The New Basics: A-to-Z Baby & Child Care for the Modern Parent

We received many baby books before the birth of our son, all of the well known ones of course. We also received this particular book from a friend who swore by it. After we bought our son home, whenever we needed to reference a specific topic or had questions, we would read each book. By the end of the first week, all the other books were put on a shelf and this one remained on our bedside table and is still there 10 months later! Dr. Cohen explains just about everything you can think of in plain old english that is easy to understand and grasp. Additionally, every topic is alphabetized and easy to locate, especially when you have a screaming baby or mommy and need help quickly. Most everything made sense and helped us to relax without always rushing to the phone to call the pediatrician at all hours of the day and night. This has become our bible for the baby and we absolutely love it, use it, and quite often gift it to parents-to-be. Strongly recommend that every parent have a copy in their personal library, it is that good and helpful in our opinion.

I get so sick of all the newfangled advice flying around these days, or books that just touch the surface of an issue but don't offer any practical advice. I love Dr. Cohen's practical advice. This book with it's laid back approach was my lifeline during my nervous brand new mommy period.

Dr. Cohen takes an even-handed, medically-backed, no-nonsense approach to modern baby care. I referred to this book for my first baby and found it to be extremely helpful for my medical, behavioral and basic care questions. Dr. Cohen addresses the unnecessary frills, modern myths and old wives tales that other authors promulgate and feed into. In following his philosophy, I have had a very easy, low anxiety, low cost first year of motherhood. I have sent this book to all the new parents that I know, and I recommend avoiding most of the other, unfortunately popular, books out there that can make new parents neurotic and paranoid about their parenting skills. Stick with the basics and happy parenting!

Having a medical background, I didn't feel I would need a book telling me how to take care of my new baby. Boy, was I wrong. After the first week of my daughter having difficulty nursing, crying for no apparent reason and doing all the other strange things that new babies do, I was feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by the situation and by the even more strange and conflicting advice I was receiving by well-intentioned family and friends. I decided I needed help. At the nearest book store I was faced with an overwhelming array of baby books. After reading thru many books, I picked up Dr. Cohen's book and knew it was the one. He offered just the type of sensible, relaxed and reassurring advice that I was needing. And it allowed me to know that what I felt in my heart, what I already knew was correct from my medical training...was really OK! His methods in no way distract from the love your child feels, instead it sets boundaries and instills gentle discipline so that they will be happy and more comfortable in their environment. He disspells many common and extremely distressing wives tales which were at the heart of my own frustrations. I especially appreciated the sections on colic and sleeping. I have seen so many people drive themselves and their babies crazy trying to "work through" the colic by rocking, walking, you name it! When my daughter would fuss for a nap or bedtime, my aunt would immediately pronounce "Poor baby, she's colicky again!!". At which time she would begin the barrage of advice on how I should give her drops, rock her, sing to her and change her diet. Needless to say, all of her four children had the "worst case of colic" and didn't sleep thru the night "till they were nearly teenagers". Following his advice, my daughter was sleeping thru the night (8 hours plus!) by 8 weeks. My daughter is now a year and a half and has benefited very much from this book. Friends and family all amaze at how well adjusted and calm she is. It is no accident that she is like this! I have bought this book for all my friends who have had babies. I still use it regularly and appreciate it just as much as I did during those first nervewracking months!

Most of the time,your kids are just fine. But then once in a while there's a thing that just stumps you. And no one to ask. This is what happened to a friend with a newborn. She was at the doctors for a check up, and had been trying to figure out how to cut her baby's fingernails without chopping the top of the childs tiny little fingers. She was having a really hard time with it. At the doctor's office, she saw Cohen's book. Leafing through it, she came across what to do when you need to cut babies nails...don't! File them instead. She was so happy she came home and told me about her new discovery. This book has a lot of really helpful tips and is easy to read...it doesn't submerge you in details. A great resource for the new parent!