Complete Book of Baby & Child Care: From Pre-Birth Through the Teen Years

This book covers conception through college. Although published by conservative Christians, a term which does not describe our family, it is not some preachy religious tract. For every age it has comprehensive information on the medical issues that arise, the psychology and development of children at that age. And it is written for normal people, not experts. Thanks to this book, I have been able to figure out some things that my young children have allergic sensitivities to; I have been able to avoid dehydration when my infant had diarrhea; I know better how children of a given age think and what they may be capable of. I especially appreciated the emphasis on the children's emotional needs. For example, given my limited experience with children before having my own, if this book hadn't mentioned how much the day-to-day interactions with babies mean to their emotional wellbeing, I'm not sure I would have gone out of my way to make moments like diaper changes and feedings fun. There is easy to use information on everything from taking a rectal temperature to diagnosing allergies to understanding how a child at a given age thinks, what she may be capable of doing, and even what kind of toys go with what age. Finally, I have found that the information in this book has always been consistent with what our pediatrician says, and with the generally accepted practices mentioned in childcare magazines, so I think it is very credible. Buy a hardback if available because you will want this to last awhile.

When it comes to parenting books, I've been there done that. I've read the "What to Expect" series, the "Girlfriends Guides," the Mayo health books, etc. What I've found is that each one does its own thing well: "What to Expect" is good at topical, "Girlfriends" is funny, Mayo is medical. But sometimes, I just get tired of so many books! What makes Focus on the Family's book great is that it manages to do so many things well that you can safely eliminate some of these others. In fact, I think it's the best and most comprehensive child care book on the market.The guide is comprehensive because it covers children from birth through adolescence. I think this is an important distinction that many books overlook. Just because our children get bigger doesn't mean that they need less attention. Actually, some of them need even more attention in the teenage years than most any other time. I also like the way that the book addresses all areas of a child: physical, mental, and spiritual. It discusses divorce, child abuse, depression, eating disorders, and sexuality, right along with all the more traditional topics. Perhaps more important, the guide discusses the values that are behind our philosophy as Christian parents. How refreshing to know that I can consult an even-handed book with a Christian perspective. Its tone is always thoughtful, educated, and respectful.Some other noteworthy features are at the back. There is a very thorough reference section that is over a hundred pages long and lists most illnesses and medications. Behind that is an emergency section that covers bites, burns, bleeding, CPR, etc. Next there is an annotated list of additional resources for various topics, a very detailed index, and finally a series of growth charts, color drawings of the human body and photographs of different skin diseases to help you identify them.All and all, this is an excellent and thoughtful guide no matter where you are on your parenting journey.

When we asked our baby's doctor to recommend a child care reference book, she recommended this one. The information it presents is based on medical research and experience rather than on one person's opinion. I like that it presents the advantages and disadvantages of various parenting dilemmas (breast vs. bottle, letting babies sleep in your bed, etc.) without going out of the way to take sides. I also liked that it is sensitive to the fact that many parents are single and/or may have had a baby unexpectedly, so it gives advice aimed at single parents as well as married couples.

This book is a wonderful resource for parents. It gives valuable information on children from birth through the teen years. It is the first place I look to find the answers to my questions about discipline, illnesses, and developmental stages. The section on illnesses has saved me from having to make unnecessary calls to the pediatrician, as well as eased my concerns. The authors give a good balance of showing several different ways to approach any given situation, such as putting a baby to sleep. I value the knowledge in this book so much that I give a copy to all of my friends who become new parents!