of contents organized by situation ("Won't let you leave the bedroom;" "Ignores you or others;" "Won't get fingernails clipped"...), I was delighted to see that I Brake for Meltdowns also includes a range of "What Ifs" covering some of the many possible curveball responses that kids come up with (because, at least in my experience, the absurdly neat child-response scenarios in many other parenting advice books often read like fairy tales. Or some serious wishful thinking). The authors have a clear respect for children. Unlike many advice books which are focused solely on using Skinnerian discipline to control behavior, IBfM offers insight into children's motivations and developmental stages along with advice on how parents can help children learn to be pleasant, civilized people. And the authors' down-to-earth, been-there-done-that tone about the sometimes maddening business of childrearing makes it a companionable read.

Although the toddler and preschool ages are wondrous years of learning and discovery, they are often overshadowed by power struggles, tantrums, and battles. It can be a very frustrating time for both parents and children. As I'm currently in the throes of raising twin four-year-old boys, I immediately jumped at the chance to read "I Brake for Meltdowns: How to Handle the Most Exasperating Behavior of Your 2- to 5-Year-Old." Finally, a book has been written to help me cope when life with little ones makes me wonder if I'm truly adequate for the job of parenting!

What I really like about this book is that it's practical. It gives real solutions for how to handle very specific scenarios. In fact, the list is so extensive that you're sure to find a solution to your particular parenting problems. Written by Michelle Nicholasen--a mom who had five children in five years (including triplets)--and Barbara O'Neal--a mother of three children (and three grandchildren) who has worked with preschool-aged children for more than 40 years--the authors bring a wealth of wisdom and experience to the table. Every parent with a 2- to 5-year-old needs to pick up "I Brake for Meltdowns." It will give them hope that they can survive the trials of raising toddlers and preschoolers!

Highly recommend! As a mom of 4 children aged 11 down to 2, it's not often that I have time to pick up a parenting book anymore. But this great book kept me reading & gave me some helpful new parenting tools for my arsenal. It would be a wonderful resource for new parents, too.

Targeted to common parenting challenges -- e.g., pushing, mean & angry talking, refusing to stay at the dinner table -- the book suggests very specific words & actions parents can use with young children for each particular issue -- with a loving, respectful, but firm tone that most of us aspire to, but don't always achieve. So busy parents can flip right to the problem at hand for a quick refresher on an ideal response, or for another approach to try when you're stuck in a parenting rut. The authors include lots of examples & solutions from their own experience that really ring true & make this a much more practical & helpful resource than most of the parenting books I've consulted over the years.

A great read for new parents of twins! This book provides great common sense solutions to the seemingly endless challenges of raising two at once!

The author has produced a book that covers everything anyone needs to know to successfully keep their sanity while learning how to handle those precious little bundles of joy that came two in a package, rather than one. The book makes being a mother of twins sound almost fun! A must read!

I loved the humor and common sense that is included in every tip in the book. Regan-Loomis sheds light to the many roles that we must take as new parents/parents of twins and provides in detail, the many ways we can prepare, care and remain sane at the same time. The book provides wisdom, wit and great strategies, all of which are helpful, doable, and most importantly allows care for the babies as well as the parents!

Meghan has a put together a great collection of 'how-tos' on parenting twins. A great resource for those in this whirlwind time!!

From double vision to twenty twenty, this practical guide does help to bring order to chaos. Regan-Loomis has a down to earth sense of humor, as well as super practical solutions for sleep deprived parents. Her book is proof that parents of twins can survive and thrive with intelligence and wit intact.

I bought this book while expecting our daughter, who we know will have to spend a fair amount of time in the NICU. I had never heard of the concept before, and after reading the book, am convinced that it is a wonderful concept and I can't wait to try it!

Kangaroo care is an excellent book for people with preemee's. It takes you through all the aspects of what is happening during the first few days or months of your young ones life. Nothing is left to the imagination.

Upon reading this book, one finds that it's very clear the author is extremely supportive of the use of Kangaroo Care to cure just about whatever may ail your premature baby. Despite the repetitiveness of this, the book is chock-full of just about everything you'd need to know about Kangaroo Care.

I also found it was quite informative in the realm of not only the care of preemies (and their signs of distress/contentment), but of full-term infants as well. So, if you're wondering how best to help your small and/or sick baby in the NICU, or are wondering just what benefits the act of such skin-to-skin contact can bring to both you and your full-term newborn, the book is a very good--and helpful--read.

