Infant-and-Toddler-Health Books

My wife & I had our first child 15 months ago. We find ourselves referring to this book on many different occasion. From what to do when the baby gets an ear infection to what to expect when weaning baby off of the bottle. A must buy, trust me, you will be glad you did!

I was surprised to learn that there aren't more books of this type available for black mothers. But this book may be the only reference guide you need! A very easy read, and so full of useful information that I read it chunks at a time! The historical information is invaluable too. This would make a great gift for a special mom-to-be.

This is an excellent book for Pregnant woman from a Black perspective. From the interesting history side stories to the added stories of black woman any black woman will find this useful throughout their pregnancy and through the first few months with baby.

Key things I liked, the section on single moms, down to earth section on going back to work, negotiating leave, creating a budget for the new baby in your life, baby names, and 100% accurate medical information. Paritically on the choices for childbirth, from birthing centers to hospitals and the medications you available now.

This a great book I will keep in my reference for my second child.

I have learned just as much from "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and could really have done without the African names/meanings and tips on how to use kente cloth in a nursery. "WHat To Expect..." is much more thorough, although a lot of the information overlaps. The pictures in "Mama's Little Baby" are great, but not sure that you'll really learn how to bathe a baby based on these pictures...Get "what To Expect" and save the money...

This book offers information needed for pregnant women but it specifically relates to the african american woman's needs. You can relate to the stories told by these women. The pictures are wonderful. mostly it prepares the woman for what to expect during each month of her pregnancy and birth. Highly recommended.

I just got this book today and I LOVE it! I have already read half of it and can't wait to read more. I am an expecting parent and I am finding very helpful information for questions that I already have. The topics of crying, bottle feeding/breast feeding, pacifiers,bathing hints, introducing solid foods, etc...have already been helpful. I am reading cover to cover now, but I am sure it will become a frequent reference once the baby is born...and the topics are EASILY found. (topics are A - Z and in bold across top of page and many topics are cross referenced to help you find what you are looking for more easily). I highly recommend to any new or expecting parents who want really helpful advice from other parents who have been there. It is scary enough to embark on the journey of parenthood, but with sound advice to support you it doesn't seem as scary. Thanks Parent Soup!!!

All those questions that new moms (like me) have, now have a answer. Not only is there advice from parents but it also gives you the pediatrician's and La Leche League's viewpoints on subjects. You even learn how and where you can safely pinch pennies!

This book has become my parenting bible that I will turn to again and again, it will also become the shower gift for expecting friends. With it's real life advice to real concerns and questions, it covers all the bases for being a parent in an easy to read layout. Not only is there baby tips, but there is also advice for the parents as well. Diapers, teething, sex after having the baby, going back to work, child care, pacifiers, circumcisions, getting back in shape, resouce lists for groups such as Moms Clubs, LLL, Fathers groups, Insurance, Special Needs children, etc. There is a wealth of input on each subject so that you can tailor what works best for you, your child and your families unique style. Inserted throughout the book there are insights from a Pediatrician, Dr. Alan Greene. And as an added bonus, I love the side notes in the margins that include parent poll results, trivia, recipes and extra tips that you can only get from parents that have been there and done that. All of this advice compiled directly from all parents that have joined Parent Soups online site; my new parenthood "oasis". Bottom line, it is real tips from real parents on all of the issues we face as new parents today. I know I will be looking forward to the next book about toddlers.

Okay, I shoud have guessed it before I bought it, but all this book is is a publication of some e-mails. Most are from the same couple of people who like to hear themselves talk. Please save your money!!! You'll thank me.

I may be one of the few, if only fathers to add in a review of this book, but as my wife thought the book was a good overview I picked it up myself. Once we found out that my wife was pregnant we went out and got an arm full of books in an effort to compete with the library of Congress. This book was one of the better buys. This book was one of my wife's and my favorites of all the child care books we bought. We both thought it was full of very helpful and interesting information that we wanted or needed. You really understand what is going on with each new issue as it comes up.

The book has a good deal of important advice and survival tips that may not be in more straight-laced books on the topic. The book is very easy to use with the topics in an easily found layout. The book is laid out A - Z and in bold across top of page with the topics cross referenced to help you find what you are looking for more easily. The writing is clear and to the point, no working through page after page of Dr speak. The book was unique in that if offered advice from parents, pediatricians and the La Leche League.

