Infants Books

As the mother of an intact 3-year old, I am shocked and saddened that so far all his playmates were circed. When I dare to ask their moms why, they say things like, "So he'll look like his father. Because its hygenic. It looks better. So he won't have to go through it later."

These women clearly were not given the facts by their doctors. If only they had read this book. I don't see how anyone could allow their child to be circed after reading this comprehensive, referenced, and easy-to-read book.

If you are pregnant, you need to read this book. If you know someone who is pregnant, you need to give them a copy. If you are a medical professional, you need to read this yourself and recommend it to your pregnant patients. If you are an OB, you need to put copies of this book in your waiting room. If you are Oprah, you need to invite Dr. Fleiss on your show and possibly, in one hour, change the fate of millions of unborn baby boys.

Dr. Fleiss has done an incredible service in writing and publishing this book. We Americans need to stop circing our boys, and this book can help accelerate the turning of the tide.

Just look at the table of contents and you will see that this very readable book is a reference gem. Full of facts that are generally not taught in medical school, yet presented in layman's terminology that is easily accessible to everyone, Drs. Fleiss and Hodges have provided invaluable information for health care professionals and the general public alike.

For too long, open and rational discussions of circumcision have been taboo within our society. This book sheds light on virtually every aspect of the topic, illuminating a vast array of issues, uncovering medical myths, and providing practical answers to misunderstood questions.

In the same way that Dr. Benjamin Spock's handbook was utilized by generations of parents and their doctors as a guide for child care, I hope this book will grace the bedside of new parents, and be mandatory reading for all physicians in training.

This book provides solid data with plenty of sources about the dangers and misunderstanding surrounding circumcision. The author writes in a way that is poignant, yet easy to understand, and addresses common questions such as "Is there any good reason to circumcise?" "Does circumcision prevent AIDS?" and "Isn't circumcising healthier?"

I have probably read every book on the subject of male infant circumcision. So, in Fleiss' and Hodges' book I was expecting a repeat of the usual information. I am delighted to say I was wrong; and, I learned a lot, too.

This book presents the truth about non-therapeutic circumcision in a straight forward and easy to read fashion. Whether you are a parent questioning circumcision, a survivor wanting to know more about your body, or a human rights activist needing a solid background of information, I highly recommend this book. It has become the first book I suggest people read on the subject. Dan Bollinger, Executive Director, International Coalition for Genital Integrity www.icgi.org

All children -- boys and girls alike -- deserve to keep their genitalia the way nature intended. I have the utmost respect and praise for Dr. Fleiss and this book. He clearly outlines the history and hysteria behind this unnecessary, painful surgery, and details the numerous reasons to leave your sons whole, intact, and uncircumcised. We've all heard the "myths" of why circumcision should be performed; now it is time to hear the truth of why it shouldn't. If you only read one book while pregnant, this should be it.

My daughter LOVED this book. I mean LOVED. If your child likes baby faces in books they will delight at this one. Ours is literally tattered from all the love.

I bought this book for my son when he was just about a year old, and he loved it. He at first liked looking at the faces, and laughed when we would describe the different scenarios on each page. He enjoyed this book for a very long time and it is so worn out I am getting a new one for his little sister.

My baby, now 8 months old, loves this book as well as "Baby! Talk!" and "Grow! Babies!" (also by same author/photographer). We first found it at our local library when she was about 4 months old, but I finally had to order it when we ran out of renewals. I love that the babies are so engaging, of different ethnicities, and show different moods. I also enjoy the straight-forward text that doesn't rhyme and won't make you feel stupid to read out loud.

My son received this book as a gift when he was about 5 mo old. Now, almost a year later, he still loves it! He is absolutely mesmerized by all of these babies. The only page that he doesn't seem to like is the "Cry Babies" page, which, of course, shows babies crying. He quickly moves on to the next page. All in all, this book is a home run! Expect to read it over and over and over again.

My sister bought this book for my daughter when she was 6 months old. My daughter has loved it since then. She's now 2 1/2. I have another daughter and she loves it, too. She's almost 9 months and all she does is laugh when she sees the pictures of the babies. She can't get enough of it. The binding is falling apart from use. That's how much my girls love this book. I agree with the reviewer below -- the diversity is great. What a refreshing change.

