Reviewer: Jane Houston, DNP, CNM (University of Central Florida)
Description: This second edition presents logical, comprehensive chapters related to a baby's first year, from the day of birth to mixed feeding. It is evidence based with clear writing and discussions of the science underpinning the author's recommendations. The first edition was published in 2015.
Purpose: The objective of this book is to provide factual, science-based answers to common concerns of parents during the first year of their baby's life. Frequent updates have been made to the science since the last edition. I would agree that this is a needed book, especially during pandemic years when in-person pediatric office visits are limited.
Audience: This book is primarily for first-time parents. It has a clear writing style that appears to be written at a reasonable readability level for the typical U.S. adult (seventh- to eighth-grade level). The author has an extensive scientific background in nutrition with post-doctoral work in fetal physiology and general science.
Features: The best aspects of the book are its conversational approach and notated common questions parents might ask about their baby's development in the first year. The style is clear, logical, and unambiguous. There are many references, bulleted lists, highlighted annotated points, and eight appendices. There could be more information on the WHY of the birth outcomes in the U.S. compared to every other high-resourced country, with a DEI lens applied to evidence-based solutions including integration of midwifery care to promote normal births among most families.
Assessment: This book will be useful to parents looking for complex scientific bases for decision-making in their baby's first year of life. The title is somewhat misleading focusing on "mom," as this book focuses primarily on the infant and their development. Similar books include What to Expect the First Year, 3rd Edition, Murkoff (Workman Publishing, 2014), which has special sections on adoption and travel, unlike this current book. There have been many developments over the past six years, particularly regarding the pandemic crisis and impacts on mental and physical health, and this book is justified and possibly very helpful to soothe common fears of new parents.
The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby's First Year
Narrated by Suzanne Toren
Alice CallahanUnabridged — 9 hours, 52 minutes
The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby's First Year
Narrated by Suzanne Toren
Alice CallahanUnabridged — 9 hours, 52 minutes
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Overview
In this friendly guide through the science of infancy, Science of Mom blogger and PhD scientist Alice Callahan explains how non-scientist mothers can learn the difference between hype and evidence. Readers of Alice's blog have come to trust her balanced approach, which explains the science that lies behind headlines. The Science of Mom is a fascinating, eye-opening, and extremely informative exploration of the topics that generate discussion and debate in the media and among parents. From breastfeeding to vaccines to sleep, Alice's advice will help you make smart choices so that you can relax and enjoy your baby.
Editorial Reviews
Yes! An easy-to-read, fascinating review of the science behind new parents' biggest health questions. Many of these issues—infant sleep, breastfeeding, vaccines—will hit your 'Should I panic?' button. With gentle guidance, Alice Callahan puts your fears to rest.—Tracy Cutchlow, author of Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science (and What I've Learned So Far)
Name a complex or controversial topic and Callahan provides the science on both sides of the arguments to help parents make wise choices.—Psychology Today
[Callahan's] compassion and empathy for the difficulties of parenting shine through in every chapter, from breastfeeding to vaccines to feeding to sleeping.—Forbes
Alice Callahan, PhD, combines the critical eye of a scientist with the heart of a mother to create a helpful resource for all people interested in evidence-based infant care and parenting.—Science & Sensibility (Lamaze International)
[Callahan] takes a compassionate, non-preachy approach with a goal of not telling the reader what to do but rather how to seek wise advice and make smart decisions and to enjoy having a baby, which is what it is all about.—Live Science
Alice Callahan has written a breakthrough book, combining the compassion, warmth, and angst of a mother with the measured reasoning of a scientist. She helps parents not only understand how science works but how they can access that science to answer their questions. She's found a way to access the scientist in all of us.—Paul A. Offit, MD, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, author of Overkill: When Modern Medicine Goes Too Far
A timely and necessary book for parents . . . It will help both moms and dads work together to choose the right parenting methods for them and give them a research-based approach to raising a child.—Patheos
Finally, someone has brought some science—and some sense—to the mommy wars. Should be required reading for all new (and old) parents.—Emily Oster, Brown University, author of Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool
A rare gem in the parenting canon—smart, sensitive, and a lifesaver for a generation of parents caught in the nebulous spider's web of Internet 'wisdom.'—Suzanne Barston, author of Bottled Up: How the Way We Feed Babies Has Come to Define Motherhood, and Why It Shouldn't
Families routinely search for health information. The Science of Mom makes it easy, collecting evidence for health decisions and putting it into perspective with a mom-to-mom connection. Callahan's advice is thoughtful, backed by science, and feels fueled by love. She is willing to provide powerful advice when detailing the science and safety of vaccines. Keep this book in arm's reach as you support your infant for calm and direction.—Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE, FAAP, Seattle Children's Hospital, author of Mama Doc Medicine: Finding Calm and Confidence in Parenting, Child Health, and Work-Life Balance
Think of all the controversial, hot-button topics that parents obsess about in a child's first year—from vaccines to feeding, bed-sharing to sleep training. Weighing the scientific evidence, Callahan offers balanced insights and in-depth answers—a far cry from the oversimplified advice prescribed by many 'parenting experts.' The result: a must-have guide that's substantive and extremely engaging.—Jena Pincott, author of Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies? The Surprising Science of Pregnancy
