By Stacy Whitman
Dad to Dad: Parenting like a pro by David L. Hill, MD
Not your ordinary put-me-to-sleep pediatrician advice book, this guide is very engaging, with a casual guy-to-guy tone that many new and expectant fathers will relate to. As a father of three, Hill clearly understands what it’s like to struggle with a diaper change at 3 a.m. The book covers the newborn years through adolescence, with topics ranging from vaccinations to (gulp!) buying a daughter’s first bra.
The Mom 100 Cookbook: 100 recipes every mom needs in her back pocket by Katie Workman
Simple, easy-to-prepare recipes from an accomplished food writer (she’s the founder and editor in chief of cookstr.com) and mother of two who gets the challenges of cooking for kids. From soy-ginger flank steak to pigs in a blanket, she has go-tos for just about every palate and occasion. Commentary from a mother-in-the-know makes this more than just a cookbook; it’s almost like chatting with a friend. 0–5+ years
It’s No Accident! Breakthrough solutions to your child’s wetting, constipation, UTIs, and other potty problems by Steve J. Hodges, MD, with Suzanne Schlosberg
Wetting your pants is a normal part of childhood, right? Not so, says Hodges, a board-certified pediatric urologist who explains problems such as chronic pee holding and constipation triggered by ill-timed or poorly executed potty training, Western diets and screwy school policies. Loaded with clear answers, it’s a must-read for parents getting ready to ditch the diapers or struggling with issues such as daytime accidents and bedwetting.
0–12 months
No-Ouch Shots
When baby needs a little TLC, the 5 S’s—swaddling, side (or stomach) positioning, shushing, swinging and sucking—calm and console, and put Mom in a much happier mood, too. But did you know this much-loved soothing strategy has also proven to work wonders during vaccination time? A new study in Pediatrics reports that babies who are swaddled and shushed (along with the other three S’s) experience less pain—and significantly reduced crying time—after they get their shots.
“Bring a good-size receiving blanket to the doctor’s office so you can swaddle your baby snugly just after he gets vaccinated,” recommends the study’s author, John W. Harrington, MD, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Va. For the sucking part of the 5 S’s, a pacifier or your breast will do just fine. However, some babies in the study didn’t even need the fifth S. “They did just fine with four out of five,” says Harrington. In fact, the 5 S’s worked better than giving babies only sugar, a time- and science-tested method for pacifying during a doctor’s visit. (“That’s where the lollipop came from,” Harrington tells us.)
Harrington believes this is an important discovery because pain and distress are common reasons that some parents sidestep the recommended shot schedule. “I think the 5 S’s approach may appeal to parents who are ‘fence sitters’ about vaccines,” he says.
—Nancy Gottesman