Eva Marie Stasiak's book on ways to save money on baby equipment and supplies is a must-read for any new parent. She first encourages a new parent to design a budgeting worksheet, and then gives a number of tips on how to minimize costs. She then gives the reader a financial guide for nearly every aspect of child-rearing, including supplies, baby showers, clothing, furniture, toys, and health care.

Interspersed throughout Stasiak's book are several Case Studies that focus on financial strategies implemented by parents. These are helpful in providing the reader with real-life examples of budgeting problems and money-saving tactics. Reading the book is also more enjoyable due to the number of baby pictures included with the text. The format of Stasiak's book is quite attractive and easy to read overall.

Your New Baby is a must-have for any parent looking to save money on baby supplies. The rising costs of furniture, clothing, and health care have made it almost crucial to cut costs in any way possible. Stasiak's guide will provide you with easy tips to minimize costs while still ensuring the happiness and healthiness of your new baby.

Your New Baby, by Eva Marie Stasiak, is the perfect book for any new parent. It has basic and informative information, which is presented in a casual, easy to read style, but it also has detailed information that I found helpful. For instance: The book has a link to resale shops and child safety sites, which is helpful in implementing some of the budget and safety plans. The preparations plans are thoughtful, and well laid out, even for modest budgets. It has sweet black and white photos, and simple illustrations.

The book mentions preparations for hospital stays, and excellent questions for health providers or caretakers. I wish the book could've mentioned how to prepare for a sickly child, though. I know that no one plans to have an ill or diseased child, but you need to have a plan
for this, just in case.

Overall, I liked the books attitude toward Motherhood; Your New Baby is not preachy or severe. It fosters the idea that Motherhood is not an exact science, and there are little bumps and problems along the way that must be solved. I enjoyed the stories of the mothers, who told their individual experiences. These highlighted stories are good at explaining to a new parent that you are not parenting any baby, but parenting your baby, and so must tailor & re-vamp your plans once the baby is born. I reccommend the book especially for pre-pregnancy parents, who are planning a baby in the next year. Four stars for this book!

I read Eva Marie Stasiak's book and was extremely glad I did. As a father of a two-year old, it was refreshing that some of the cost saving methods my wife and I used, when my toddler was a newborn and infant, were mentioned in the book. It was also helpful to us as we plan to bring a new bundle of joy into our lives in the next year or so.

Stasiak's book appeals to me because she is currently a mother of a young child. Many of the books on preparing people for the life-altering world of parenthood are written by older parents whose children have grown and had children of their own. No disrespect to these authors, many of them are experts in their fields, but for me it was nice having someone who has dealt with raising a baby in these current economically strapped times.

The book is well written and informative. It speaks to the parent or future parent directly instead of just being a book telling abstract people how to save money. It is also refreshing to read a book on babies and parenthood and not have the author try and get an agenda across (i.e. breastfeeding is the ONLY way or a mother should not be a career woman when a child is young, etc).

I read the book and recommended it to my wife who stated she would recommend it to many of the mothers she has met on "mommy" internet groups. I would give this book five out of five stars.

This is a book every new (or expecting) mother should read. Eva Marie Stasiak has written a smart, practical guide for budgeting everything baby will need or want in his first year, including those surprise expenses that can set any middle-class family back.

Stasiak makes it so easy to create a budget. Just write the subject headings you see in the book into the items list of your budget, reading each chapter as you go. She gives annual costs of things like diapers and formula. (Turns out the diaper rash ointment my pharmacist recommended was cost effective.) She also gives prices of big ticket items like cribs and strollers. Best of all, she has creative ways for finding bargains.

There is another more important idea that runs throughout this book. When raising a baby, it's not about how much money you spend. It's about the love you give.

When I first read the cover of the book, I thought "Wow, imagine saving that much money! We could finally go on that vacation!" Unfortunately, within the first few pages I knew that nothing earth-shattering was going to come of my reading this book. That being said, within the first chapter, I discovered what a treasure I had found for first time mothers! So, if you are like me and have already had a few children, you may not find what you're looking for but if you have a sister or daughter who is about to have their first child - give it to them!
The tips and suggestions scattered throughout the book are strategies that were once given from mother to daughter but that seem to have been lost in modern times. In an age where everything just has to be the latest, greatest, brand-new thing on the block - this book teaches young parents how to budget and choose their expenses wisely.
A perfect gift for a baby shower - this book will help young families start out on the right foot. If I could have written a book on all the things I should have done (and didn't do) as a new mother, it would have been exactly like Stasiak's book but since I didn't write one, I can't think of a better book to help new moms make the right choices the first time!