I found that I liked reading what other parents had to say about the different topics. It was nice to see what worked and did not work for other parents. The Doctors comments were also very helpful and well written - not dry and dull. Not only are there tips on your new born, but there is also advice for the parents as well. As expecting parents moving into full-blown parenting, this has been a great book. THe one item of caustion I would add is that this is not the only book you will need, it does not go into the detail that a Dr Sears book does. I think expecting and new parents should all get a copy of this book.

This book is beautiful! The text, the pictures, the authors have captured the very essence of a craniosacral session. Their thoughts, intentions and flow of a session are easily followed but at the same time you feel as if you are watching such a private moment. Not very technical, assumes you already have that background and if you do you are completely in the moment with them. If you don't have a long background with CST, you'll still LOVE this book. It speaks to your mind, heart and soul about craniosacral therapy as it unfolds. Felt honored to read and now own this book.

awesome pictures, wonderful words, encouraging for those of us who work with babies on a regular basis

Pictures and words do not really clarify the steps of the treatment he gives the baby client. It doesn't really help to go deeper in treating craniosacrally babies and children.

This was an excellent support for my work with infants. It gives many practical suggestions and insights. The pictures are phenominal!!!

This is just a really nice book, solidly in the tradition of, "YOUR INNER PHYSCIAN AND YOU".

It's written in a soft, intimate yet delightful one-on-one voice much like Viola Fryman, DO, or even better, a Children's Story book, and oozes with sensitivity.

I would recommend for anyone who has performed CranioSacral for Pediatrics, and especially, for any worried mothers in the USA or Abroad who don't know where else to turn for thier little ones.

It is refreshing to see an infant or toddler treated in the medical literature as something other than a piece of meat to be poked, prodded, and put away. Here, the little one is allowed to express as a conscious, sentient being.

(Parents of Autistic children rejoice!)

Etienne and Neeto Peirsman know what they are doing with infants in crises. This becomes very clear in their generous case histories, especially, "Where, Dear Soul, Do You Come From?" It's not always so easy as we grown ups may think.

If you're a CranioSacral fan and enjoyed the ease of reading Upledger's, "YOUR INNER PHYSICIAN AND YOU", you'll love this!

Well done.


J.Nemec LMT, CST-D
Author of,
TOUCH THE OCEAN: THE POWER OF OUR COLLECTIVE EMOTIONS

I think this book is amazing. After all the books I have read this is the only one I will use for now. It is simple and broken out by the months, each new month I can see what food I am supposed to feed my two twins.

One person did mention that are recommendations for some unsafe foods that is true but if you are educated you just skip these, like the peanuts, eggs etc... just ask your peditrician if they have not told you already to list you out the unsafe foods avoid them in the book and move on! It is great!

This book came at a time where I was still feeding my son pureed peas and carrots with no flavor. Now what an appetite! He loves the broccoli and ham with pasta, the peach melba yogurt. He's such a good eater now. The recipes are great, the only downfall, I like to make bigger recipes. This is geared more towards a 2-3 serving meal. I use the recipes to get an idea and then perpare bulk sizes of the meals. I mean really who uses 2 oz. of peppers or celery? The only one so far my son didn't like- chicken and celery supper. I just added some pasta and he liked it fine. Buy the book and use your imagination!

I sat down and read through this book page by page this weekend for suggestions to add variety to my 9 month old's diet. It recommends all these foods that are unsafe by most American pediatrician's standards like whole eggs, strawberries, citrus fruits, peanut butter, nuts, very fatty meats, etc. Many recipes are very involved with a slew of ingredients or those not normally served like leeks or corriander. The bulk of the book is recipes for toddlers who can eat most table food, anyway. You could just as easily use a recipe book on casseroles or the Joy of Cooking. The illustrations lack diversity which made me think the book was already a decade or more old. Look elsewhere.

This is a great book full of good ideas, easy and fun recipes and lots of pictures. It has been an excellent resource for me and my husband. It's very useful if you like to cook and believe homemade baby food is a good nutritional start for your baby.

I purchased "First Food" at a time when I needed some guidance in preparing solid foods for my young child. I sifted through a whole array of cookbooks with recipes geared toward children, but this one caught my eye in particular because of its clear descriptions, down-to-earth information, and beautiful photos. This book has proven to be so helpful and inspiring to me, as a fairly new parent, that I have recommended it to all of my friends with young children.

The recipes are arranged according to the child's developmental stage. For example, the meals for Stage 1 (birth to 4 months)include diverse recipes for fruit, vegetable and meat purees. Stage 4 recipes (children 9-12 months)include a cheese broccoli dish, eggy bread fingers, and cheese straws. The recipes are clearly described, tasty, and include beautiful and descriptive photos.

