Everything a parent needs to know about caring for a newborn -- up to 12 months.
Despite planning, nothing can quite prepare you for the big step from pregnancy to parenting. And what can make it even more challenging is all the contradictory and sometimes confusing information that comes from well-intentioned friends, family, co-workers and complete strangers!
It's for these reasons that we've published Canada's Baby Care Book. Written in a user-friendly, easy-to-understand style, it will empower parents with knowledge and allow them to make their own personal choices for their own circumstances.
Created by leading experts at the world renowned Hospital for Sick Children, it covers an extensive range of topics clearly and succinctly. You'll find information on everything from what to expect in the delivery room and the tests your baby will immediately receive to signs of illness in a newborn to feeding basics and crib safety, and so much more. One hundred and fifty specially commissioned "real life" photographs complement the text and illustrate additional instructions and information. This is truly the most complete book on baby care on the market.
Bio: | Dr. Jeremy Friedman, MB, BCh, FRCP(C), is the Division Head of Paediatric Medicine at The Hospital for Sick Children and an Associate Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. He has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and sits on the editorial board of general pediatric journals in Canada and the US. Dr. Norman Saunders, MD, FRCP(C), was a renowned private practitioner specializing in pediatrics. He is currently an MPT Staff Paediatrician at The Hospital for Sick Children and an Associate Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto, where he has garnered several Teaching Excellence awards. |
Preface: | Introduction and Contributing AuthorsIntroductionDoes 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 --- Contributing Authors
Sherri Adams, RN, MSN, CPNP
Carolyn Beck, MSc, MD, FRCP
Catherine Birken, MSc, MD, FRCP
Jeremy Friedman, MB, ChB, FRCP, FAAP
Sheila Jacobson, MB, ChB, FRCP
Norman Saunders, MD, FRCP
Michelle Shouldice, MD, FRCP
Michael Weinstein MD, FRCP |
TOC: | Introduction PART 1 Getting Ready to Have Your Baby
PART 2 Your Baby's First Few Days
PART 3 Feeding Your Baby
PART 4 Your Baby's First Month
PART 5 Helping Your Baby Sleep
PART 6 Your Baby's Months 2 to 6
PART 7 Introducing Solid Food
PART 8 Your Baby's Months 7 to 12
PART 9 Playing with Your Baby
PART 10 Protecting Your Baby
PART 11 Caring for Your Sick Baby
Baby Care Resources |