The book was in perfect condition. I appreciate the honesty and good service.

I received this book when I took a breastfeeding class at my birth hospital. I found it to be clear and concise, friendly and easy-to-understand, but quite repetitive. It seems that each chapter contains the same (useful) information, just in a different order... sometimes exact phrases are repeated. Beyond that, the book is a short, easy read with practical information on everything from getting started to storing pumped milk.

I actually got this book free from a Breastfeeding class I took, and have found it to be the most easy to use/read book - especially compared to the other 2 books I actually bought. I feel it is straightforward with facts instead of opinions, and a great reference for when I had some breastfeeding problems and concerns.

One thing not mentioned, and I haven't seen it any other books, is how the number of feedings on average reduces after the first month - and 8 feedings isn't always required.

I was given this book at the hospital while taking a breastfeeding class. Even though I felt that I knew it all, when it came to actually breastfeeding my daughter I was clueless and in tears for the first week. This book provided me with the info I needed to keep on breastfeeding. I successfully breastfed for 8 months!

I am a new (expectant) Mom with no experience breastfeeding. This book had the answers I was looking for with simple easy to understand pictures. This book answered questions for me I had posed to my OB/GYN but, for some reason, he couldn't communicate the answers to me in as concise a fashion as this book! I think this book is a wonderful resource. It's a fairly quick read and seems to address all the questions/problems you may face while breastfeeding.

Very cute book with adorable ideas. Many ideas can be translated into non baby projects. Most ideas I had seen before, however it is nice to have them all in one book.

This book is so beautifully done -- the photographs, the how-tos -- that even if you don't intend to do the full blown projects, you can channel your creativity and your baby mementos into something amazing with the author's help. Great baby shower gift!

I enjoy making baby shower gifts for my friends and family. This book gave me more great ideas for unique gifts to give.

This book is a gorgeous collection of decorating projects and ideas for babies' rooms -- perfect for a shower or holiday gift, or as motivation for your own adventures with a glue stick. Suzonne's How-To's are fun and easy to understand ( as opposed to some designer project guides that leave you with a tortured mess of twigs and dough, and glitter in unmentionable places. Or . . . maybe that's just me ). Whatever your skill level, rest assured that 'B is for Baby' will inspire an artistic confidence you didn't know you had, and fulfill a creative outlet you didn't know you were missing. Have fun !

I received this book as a gift and really was excited!!! I always want to do craft projects, but sometimes feel like things are going to be too complicated. This book makes it seem easy and doable, and has inspired me to start making some craft projects right away. The step by step instructions are easy to follow. Doing small craft projects is really satisfying and I find it better for relaxing than meditating or a martini!!!

I am so glad I found this book. I was told but never really understood the roller coaster ride I experienced the first six weeks of my daughter's life. This book reminded me to "hold on and enjoy the ride." Every evening before bed (when I would tease myself to believe I was going to get some sleep...really my daughter called me out of bed soon enough) I spent some time with this book. It reminded me what kind of woman and what kind of mother I wanted to be during this time. It grounded me and reminded me what is really important. It helped me realize I am not the only woman ever to live through this ride and that I am not alone by any means in this journey. I even wrote in the margins what was happening that day with my daughter. I know I will pull it out for the next baby and I am looking forward to reviewing my notes. When my daughter was six weeks old, I was sad to come to the end of this book. Now, we just need the author to write one for the first 18 YEARS!!

This book was fantastic. I received it when I gave birth to my third child, and found applications that were useful for all of my children. The chapters are short and easy to pick up and put down whenever you have a spare minute.

This book is very uplifting and encouraging for such a significant life change.

As a brand new mother, I received such encouragement from this book. I realized just how precious a privilege it is to be entrusted by God to raise one of His special gifts. I felt overwhelmed and underqualified as I realized how much my daughter will look to me. Even in the "hard" times of sleepless nights and fussy days, this book helped me see the joy and amazement in every moment. My only complaint of the book is that it ended too soon!

