Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality [Paperback]

Laura A. Jana MD FAAP (Author), Jennifer Shu MD FAAP (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2005

This comprehensive guide for new parents finding themselves overwhelmed dealing with the reality of parenting provides "parent-tested, pediatrician-approved" advice to allay their fears. Written in a compassionate yet authoritative tone by two moms who are also pediatricians, this guide covers a wealth of topics that often prove daunting in the first eight weeks of a child's life. Starting with "Into the Mouths of Babes" (the trials of breastfeeding) and "What Goes in Must Come Out" (a discussion of "pee and poop") and moving on through "Fever: Trial by Fire" and "Seeing Yellow: Jaundice," this guide offers sound advice that will enable parents to feel confident about their parenting skills. Hints on daily living, sleep patterns, crying, the art and science of diapering, and traveling with a newborn are also provided.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The perfect resource for first-time parents who find themselves wishing their new baby came with an instruction manual."  —Calgary's Child

"Includes a refreshing mix of practical parenting tips alongside medically sound advice."  —Staten Island Parent

"Offers insights in an authoritative, accessible, and lively guide."  —Treasure Valley Family

"This wonderful book has all the information new moms and dads need."  —SeacoastOnline.com

"The docs’ lighthearted approach...will surely offer consolation to first-time parents who find themselves overwhelmed."  —Charlotte Parent

"This funny yet sage book shells out tons of advice."  —ePregnancy

"Smart advice to get you through those first nerve-racking months."  —Parents 

From the Publisher

Winner of the:
2006 Benjamin Franklin Award (parenting category)
2006 Midwest Book Award (health category)
2005 ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award (health category)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 306 pages
• Publisher: American Academy Of Pediatrics (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581101570
• ISBN-13: 978-1581101577
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (148 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

201 of 206 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful practical guidebook for new parents, August 18, 2006

By 

Ellen Marks (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (Paperback)

There are people who already have a great depth of infant care experience when they have their first child--have changed so many diapers they can do it with their teeth, can get a onesie over a newborn's head without waking her, can swaddle a baby into immobility with a flick of the wrist. We are not those people. We needed help, and we found a lot of it here.

My husband and I both read this book cover to cover before we brought our son home from the hospital, and referred to it often afterward. It has terrific practical advice for the new parent, with informative illustrations--such as demonstrating how to get those cute new outfits on your infant when they have clearly been designed by someone who has never actually dressed a baby-- and is written in a casual, clear style that makes it easily readable and memorable. We went back to it often: "What colors of poop did it say were okay?" "What did it say about the difference between projectile spit up and vomiting?" (Asked as something ran down a wall two feet away.) "Is it possible the baby really wants to eat every 45 minutes?" We suspect its discussion of growth spurts saved our sanity, if not our lives.

This book focuses on the nitty-gritty of the new obsessions you'll have with the bodily functions and sleep habits of your new arrival, and how to balance them with your own. It is a cheerful, engaging, sympathetic and nonjudgmental guidebook, and we appreciated it tremendously in our early weeks home. Highly recommended.

78 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick, fun, informative, March 24, 2007

By 

Kathy Carrington "book fiend" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (Paperback)

Most infant care books fall into two groups: those written by doctors and those written by moms. The books by doctors are usually dry and boring but are packed with information - lots of which you'll never need. The books written by moms are easier to read but are usually one sided - if you don't do things their way, you're a bad mother.

This book is written by two doctors who are also moms. They know what is best for most babies but they also know that new parents live in the real world - a world that doesn't always work out just like the text book says it should and that not all babies fit into a mold. In fun, short chapters they quickly tell you what you need to know to care for your newborn (0 to 4 months).

The book is an easy read and a great reference during the first, chaotic, sleep-deprived months of a baby's life.

67 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide, February 1, 2006

By 

Melissa Monahan (Claymont, DE) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (Paperback)

I registered for this book after having read great reviews of it. My mom laughed at the name, "from birth to reality!?" but she was so wrong. This is my first child, and although I knew I didn't know everything there is to know, I did have the opportunity to watch my brother be born when I was 12 and help take care of him as a newborn. Now, of course, this book doesn't (and couldn't) cover every facet of raising a brand new baby, but it gets 5 stars because it is so enjoyable to read and it is a great reference book! I know I will bring it with me to the hospital and when at home it will always be nearby on the coffee table. I couldn't imagine not being able to easily figure out what to do in certain tricky situations when under loads of stress and suffering mind blanks from very little sleep!
The writers don't try to sell you on breastfeeding, which as far as I have seen is pretty rare; they just give you tips on either breastfeeding or bottlefeeding, and you quickly learn the pros and cons of each. They also do a very good job informing you about pacifiers.
They go into great detail about poop and pee, and whether your baby is doing enough etc. Also some pretty good info on gas, spitting up and vomiting.
The doctors who write the book help you understand what will really happen as you try to get enough sleep for you and your baby, bathe, and soothe crying. They even have great diagrams on how to wrap up your baby to sleep, change diapers, dress your newborn, and bathe her too.
The section on leaving the houseis invaluable! I would have never felt ok with staying in for weeks, even though I already knew I would probably have to. Most mothers go through this very dilemma. You even get great ideas on flying with your baby!
The end is full of doctor visits, and body part care, sickness, etc., and also really helpful.
I can't suggest strongly enough that any mother (or father) to be reads this book before going home. I will make sure any friends or family that are preparing for their first baby read it, and you should too!