The Baby Care Book: A Complete Guide from Birth to 12-Month Old - Softcover

Friedman, Jeremy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0778801608 ISBN 13: 9780778801603

Publisher: Robert Rose, 2007

Synopsis

Everything a parent needs to know about caring for a baby.

The Baby Care Book is a clear, thoughtful and objective guide that helps parents raise a newborn. The subject of parenting is often confusing. The great value of this book is that it empowers parents with knowledge and allows them to make personal choices for each circumstance and situation.

Both authors are leading experts from the world-renowned Hospital for Sick Children. The Baby Care Book covers an extensive range of topics in clear, easy-to-understand language. Specially commissioned "real life" photographs throughout complement the text, providing additional instructions and information.

The chapters include:

• Getting Ready to Have Your Baby
• Your Baby's First Few Days
• Feeding Your Baby
• Your Baby's First Month
• Helping Your Baby to Sleep
• Your Baby's Months 2 and 3
• Playing with Your Baby
• Your Baby's Months 4 to 6
• Safety and Childproofing
• Your Baby's Months 7 to 12.

Both parent and newborn will benefit from the expert guidance that The Baby Care Book provides.

About this title

About the Author

Jeremy Friedman, MD, MBChB, FRCP(C) is the Chief of Pediatric Medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children and an associate professor, pediatrics, at the University of Toronto.

Norman Saunders, MD, FRCP(C) is a staff pediatrician at The Hospital for Sick Children and an associate professor at the University of Toronto.

Reviews

Starred Review. Two leading pediatricians at Toronto's internationally esteemed Hospital for Sick Children (aka Sick Kids) combine their expertise with that of five other pediatricians and a nurse practitioner in this comprehensive guide to the first 12 months of life. The book opens with a useful section on concepts and decisions that should be addressed before the baby is born, such as choosing a doctor, preparing siblings and purchasing equipment. The authors also discuss a variety of family situations, including single, same sex and adoptive parents. Following sections cover development and medical concerns in the first days, weeks and months, giving special attention to feeding, sleep issues, play, safety and how to care for a sick baby. Frequently Asked Questions sections will be particularly useful to first-time parents. Much like a good pediatrician, the text is straightforward and personable, and more than 200 color photos of parents and children provide an intimate, playful touch. The authors successfully create a clear, objective, and, above all, practical guide in this instructive and visually lively resource. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction and Contributing Authors

Introduction

Does the world really need another parenting book? The chances are pretty good that this book came off a shelf containing a handful of similar baby care books, all claiming to be unique, authoritative, and invaluable. We make no such claims. This book may not be "essential" for caring for your baby. A lot of great parenting goes on without reference to a book. You could probably do a fine job of raising your children without advice from us. But if you're looking to do the best job you can as a parent, and do it with confidence in your parenting skills, you might find this book very useful indeed. Here's why.

The Hospital for Sick Children is the largest pediatric health science center in Canada, and one of the most respected in the world. Founded in 1875, Sick Kids (as it is widely known) has evolved into an international institution. Its stated mission is "to deliver exemplary patient care, train the next generation of child health leaders and develop new interventions and treatments." This goal is achieved through the efforts of more than 3,200 hospital staff members, 600 medical professionals, and 1,100 dedicated individuals at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute. Trainees come from all over the world to learn the best and most up-to-date practices in child health care.

From this talented group, we have carefully selected eight contributors to produce this work. Seven are pediatricians, while one is a nurse practitioner. Three are men and five are women. All are parents; in fact, three have given birth in the last year. Some are community pediatricians with almost 30 years experience in primary care, while others are hospital-based. We also called on some of our highly skilled allied health professionals, including a dietitian, a lactation consultant, and a sleep expert, to review and augment relevant sections. In short, we wanted our authors to bring diverse perspectives to this book. The chief common denominator among this team of writers is pediatric expertise and a dedication to serving children.

Recruiting a capable group of experts was certainly a good start to the project, but it doesn't explain why this parenting book is so different. The complete answer requires a confession. When we were asked to write this book, we realized we had no particular ax to grind, cause to champion, or egos to stroke. Producing a book is hard work. Most books are written by people with a strong point of view. They feel the need to express their opinions, an innate personal bias often amplified by the fact that a book is more likely to sell if it is dramatically opinionated.

Our goal was not to present a strongly held dogmatic opinion, but rather to provide a clear, objective, and, above all, practical guide to help parents better raise a young infant. We want parents to use this book day in and day out. That's why you will find more "How to" and "Guide to" features in our book than in other baby care book. You can use this book to learn how to change a diaper, treat a cold, and feed with a bottle; how to select a stroller and purchase infant formula; and how to follow the curve of your baby's growth and development. We've even included a diary of one mother's experience with her infant son, from pregnancy to his first birthday, so you can compare the challenges and joys of parenting your baby. This book will help you build and hone your parenting skills, whether or not you have previous experience.

When it comes to questions about baby care, the advice offered by "authoritative" sources is often contradictory. It's a fact of life that, as soon as a couple announce they are expecting a baby, they are bombarded with unsolicited instructions that are usually confusing. This can be quite unsettling, undermining an expectant couple's confidence. What's a new parent to do? That's where this book comes in. It does not insist on a particular formula for parenting or extol only one rigid "best way" of doing things. Rather, it empowers parents with knowledge. It explains, informs, and demonstrates. We aimed to be comprehensive in presenting information and advice. Where possible, we incorporated the latest scientific "cutting edge" research findings. If there is no particular evidence to support a parenting practice, we present what is known so that parents can make informed choices that will work best for their particular circumstances.

We trust that the Baby Care Book will help replace uncertainty with knowledge, insecurity with confidence. We don't want you to do things our way; rather, we want you to feel comfortable raising your child in your own unique style. If this book helps you through the wonderful first year of your baby's life, we will be amply rewarded. Enjoy!

Dr. Jeremy Friedman
Dr. Norman Saunders

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Contributing Authors

Sherri Adams, RN, MSN, CPNP
Division of Paediatric Medicine
The Hospital for Sick Children
Faculty of Nursing
University of Toronto

Carolyn Beck, MSc, MD, FRCP
Division of Paediatric Medicine
Department of Paediatrics
The Hospital for Sick Children
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

Catherine Birken, MSc, MD, FRCP
Division of Paediatric Medicine
Department of Paediatrics
The Hospital for Sick Children
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

Jeremy Friedman, MB, ChB, FRCP, FAAP
Division of Paediatric Medicine
Department of Paediatrics
The Hospital for Sick Children
Associate Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

Sheila Jacobson, MB, ChB, FRCP
Division of Paediatric Medicine
Department of Paediatrics
The Hospital for Sick Children
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

Norman Saunders, MD, FRCP
Division of Paediatric Medicine
Department of Paediatrics
The Hospital for Sick Children
Associate Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

Michelle Shouldice, MD, FRCP
Division of Paediatric Medicine
Department of Paediatrics
The Hospital for Sick Children
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

Michael Weinstein MD, FRCP
Division of Paediatric Medicine
Department of Paediatrics
The Hospital for Sick Children
Assistant Professor
Faculty of Medicine
University of Toronto

Edition details

• Publisher: Robert Rose
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0778801608
• ISBN 13: 9780778801603
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 448