This is the best devotional I could have asked for as a new mother. I love her stories (from her experiences), ideas, and most of all, Godly advice and encouragement for new mothers. I can not say enough good stuff about this book. I am keeping it to give to my son's wife when they have a baby (he's 4 mos. old!)...it's that good! And I ordered some for all my pregnant friends.

My son and I were introduced to this book at story time at the local library. My son, 15 months, loves the book and helps me read it. It's very simple and quite captivating for my son who loves books. I only wish I could find it as a board book. Highly recommend.

I bought this book for my grandson when he was a few months old, based on the reviews here. He is now almost a year old and still LOVEs it. When given a choice, he always picks The Baby Goes Beep, and I sometimes have to read it over several times in a row. The down side is that it's not interesting from an adult's point of view. In fact, my daughter refuses to read it to him any more! However, it is a must-have from baby's point of view.

As a children's librarian, I can't say enough about this book. Every three months or so, I read this book in storytime to the toddlers and their reaction is amazing. The children love to sound in for the beeps, las, and smooches. Even the most distracted of the children tends to tune in for this special book. It is now a special treat for me to read this book and it shows on the toddler's faces each time I bring it out.

Bright and lively, bold and colorful, this book immediately caught my eye. Its lovely rhythm and simple, warm sense of humor were delightful to nuzzle in. Both as a parent and as a psychologist who works with young children, I found the book right on in its use of repetition and bright colors, inclusion of a loving family (including the cat!), and the joy the baby takes in sounds and other senses in exploring the world. "Beep" if you love this book! And the baby goes flip, flip, flip, flip through its pages again and again!

The Baby Goes Beep is one of my son's favorites. He's 16 months old and loves the bouncy, rhyming text and sunshine-bright illustrations. Best of all, he loves to give the book a kiss when we get to the "baby goes smooch" page spread. This book is an excellent choice for babies and toddlers.

As a side note, this book was a Charlotte Zolotow honor book for 2004 -- the award given for the best picture book writing of the year (the Caldecott is for illustration). Kudos to O'Connell!

This book is perfect for someone who knows nothing about signing. It is an easy, fast read. This is the only signing book I have read so far and probably will be my last. Most of the signs that are relevant to baby and day to day life are in this book. Reccomended to all moms!

After looking around at many books on baby signing, we eventually decided to purchase 'Baby Signing for Dummies'. We are so pleased that we did! This book is so well-written and easy to read, not like a textbook at all! You can tell that this book was written by a mother, it is practical, full of good advice, funny and most of all realistic! I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn about baby signing.

Great book, this has been very helpful communicating with our young grandchildren!!!

A must have for parents wanting to sign with their children. Easy to use. It is easy to jump right into the signing without reading the entire book, quick easy reference. This book has been very helpful in teaching my daughter to sign. Great starting point. Also true ASL signs.

This book is a great way to learn sign language and teach your babies/kids. My now 20 month old is able to tell me what she needs and there is much less frustration in the house than I had with my first child at this age. My 4 1/2 year old and my 20 month old can communicate with each other as well through signs. I love this book and it has started me on a path of learning/teaching more signs. You can't go wrong with it - even if you only use one sign from it (you don't have to remember them all to have your life easier by using signs).

i just had to go out and buy this book after reading the reviews on it, my son is ten months old and just gone down for a nap, and i am reading through the book and getting so excited about all the places we can now go and see. We have only been in california 1 year and i am a new mom in a new place not knowing where to go and what to see for my toddler and this book is going to be just perfect and we want to go exploring now. i have a couple of other books but the activities are for children a little older but we need to explore now. Thank you to the parents who bothered to review this wonderful book, and I hope this review helps other. like someone mentioned most of the places are either free or very inexpensive. - its going to be perfect.

Finally there is a Southern California tour guide especially geared towards parents of babies and toddlers. Your children learn best through first hand experiences and Baby's Day Out is chock full of great places for the young (and not so young) to experience the things they love like animals, trains, parks, aquariums, tide pools, hands-on museums and more. My 10 year old and 61/2 year old twins still love to visit many of the places listed in JoBea Way's comprehensive guide. They also have a list of many new places for us to visit as well.

The book is broken down into eleven chapters covering major areas of interest for young children: Museums, Our City, Gardens and Nature, The Zoo, Aquariums, Trains and more. There are over 224 separate sites reviewed. Locations covered include the expected Los Angeles and San Diego Zoos as well as many less well known places like the Goodyear Blimp Airfield, Tierra Rejada Farm and Pasadena Unified School Bus Lot.