There are also recipes for "Quick Cakes and Bakes the Kids Can Make," "Family Meals," "Just Desserts" and "Quick Teas" with nutritious recipes that can be prepared under 10 minutes. This has been a life saver! Some of the recipes include a "Speedy Chicken Pie" and "Four Fast Fishes."

Furthermore, the book goes beyond just being a standard book of recipes. Sara Lewis is extremely helpful regarding practical matters, such as freezing food, creating balanced meals, dealing with fussy eaters, and how to cook a meal for both adults and children without having to cook twice. Most importantly, Sara Lewis advises parents on the importance of dining together and enjoying meals. Her style is just right. Not too academic, opinionated, or at all preachy. Just good common sense.

This book is extremely thorough, covering everything from diagnostic testing, to treatment (high and low tech) to how procedures and medications will make you feel physically and otherwise.

Written in a very straight forward and easy to understand way, but not dumbed down by any means.

It's not a self help book designed to make you "feel" better. It's meant to inform and educate. And as out of date as my copy is, it's still very, very relevant to fertility treatments today.

Not at all negative in tone. It gives a truthful picture of what you should expect when going through any type of treatment for infertility. I'm an IVF veteran and still find it helpful as a reference.

Cannot recommend this book enough!

Written by infertility patients for infirtility patients, this most excellent resource answers questions not normally addressed by infertility resources in a sympathetic, practical, no-nonsense manner. I've used this book, recommended it to my sister and several friends. We all found the information very helpful. It really clarified the process, making it easier to figure out what our limits were and what we truly wanted to do. The emotional inventory included is invaluable for any couple going through the trying process of creating a family. I particularly appreciated how the various testing procedures were described: everything from what the test was expected to accomplish and how it is conducted, to how the various procedures you'll go through actually feel. This isn't the only good resource out there, but it is easily one of the best. If you're struggling with infirtility and feeling overwhelmed by the whole subject, start your exploration with this book.

This book provides an honest and candid look at the world of infertiltiy. It gives the reader real examples and descriptions of fertility drugs, procedures, side effects and the effect on your lifestyle. It describes medical conditions and procedures in non-medical terms. Any fertility patient who really wants to have an understanding of what is going on with her body and emotions during the fertility process should read this book. I highly recommend it!

All this book does is cite the negative effects of fertility treatments, including surgery! It points out how horrible certain patients' experiences were, without any positive outlooks. What a horrible waste of money.

Any women or couple starting to experience infertility must read this book!!!! This book was a great source of information for my husband and I when we began our trip down the infertility road. During our doctor visits, our doctor would ramble of numerous prosedures, surgerys, test and medications we may have to go through, it would boggle both our minds. We'd go home, look up everything discussed at the appointment in this book and we knew exactly what to expect from any given procedure or test. It help relieve a lot of the stress we were both experiencing.

After reading many books to help me get through the first few months of parenthood, I was given this book . I wish I'd read it while still pregnant, this book is excellent, a great resource, very practical and gives you good suggestions on how to extend your baby's night sleep. I borrowed it from a friend whose baby was sleeping 10 hours a night at 6 weeks old, if it worked for her I thought it was worth a shot and i really think its helping. i highly recommend it.

The base idea for this book is to look for a "Core Night" which is the first time your baby sleeps for longer than usual. Once he does that the author says you can expect him to do it all the time by not going to him during those Core Night hours. She says the Core Night is the Secret Weapon and happens usually in the first 4 weeks. But what if you miss is? What if your baby is older than 4 weeks? And what if he cries very hard during those Core Night hours? There are a few ideas throughout the book, but I found a better one that had a more specific plan called The No Cry Sleep Solution which is for babies of all ages.

This book was a life-saver. Our 4 month old is sleeping 8-9 hour stretches. We are all much happier getting our rest. I thought it was a great book and have bought it for many friends.

Hi,
at 6 weeks my baby is sleeping 6 1/2 hours a night uninterrupted thanks to this book! I'm trying to work her up to 8 hours, which I know will come. She goes to bed like a dream and settles herself back down if she does wake up - all tips I learned with the book.

