Book Reviews

Featured Books | Parenting & Sleep | Children's Books | "Mini" Book Reviews

Saturday with Mez
A day in the life of a breastfeeding toddler
by Lauren Serafin, Jason Rohrer, and Mez

This is a lovely black & white board book that follows a breastfeeding toddler through the day. I wish this book had been available when my children were babies and toddlers!

This reference has the most accurate and up-to-date information available on medications and breastfeeding. Anyone who works with nursing mothers will refer to this book frequently, and it's affordable enough for mothers to get their own copy.

My Child Won’t Eat! How to Prevent & Solve the Problem
by Carlos González, MD

An absolutely wonderful book on feeding your child, from birth on up. I highly recommend this book!

This reference has the most accurate and up-to-date information available on medications and breastfeeding. Anyone who works with nursing mothers will refer to this book frequently, and it's affordable enough for mothers to get their own copy.

This month I'm featuring both a book and a calendar...

The Mummysmilk on the "GO" Calendar is a 16 page desktop calendar featuring mothers breastfeeding their babies in public. All proceeds go to a great cause - La Leche League of Singapore. International orders are very reasonably priced. This calendar is not only for nursing mothers - it would also be a great purchase for health care providers to support and inspire breastfeeding moms in their practices. I love the pictures of mamas and babies incorporating breastfeeding into their daily routines, and I particularly liked that plenty of these nurslings are toddlers - it's always refreshing to see breastfeeding portrayed as a normal part of life.

The Nursing Mother's Herbal
by Sheila Humphrey, BSc, RN, IBCLC

Mothers and lactation professionals have long needed a book of evidence-based information on herbs and breastfeeding -- Sheila Humphrey has provided that and more in a book that is both well researched and easy to read. This is not only a reference book on the safety and use of herbal preparations during lactation, but it also has excellent general information on breastfeeding management, herb use and healthcare options. Included are treatments for breastfeeding problems, health problems in mom or baby, plus information on weaning and fertility. The Plant Safety Table in Appendix C is a wonderful resource all on its own, with information and breastfeeding safety ratings listed for a large number of herbs. I consult this book frequently myself, and can highly recommend it to both breastfeeding mothers and the healthcare and lactation professionals who work with them.

The Happiest Baby on the Block
The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Baby Sleep Longer
by Harvey Karp, MD

This book is aimed primarily at parents/caretakers of babies under 6 months old. Dr. Karp introduces the use of "The 5 S's" (Swaddling, Shushing, Sucking, Swing/Swaying, and Side/Stomach position) - designed to imitate baby's experience in the uterus. He is a proponent of attachment parenting and discusses baby's first three months as being baby's 4th trimester. When done correctly and safely, the 5 S's activate baby's "calming reflex" and usually soothe baby within minutes.

I also recommend the video or DVD (I have the DVD) as it really makes it easier to understand Dr. Karp's techniques when you see them in action.

[Read Excerpts at Dr. Karp's website]

Adventures in Tandem Nursing
Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond
by Hilary Flower

Finally! This book is a fun-to-read combination of mother wisdom and hard scientific evidence on nursing during pregnancy and tandem nursing. It's wonderful to have a resource available that both supports and informs nursing mothers, while providing the research-based information on safety issues that they need. Mothers, lactation professionals and health care professionals will find this to be a valuable addition to their bookshelf.

[Read Excerpts at NursingTwo.com]

Raising Your Spirited Child
A Guide for Parents Whose Child Is More Intense, Sensitive,
Perceptive, Persistent, and Energetic
by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka

Every time I pick this book up, I go away with a better understanding of my children and myself. It tends to be a "read aloud" book in my family, since every time my husband or I pick it up, the other will soon hear, "Hey, listen to this..." The author reminds us of the great value of those spirited personalities while offering lots of positive parenting techniques that can help make life easier for the whole family.

see also the LLL review of the Raising Your Spirited Child Workbook

Oct 2002