The book includes many helpful tips for making outings more enjoyable and each review contains a concise description, directions with Thomas Guide page references, and cross references to both similar sites and nearby attractions. Easy to spot icons let parents know if the locations can accommodate single and or double wide strollers (most do), and whether gift shops, snack shops or picnic areas are available so parents can plan accordingly. I love the lists of children's books on topic related to each entry and the special pages with simple graphics of animals or things that go, etc. These pages are designed for young children's use before, during or after their visits. For example, the first picture pages are of cars and trucks children might see on the way to their visit.

The final chapter includes a month-by-month "Things to Look For" section featuring holiday, special events and seasonal changes to watch for geared to Southern California. There are comprehensive listings of Fourth of July displays, Holiday lights, Farmer's Markets and more. These lists alone are a great resource whether you have young children or not.

The number and variety of places listed is truly impressive. Our family has been enjoying working our way through the book and finding many new favorites. I plan to give this book as a shower gift to all my pregnant friends and think the book is a great resource for parents of school age children and teachers also.

This book is filled with fun things to do at any age and for anyone who has some time to spend in the L.A. area. We visit there often and sometimes we are looking for more to do than just the big theme parks. There are so many things that I wouldn't have known about, much less how and where to find them. A treasure for anyone, local or tourist.

Baby's Day Out in Southern California provides a wide range of age-appropriate excursions. Crammed to the bursting point with places to go, things to see and do, special events, ideas for activities and related reading, this excellent book is one of the most innovative, detailed and practical guides around.

Although the contents are arranged by type of place (i.e., museums, aquariums, farms and ponies, flying), it also offers site maps, making it easy to plan a day around a particular location or a specific interest. Listings include physical and Web addresses, phone numbers, directions, what to see and do, hours, parking, admission and membership information, related locations, nearby places and blank space for your own comments. Additional sections contain events by the month, packing lists and road games.

Its most valuable feature is its ability to look at potential places from a child's perspective. Among the 224 sites listed in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Santa Barbara/Ventura counties are fire stations, school bus yards, museums, libraries, gardens and nature centers, truck stops, farms, theaters and convention centers.

This is one of the best travel reference guides you could acquire if you have young children.

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and never knew about 90% of the places suggested in this book! In addition to the usual spots (Disneyland, parks, etc), the book suggests creative places like the schoolbus depot and construction sites (from a safe distance, of course!). "Baby's Day Out" really made me look at the world through my babies' eyes, where everything is a new and fascinating experience. For example, when I drive on the highway now, I point out the trucks passing by to my kids and they love watching the different sizes and colors. Before this book, I never would have thought about trucks on the highway as a field trip experience. This book is also very practical, providing all the necessary information, including Thomas Guide map pages, hours, prices, parking, everything! As an added bonus for me, Holt even tells me when they're enough room for my double stroller (with twin 18-month old boys, that is a big plus for me). I live in New Jersey now and bought this book while on vacation in Los Angeles. I wish they would write a book like this for us folks in the east coast.

I bought this book when my son was 3 months old and he still loves it!!!

The pictures are quite endearing and detailed with lots of things to point out and talk about. The little latch is a hit. We must operate it at every page!

This is an enjoyable colorful bible for babies. The colors and the stories are a fantastic way to Introduce baby or toddler on the bible. This little beginning makes it fun and easy for mom and dad to explain further the stories that are told, too.

My daughter, Zoe is 21 months old & we both loved this book. She is learning to pray & the short, often rhyming words make prays easy to remember. But most of all the vibrant illustrations captivate the toddler's interest. This was a great buy!

The moment my 2 yr. old daughter saw the book, she never let go. Every night, we both cuddle up & look at the very colorful pictures with cutouts on each page. I make up stories on each page & also read to her the simple prayers that she could learn as she grows. Since the pages are made of hard board, they are perfect for tiny, experimenting hands which turn each page awkwardly with too much excitement. Furthermore, the lock at the side makes it easier for those tiny hands to carry. No more flapping pages! These little inquisitive kids will not only learn to read but also harness their motors/skills by opening/closing the lock. Another big plus is the handle which allows the children to hold/carry the book very conveninently wherever, whenever. I highly recommend this book to all your toddlers!