[S]hould be required reading for all new parents. [Callahan] calms fears and provides parents with real facts. She doesn't make the decisions for you, but she makes it a lot easier to make sound decisions.—MomSense
A fresh and enlightening approach. I'd highly recommend this book to any mom expecting her first child or her fourth.—Uncommon Motherhood
Dr. Callahan isn't bossy, and isn't out to tell you what she thinks. Her book tells you what the science says, and explains how we know what we know, and what things we still need to learn more about. There's humility and warmth here, which I think parents of newborns will find reassuring.—The Pediatric Insider
This is science-based medicine writing at its best. Callahan doesn't cherry-pick. She knows how to evaluate the entire body of research and put it into perspective along with practical parenting considerations. She enhances her message with a personal touch, including anecdotes about her own experiences as a new mother and about the experiences of her friends and family. If I had three thumbs, I would give this book a three-thumbs-up recommendation.—Science-Based Medicine
[A] solid resource for any new parent or parent to be. Callahan does the work of sorting through the science of baby's first year, so you don't have to.—Raise Healthy Eaters
A book long-overdue in the parenting literature.—Momma Data
The Science of Mom stands out from the crowd . . . an easy-to-read, certifiable resource.—American Reference Books Annual
[Callahan's] compassion and empathy for the difficulties of parenting shine through in every chapter, from breastfeeding to vaccines to feeding to sleeping.
. . . a timely and necessary book for parents . . . It will help both moms and dads work together to choose the right parenting methods for them and give them a research-based approach to raising a child.
Dr. Callahan isn’t bossy, and isn’t out to tell you what she thinks. Her book tells you what the science says, and explains how we know what we know, and what things we still need to learn more about. There’s humility and warmth, here, which I think parents of newborns will find reassuring.
. . . a solid resource for any new parent or parent to be. Callahan does the work of sorting through the science of baby’s first year, so you don’t have to.
. . . a fresh and enlightening approach . . . I'd highly recommend this book to any mom expecting her first child or her fourth.
Name a complex or controversial topic and Callahan provides the science on both sides of the arguments to help parents make wise choices.
[Callahan] takes a compassionate, non-preachy approach with a goal of not telling the reader what to do but rather how to seek wise advice and make smart decisionsand to enjoy having a baby, which is what it is all about . . .
This is science-based medicine writing at its best. Callahan doesn’t cherry-pick. She knows how to evaluate the entire body of research and put it into perspective along with practical parenting considerations. She enhances her message with a personal touch, including anecdotes about her own experiences as a new mother and about the experiences of her friends and family. If I had three thumbs, I would give this book a 3-thumbs-up recommendation.
. . . in Science of Mom, Alice Callahan, PhD combines the critical eye of a scientist with the heart of a mother to create a helpful resource for all people interested in evidence based infant care and parenting.
[The Science of Mom] should be required reading for all new parents . . . She calms fears and provides parents with real facts. She doesn’t make the decisions for you, but she makes it a lot easier to make sound decisions.
The Science of Mom stands out from the crowd...an easy to read, certifiable resource.
A book long-overdue in the parenting literature.
Think of all the controversial, hot-button topics that parents obsess about in a child's first year—from vaccines to feeding, bed-sharing to sleep training. Weighing the scientific evidence, Callahan offers balanced insights and in-depth answers—a far cry from the oversimplified advice prescribed by many 'parenting experts.' The result: a must-have guide that's substantive and extremely engaging.
Alice Callahan has written a breakthrough book, combining the compassion, warmth, and angst of a mother with the measured reasoning of a scientist. She helps parents not only understand how science works but how they can access that science to answer their questions. She's found a way to access the scientist in all of us.
Families routinely search for health information. The Science of Mom makes it easy, collecting evidence for health decisions and putting it into perspective with a mom-to-mom connection. Callahan's advice is thoughtful, backed by science, and feels fueled by love. She is willing to provide powerful advice when detailing the science and safety of vaccines. Keep this book in arm's reach as you support your infant for calm and direction.
Yes! An easy-to-read, fascinating review of the science behind new parents' biggest health questions. Many of these issues—infant sleep, breastfeeding, vaccines—will hit your 'Should I panic?' button. With gentle guidance, Alice Callahan puts your fears to rest.
Finally, someone has brought some science—and some sense—to the mommy wars. Should be required reading for all new (and old) parents.
A rare gem in the parenting canon—smart, sensitive, and a lifesaver for a generation of parents caught in the nebulous spider's web of Internet 'wisdom.'
This is science-based medicine writing at its best. Callahan doesn't cherry-pick. She knows how to evaluate the entire body of research and put it into perspective along with practical parenting considerations. She enhances her message with a personal touch, including anecdotes about her own experiences as a new mother and about the experiences of her friends and family. If I had three thumbs, I would give this book a three-thumbs-up recommendation.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940170487134 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Tantor Audio |
| Publication date: | 03/21/2017 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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