The base idea for this book is to look for a "Core Night" which is the first time your baby sleeps for longer than usual. Once he does that the author says you can expect him to do it all the time by not going to him during those Core Night hours. She says the Core Night is the Secret Weapon and happens usually in the first 4 weeks. But what if you miss is? What if your baby is older than 4 weeks? And what if he cries very hard during those Core Night hours? There are a few ideas throughout the book, but I found a better one that had a more specific plan called The No Cry Sleep Solution which is for babies of all ages.

Sheila Kitzinger has once again gone where no woman has gone before! This time, the renowned feminist, childbirth expert, and author provides an essential guide for self-care so you can make the transition to motherhood without losing your self. Combines practical advice on exercise, eating, and daily life with warm encouragement and affirmation. A wonderful gift for an expectant or new mother.

I haven't read a lot of books about the postpartum period that realistically describe the physical and emotional effects of becoming a mother. This book was a refreshing change of pace. After the birth of my child, I felt guilty about not being overjoyed. Sheila Kitzinger validated my feelings, which made it easier for me to accept my new role as a mother. I disagree with the previous review, describing the book as "depressing and morbid". Unfortunately, hormonal upheavals and dramatic lifestlye changes can feel that way. But I think that anyone that has had a baby should read this book. It describes what many women are thinking, but often don't talk about for fear of being judged as "abnormal". I believe that the author's discussion of these thoughts and feelings can be empowering for a new mother. It's a good read for what can sometimes be a challenging period in a woman's life.

This book was a gift from a real friend! I was so lost and unaware about all the stuff that the doctor didn't tell me! Shelia's book gave me a wealth of information about breastfeeding and why babies cry and that it's okay to feel frustrated and say "Why the hell did I do this? " The info about post-partem sex, baby slings and most importanly post partem feelings were priceless and right on. Not may people write honestly and from real life/world experience about the spectrum of feeling and emotion that follow the first intense months of babies and moms life.This book is a must have treasure written by a woman that cares and has made her lifes work about woman! BUY THIS BOOK!

Giving birth and becoming a mother was chaotic, overwhelming, wonderful and scary at the same time, and of the many books I bought to help me through it, only this book really helped. Where so much that is written about the experience of new parents is advice driven and vaguely judgmental, this book has the perfect empathetic air. So many times while reading this book I would think "oh yes, that is exactly what I have been feeling!" My only advice to expectant mothers would be, buy this book, wrap it up, and give it to yourself as a gift for that moment when you are back home with your new child!!!

Don't buy this book. Each chapter seems to focus on the negative aspects of birth and having a baby. It's depressing, morbid, and has little practical information.

I just bought this to use with my almost 7mo who just started crawling. Rather than exercises, it seems to be better described as tips to help your baby hold his/her head up, roll over, crawl, stand, and walk. My child can crawl, but doesn't meet the skill requirements for standing. Yet, the book gives no suggestions to help with those requirements. It just describes some things that may make learning to stand with stability easier. I didn't find the "exercises" all that helpful at all, and will be reselling my copy.

I was less than impressed by this volume. Its indexing is poor--I wanted to find the exercise for babies with tummyaches for a mom in my classroom, and I had to sit and flip through the book till I found it. What a waste of time! I'm sure the book is a great resource for physical therapists and under-threes special ed teachers working with infants with physical delays, but the exercises are not organized in an accessible manner.

I'm a stay-at-home dad who craves any and all information that can assure me that I'm "doing it right." This book is a wonderful resouce for expaining what skills are needed for my son to accomplish the major goals of his young life (rolling over, sitting up, crawling, driving the jeep . . .) One example of how the book has helped us concerns "tummy time". Like most parents in this day and age, my wife and I have been drilled constantly on not letting our son sleep on his stomach. As essential as this advice is, the necessity of making up the time on his stomach so that he can work his back muscles while awake has been a great help. Knowing that taking the extra time to work on these skills will only help him sit up sooner. On the technical side the book's pictures probably need to be re-shot to make them look a little more professional. The text and organization though are right on target

When one of my twin sons was diagnosed with brain damage and probable cerebral palsy shortly after birth, I knew that we would do everything possible to help him overcome his physical problems. We started weekly physical therapy sessions and early intervention programs, which are important, but the greatest focus was on daily work and interaction at home. That's where Fox's "Baby Steps" proved a valuable resource. The activities outlined in the book provide simple ways to help your baby learn important developmental skills. The format is clear and to the point, including black and white photos. The chapters follow a logical progression as your baby builds on previously learned skills. There are also suggestions for age-appropriate toys that will complement the exercises.

