|
A mother lode of reading for veteran moms and moms-to-be
REVIEWS BY KATHERINE WYRICK Parenting books abound, but finding the right one can be a challenge—like searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack, or a lost Lego piece in the sofa cushions, as the case may be. The following new releases would make excellent additions to any seasoned parent's library and great gifts for expectant parents. Juggling roles
Peppered with anecdotes, this guide has a friendly, from-one-mom-to-another conversational tone. "Quick Tips" from Dr. Nied appear throughout and deliver bite-size morsels of wisdom from a pediatrician's perspective. There's not a lot of new information here, but Working Gal's Guide is chock-full of sound advice on a very timely topic. Most helpful are the appendixes in the back which include Baby-Sitter/Nanny Interview Questions and Contracts and Your New Baby Shopping List.
By Paige Hobey Da Capo, $15.95 448 pages ISBN 073821048X Spit happens
Trial and error is part of the process, but this informative, fun guide—designated a "Mod Mom Survival Guide"—will help make the trials less trying. Buckingham puts new mothers at ease with her insight into the oh-so-inexact science of parenting when she writes, "You will make mistakes, and you will have regrets, but that's just part of being a parent."
By Jane Buckingham ReganBooks, $25.95 336 pages ISBN 0060885343 The formula for happy kids
Though backed up by hard science, this accessible book is in part a how-to book, offering guidance on how to handle many types of parenting challenges. In the chapter "Behaving Badly," Sunderland addresses not only what to do when children have tantrums but why children behave badly in the first place. This knowledge can equip parents with information that could help prevent bad behavior before it starts. The photos of children in various stages of different meltdowns (yes, there are different types of tantrums), will bring smiles of recognition to parents who've been caught in the maelstrom of a meltdown (and who hasn't?). The familiar DK format, textbook-like (in the best sense) with colorful, glossy pages and striking photos, makes this an easy book to flip through and read in fits and starts—or during fits and tantrums.
By Margot Sunderland DK, $25 288 pages ISBN 0756618800 The natural way
By Lauren Feder, M.D. Hatherleigh, $17.95 352 pages ISBN 1578262054 Katherine Wyrick is a writer in Little Rock and the mother of two.
|
To work, or not to work. That is the question for many a modern mama. In The Working Gal's Guide to Babyville: Your Must-Have Manual for Life with Baby, author Paige Hobey avoids taking sides in this ongoing cultural debate, but offers a guide for gals who've made the choice to return to work post-baby. Hobey, a contributing writer for Parenting and Chicago Parent, has two young children of her own and has obviously made the transition successfully herself. She teams with New York-based pediatrician (and working mom) Dr. Allison Nied to give advice on basics such as newborn care, childcare options, sleeping and eating. Not only that, but Hobey gives mothers a detailed map for re-entry into the world of work.
Don't let her list of credentials and accomplishments intimidate you. Sure, Jane Buckingham (author of The Modern Girl's Guide to Life, based on her Style Network show of the same name) has it all: beauty, success, a fulfilling career and a happy family. But her writing style makes a mother feel like she's talking to a funny, down-to-earth girlfriend. In The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood, Buckingham strikes an empathetic tone as she offers frank and often funny advice on a variety of topics and practical solutions for common problems from birth to age four. A section on party ideas is particularly handy, succinct and right on the money. The author writes with flair and style on subjects ranging from the essential pre-baby shopping spree to the first play date. Her list of must-haves closely resembles Hobey's in Working Gal's Guide, proving that great parents think alike.
On the other hand . . . maybe parenting is more of an exact science than previously realized. The Science of Parenting by Margot Sunderland aims to show parents how current scientific research can help their child-rearing efforts. As Sunderland writes, "It's both awesome and sobering to know that as parents we have such a direct effect on the actual wiring and long-term chemical balance in our children's brains." Yikes. Sunderland's statement could very well strike terror in the hearts of parents, but this exhaustively researched tome is meant to inform, not frighten, and that's what it does. There's nary an anecdote or bit of personal recollection to be found in these pages, which makes this book distinctly different from the aforementioned guides. Sunderland is interested in the way one's parenting style directly influences, on a psychological and emotional level, a child's brain. It's fascinating stuff, and any parent can benefit from Sunderland's extensive research.
Holistic health care—a "natural" approach to healing which considers both the mind and the body, the spiritual as well as the physical—is surging in popularity, and childcare is no exception. For parents interested in exploring the possibilities, Natural Baby and Childcare: Practical Medical Advice and Holistic Wisdom for Raising Healthy Children from Birth to Adolescence is a comprehensive resource, a one-stop shop, for any question about how to care for children in a holistic way. This guide complements rather than challenges more traditional, mainstream parenting guides. Author Lauren Feder, M.D., offers natural cures for almost any disease or injury and covers a wide range of issues, from prenatal care to teething remedies for infants to acne treatments for teenagers. Parents with environmental concerns can read about alternatives to plastic diapers and products with potentially dangerous chemicals. Feder also addresses such timely and pressing issues as the link between vaccines and autism and the benefits of breast-feeding. This excellent reference can help moms and dads make the best decisions regarding the total health of their children.