New parents start out with the best of intentions. We feel that if we do everything right, it will all go smoothly. Before becoming parents, we have seen friends make mistakes with their children and we are certain we know a better way to handle the problems. When baby comes along, we quickly realize that we don’t know everything, that being a parent is fraught with dilemmas, uncertainty and so many decisions to be made.
Of course, parenting advice is easy to find. “Experts,” including authors, parents, friends, even total strangers, have the answers. The problem is that much of their wisdom is conflicting. Just try to figure out the best way to get your child to sleep through the night. You will hear, “Sleep with your child,” “Don’t sleep with your child,” “Let him cry” and “Don’t let him cry.” What is a well-meaning parent to do?
One place to start is the Stanford Health Library, a source of scientifically sound parenting information. A new book, “Parenting with Reason: Evidence-Based Approaches to Parenting Dilemmas” (Routledge, 2009), by Esther Yoder Strahan, Wallace E. Dixon Jr. and J. Burton Banks fits the bill. Written by two psychologists and a medical doctor, who also happen to be parents, the book examines scientific evidence to find answers to common problems, such as toilet training, sleep, discipline and nutrition.
The book examines serious issues, including the effect of exposure to violence in media, the pros and cons of circumcision and the impact of divorce on child development. Parents will find evidence-based information on children’s temperaments, parents’ psychological health and making medical decisions. In a world where unfettered child-rearing information abounds, this book offers a voice of reason. It is an excellent choice for both new and experienced parents who want to make intelligent decisions about the way they raise their children.
From the popular “What to Expect” series comes “What to Expect the First Year” (Workman Publishing Co., 1989 & 2008). Authors Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway appear to have thought of everything. If you have a question, it is likely you will find an answer here. In a reader-friendly format, they cover the gamut of situations faced by parents of infants, from preparing for the baby to a guide for each month. The first year of a baby’s life is covered in detail.
Readers can learn what their babies may be doing each month, what to expect at the monthly doctor’s visit, what to be feeding, concerns that may arise and, in general, what is important to know.
The second part of the book addresses concerns, such as coping with illness, when to call a doctor, low birth weight and other special needs, babies and adoption. Part three is dedicated to the family: issues involving mothers, fathers and adding a new baby. As questions will undoubtedly arise, this is the kind of book new parents will refer to often.
For a basic and trustworthy reference to the first year of life, it is hard to beat The American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Your Baby’s First Year” (AAP, 2005). The third edition will be available later this month. This is an invaluable medical guide to infant care that, in addition to information on health care, includes safety guidelines, lists of age-appropriate toys and activities and child care. Developmental milestones, nutrition, sleep, skin care, immunization schedules, advice on handling common ailments and when you should call the doctor are included.
There are many more books and videos available at Stanford Health Library that address parenting and child development. Research assistance and customized information packets on all medical conditions and treatment are available free of charge.
Stanford Health Library, for 20 years a community service of Stanford Hospital, is free and open to the public. The library is open in five locations: Stanford Shopping Center near Bloomingdale’s; on the third floor of Stanford Hospital; on the main level of Stanford’s Cancer Center; on the campus of the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto; and at the Ravenswood Family Health Center, 1807 Bay Road, East Palo Alto.
For more information, call 725-8400, e-mail [email protected] or visit healthlibrary.stanford.edu/resources/bodysystems/children_care.html.
Nancy Dickenson is head librarian at Stanford Health Library.