I discovered this book in January, 1995, when it was very little known. My son was born 8 weeks premature in a Honolulu, hospital that had never heard of Kangaroo Care. He was transferred to NICU at a military hospital after 11 days so I never did the KC there, but I did pass my book on to my son's neonatologist in hopes that this would be available for future parents/premies. I did KC as often as I was able at the military hospital and my son came off all meds and monitors 3 wks after his early birth. All he had to do was gain weight. He come home a mere 4 weeks after his birth, and 4 weeks before he original due date! I continued to Kangaroo him at home, all day long some days and he gained so fast it was miraculous!
Two and a half years later I gave birth to a full term daughter but used KC again because, "it couldn't hurt" and we never suffered those backwards hours that newborns have and I bounced back faster after this birth because I was resting more. Kangaroo Care is worth buying, in fact buy two so you will still have one when you pass one on!! :-)

Our full-term (37wk) son was in the NICU due to a birth defect. This method was explained to us as we started to be able to hold him and I was trying to teach him to nurse. All I can say is IT WORKS. He was able to go home at 6 wks when we were told he would probably be in for than 3 mos. min. When you think about it it makes sense...this baby was inside you and close to you for however many months you carried him/her. Don't you think dropping the child in a "box" with no human contact would be a shock to the system? I think that "normal" babies could probably benefit from this too. Lord willing, I'll get a chance to prove my theory. :-)

but very good. No complaints other than it could be even thicker to cover even more areas.

Lots of helpful information on many important topics that parents of every preschooler are concerned about.

Incredibly insightful with real life solutions to issues every parent faces. The authors do a fantastic job of addressing what appear to be complicated issues (and often times are) and are able to provide solutions in a way that makes sense so that you will always remember what to do and their wisdom will become your own.

This is an excellent and easy read for parents of young children. It is full of solid, practical advice and loads of wisdom about preschoolers and the preschool experience that I have not seen in other books. It would make a much appreciated addition to most young parents' library - tuck it in with the other books on baby care for a really useful baby shower gift!

This is a Must Read for anyone with children between the ages of 2-5. The authors give sound practical advise that will benefit any parent. If you have to pick one book on parenting this should be it.

We had used signs with my daughter from about 5 months, only a few. She really started to use them back to us at about 10 months so we taught her more. For her first birthday a friend gave us this set and now she absolutely loves signs. She takes the flash cards out every day and really is so proud of herself when she gets them right. She's 13 months now and the cards in particular are definitely one of her favorite toys. I'm online now to buy two more for friends.

I really like this kit. I've had it for about a week now and have been learning the songs from the CD. My daughter is 10 months old so we've been signing for a few months but I had come to the point where I didn't know some of the signs I wanted, like "sheep" "ready" "cold" among others. The book is very helpful. It seems like signing would be obvious, just do it. But there are a lot of creative ideas in the book that I never would have thought of. So that's good, makes it more fun. The CD is good, has some really good original songs and a couple of traditional ones. Good quality. I didn't really need the flashcards but maybe we can use them or figure out something creative to do with them. I think it's a good deal because it's a good book and CD. Glad I got it.

I love this kit. My baby just turned 6 months old, and we are beginning to sign to her (she already recognizes milk). The flash cards are very easy to understand. My 10 year old memorized all the signs from the flash cards in a day, and loves teaching them to us. The CD is great, too. The music is very enjoyable, and the songs are simple, but very catchy; you won't get bored after listening to them several times. I love the songbook, too. It makes it SO easy to sign during the songs because you're not signing every single word. The sturdy cardboard box is a plus. The only reason I gave four stars instead of 5 is that there are two songs with "Mommy and Daddy" in them, and we all know there are many "non-traditional" families out there, and it would have been nice (and pretty easy, I think) to have words that include all children's families. Other than that, it's wonderful.

First of all, this kit is so complete. It's fun and easy to use. It comes with a great CD with beautiful and easy songs to pick up and sign to. It has a book of signs just for the songs. Then, it has great flash cards that are really easy to understand. And finally, it contains a main book of all kinds of signs which I've misplaced do to a move, but of what I remember, it was loaded with info and easy to decipher. I use the signs all the time and sing the songs and she always smiles in reconition when I do. She hasn't signed back yet, but hopefully one day I'll get my reward. If you want to teach your child to sign, this is a fun and easy place to start. It also has a great free website in it that you can refer to. I really enjoy using the kit and would give it a higher rating, but I misplaced the main book before I could use it and so I can't properly rate the entire kit, plus I don't know yet if it works.

I have been signing with my kids for 5 years now--and my kids now are 5, 3, and 1. I was looking for songs to use with signing besides the basic basics..and this book has it all. My 5 and 3 year old LOVE singing and signing the songs with me, and my 1 year old tries to sign along. My 3 year old will just start singing the songs on the cd so I see the songs as easy to remember, fun and appealing to kids. I see this as a GREAT activity to do in the car on trips and a wonderful way have fun together as a family. We have gotten through half the songs and I am saving the rest for our next trip! The signs are easy to figure out from the pictures and its just fabulous! I listened to Monta speak once and she is fabulous too! Definitely a great kit for moms that want to sign with their babies and toddlers. The cd is the best as well to add the music and fun into the whole experience! Definitely a great buy!