Our whole family uses many of the games and exercises from this book with both our handicapped son and his typically-developing identical twin. It's fun to have a repetoire of activities that goes beyond "this little piggy" and even my pre-schooler enjoys "making the babies do their workout". My husband has proved to be the best at putting our little guys through their paces. The exercises provide him with a natural way to bond with the babies, even in the earliest months.

I found some helpful information in this book, but I did not feel it was very comprehensive.

When my friend found out she was pregnant she was happy, but also an emotional mess-- it's a stressful situation! I stumbled on this book and gave it to her, and she's used it as her bible as she gets ready for her new baby. This author knows what she's talking about, and she's very good at telling exactly what you need for your baby and, most importantly, what you DON'T need. This is the only book I know that's so practical. There are lots of touchy-feely books out there to prepare you for motherhood, but no other to help you make the tough practical and financial decisions. I think this book is amazing. I wish it had been there for me!

I felt this book had too much of a lean toward childbirth without anesthetic (among other biases) to bother finishing. However, I did feel the lists at the beginning of the book were helpful in deciding what things are necessities and when. As a new mom, we might get caught up in all the fancy products on the market we see in the magazines and it is nice to know there is a resource out there discussing what are needs and what are merely wants.

I have never written a review on Amazon before, but this book compelled me to do so because I have found it so helpful. While I agree with the reviewer who said the book is biased (Huggins' preferences for breastfeeding, natural birth, etc. come out loud and clear), it is still an incredibly useful resource for someone like me--a first-time mom who knows absolutely nothing! I have no younger siblings, rarely babysat, and just generally have not spent much time around infants, so I'm going into parenthood with a totally blank slate. For this reason, I've been looking for someone or something that could tell me what is necessary to do and buy and what is not. (Prior to reading it, I couldn't have told you what a "layette" or a "bumper" was, and I certainly would not have known what to do with a "nasal aspirator.") Registering for my baby shower made me realize how saturated the market is with all kinds of gadgets that scream "buy me!" but personally, I can't afford to buy out the baby section at Target. And I'm not so hypnotized by marketing that I believe I need it all. Huggins breaks down not only what products are necessary for your baby's care, but also what might be better to borrow than to buy. She also offers suggestions for making or doing things yourself instead of paying for them (breast pads, for instance, cut out of diapers)--welcome advice for anyone on a budget! The book is recent enough (2006) that its information on actual products, name brands, etc. is totally up-to-date, a fact I also appreciated. I highly recommend this book for sorting through all the overwhelming purchasing and planning decisions, big and small, you will face as you prepare for parenthood.

This book is amazing. Dr. Taubman really makes the advice practicle and uses common sense. This is something we all have but when our infant is screaming and will not stop, you often do not use. Sometime an emotional parent needs to here / read the obvious. Then, Dr. Taubman builds on it with practile advice you can really use and implement

He even addresses topics like sleeping through the night which really helped me get my middle child to sleep more than 2 hours.

This book offers flow charts that attempt to complicate a simple process: Your baby is crying because it is wet, hungry, tired, needs to suck,or needs stimulation. The author attempts to put into a book those things which are common sense - if you try to sooth your baby one way, and your attempt is not successful, try something else.

Also, the author apparently subscribes to the Attachment Parenting philosophies, and therefore offers very biased suggestions to soothing techniques to be used. He leaves out other methods that can work.

I bought this book 11 years ago when my son was born. I credit this book with my son never developing "colic". When he cried, we quickly went through the list of needs the book describes and he, without fail, stopped crying. Funny, turns out he was mostly hungry when I was "sure" he could not possibly be, but he was. I give this book to every friend that has a newborn and they all agree, it saved them from lots of crying. If your new baby is having long crying episodes, get this book immediately. It will save your sanity and because you can meet the needs of your crying baby, you will develope confidence in your parenting skills.

Previously published in a Simon & Schuster edition as "Curing Infant Colic," the White Hat Communications edition of Dr. Bruce Taubman's Why is My Baby Crying?: The 7-Minute Program For Soothing The Fussy Baby has been completely revised and updated. Written by Dr. Bruce Taubman, by an active staff member of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Why Is My Baby Crying? provides a step-by-step, process of elimination approach to determining how to understand what your infant is trying to tell you. Written expressly for parents in clear, unambiguous language, Why Is My Baby Crying? explains what infant colic syndrome is and isn't, why some well-intentioned advice is unwise to follow, and how to soothe the seemingly impossible child. Highly recommended for pediatric and community library parenting book collections, Why Is My Baby Crying? is a "must" for any new parents!