Always I have thought that I was bad. But this book made the concept misunderstanding of my temperament. It may help not only parents but adults. I'm proud of buying this book.

This book is wonderful. I loved reading through all of the temperaments and comparing them to my children. We got a lot of laughs over all the heartache our potty training 2.5 year old was giving us. Turns out we have a Bei Ling Bluebird & we think our 1 year old is going to be exactly the same, but with more energy!!! We also found out that it could be worse. lol. I really enjoyed the section on relating to your child based on your personality type. The book really helped me to see where my child is coming from and relate to him there.

This remarkable, engaging little book can save you and your children from years of tears. It can protect you from unnecessary frustration, struggle, anger, and sadness, and can help you and the children you love grow in understanding and self-esteem. Solidly rooted in almost fifty years of published research and clinical experience, Temperament Tools shows readers, with insight and skill, how to understand and work with children's inborn traits.

Different children react differently to the world around them from the very start, and their inborn temperament traits usually persist. Active babies are likely to become active toddlers and preschoolers. The same is true, too, for babies who are sensitive, or persistent, or resistant to change, or easy to soothe. On the basis of their own extensive professional experience, authors Helen Neville and Diane Clark Johnson help readers assess children's temperament traits, understand the interactions between children's and parents' patterns of behavior, and learn how to provide the loving structure and support that can prevent challenges from becoming catastrophes. Ultimately, they provide practical, detailed, and accessible guidance for us in our efforts to help the children we care about learn to love, know, and respect themselves and others.

As a pediatrician working with parents, professionals, and friends to protect children's well-being during and after divorce, I draw freely and often from the material presented in Temperament Tools. As a professional or non-professional, you can expect heartfelt thanks from the relatives, teachers, and pediatricians to whom you give copies of this book. Beyond that, you can take pleasure in knowing how much you're helping the children whose lives they touch.

We have been having difficulty with my three year old's behavior both at home and at preschool. This book was recommended to me by a friend and I found it to be the most wonderful tool to understand and relate to my child. It helped me see things from his perspective and deal with things in the way that best helped him get through things without sacrificing the values that I wanted him to have. If you don't understand why your child does the things he does, I would recommend this to EVERYONE -- especially mothers of extremely active, verbal boys.

This is a book I think all parents and grandparents should read. I am ordering two and giving them to my kids grandparents.

I was truly amazed at how easily all 3 of my kids each fit into a different temperamental category listed in the book.

As a homeschooling mom for 6 years I truly know my kids but have found it hard for others ( especially grandparents) to understand that some things are just part of who they are. I have looked at and bought many books trying to explain this to my family. This is the best!!

I keep a copy in my bag and tell all of my friends about it when they are having issues with their children.

This book may seem to be directed towards very young children when you first look at it but our oldest is 10 and I find it to be helpful with him too.

This book was recently brought to my attention during a problem between my son and his preschool teacher. It has brought great light to the issues and I have information now to better understand my son's behavior, for which we now know is "normal and age-appropriate." Cudos!! I'd suggest getting one of these books for every age of your child to better understand behaviors.

I recommend these books (Your ONE Year Old, Your TWO Year Old, Your THREE Year Old, Your FOUR Year Old, Your FIVE Year Old, Your SIX Year Old, Your SEVEN Year Old, Your EIGHT Year Old, Your NINE Year Old, Your TEN-to-FOURTEEN Year Old. These books were writtten by Louise Bates Ames, PhD, Fances L. Ilg, MD and Sidney M. Baker MD of the Gesell Institute of Human Development. They are NOT a "how to" book for parents -- but rather provide a perspective of life from the child's various ages. I found the books to be of such value that I purchase the entire series for new parents. Somehow I forgot to purchase these books for my niece when she started her family. She expressed some concerns about her seven year old son's behavior (that I knew from experience to be that typical of seven year olds). I purchased the books from the series that will help my niece from here on. She LOVES them! I have a feeling she will use them and pass them along to other parents. My original set are part of my permanent library. I highly recommend these books for your permanent library as well!

The series is a good crash course on normal development; it helps to know that your kids is going through the same thing everyone else's is; worthwhile if you can get past some of the dated old fashioned stuff.

Although some of the passages in this book and it's companion volumes are quite dated, it is still one of the most helpful parenting books that I have found in 25 years of teaching preschoolers. Many parents through the years have breathed a sigh of relief after reading these books which start with "Your One Year Old" and go all the way up to "Your Ten to Fourteen Year Old".

When I gave birth, I hoped the manual would have popped out right after the baby, alas,I was wrong. We used The What to expect books until they no longer covered our age group. A local bookstore suggested Dr. Ames' books and they have been a GOD SEND! These books are the best from 2 to 5 so far they have been right on the money...Our son turns six in March and we are buying the 6 book tomorrow. My husband & I can not think of any other book(s) that has been more helpful or informative, than those written by Dr. Ames. Kudos to her and her easy to digest books.