Customer Reviews

Take Charge of Your Child's Health: A Parent's Guide to Recognizing Symptoms and Treating Minor Illnesses at Home

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Somehow I have collected quite a collection of home medical guides - I have everything from the Mayo Clinic's Guide to your baby's first year to Sears and Sears's "The Baby Book". In "Take Charge of Your Child's Health", Wooten and Verney have done a masterful job of providing medical information and parenting advice that every parent needs. Their review of the pros and cons of immunization, for example, is based on the latest science and is the best I have read. They provide excellent advice on dealing with fevers, ear infections, colic, allergies and a myriad of conditions both minor and serious that parents may encounter. A strong thumbs up for Take Charge of Your Child's Health . . . .

Because my twins were premature, I felt I had a crash course in a BUNCH of medical jargon. As time passed, I realized that the quality of their care depended upon how much I know. This book is a wonderful tool for parents to become a strong advocate for their child's health and well being and I HIGHLY reccomend it!

If you enjoyed the book "How to Raise a Healthy Child...In Spite of Your Doctor" by Robert Mendelsohn, you will love this book by George Wootan. It is a natural extension of the principals Dr. Mendelsohn presents, and for good reason. Dr. Wootan encountered Dr. Mendelsohn while beginning to research and write this book, and he gave him a new perspective on the pediatrician's role in children's healthcare. He asked him how many times he ever discovered a problem during a routine evaluation that the mother did not already suspect. The answer was, "once."

"Take Charge of Your Child's Health" outlines a complete program for parents to examine their own child on a routine basis, so as to be able to identify what is normal and abnormal for that particular child. Doctors rely on the information given to them by the parents, and as such it should be accurate in order to arrive at accurate conclusions.

The book goes on to describe all the major bodily systems and explains in detail most of the problems any parent would ever encounter with their child's health. It provides simple, logical and safe methods for treating these problems at home, and gives guidelines on when outside help is absolutely necessary (which is very rare). Above all, Dr. Wootan urges parents to take a deep breath and "make a cup of tea" whenever an urgent situation arises, as a calm, clear head is truly what will save your child's life.

Another thing I really loved about this book was its thorough examination of all the childhood vaccines and vaccine-available diseases, enabling parents to make an informed decision on which vaccines they choose for their children. Dr. Wootan does a fabulous job of providing a balanced and level-headed look at this very controversial subject. Such an explanation on vaccines is extremely difficult to come by.

For parents who truly believe that they are responsible for their children's health, and are not willing to hide behind what the doctor tells them to do, Healing Our Children: Because Your New Baby Matters! Sacred Wisdom for Preconception, Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting (ages 0-6) by Ramiel Nagel, is another must-read.

This book is such a great resource. The best thing about the doctor is that he doesn't use fear to manipulate us into doing what he wants us to do. He informs rationally, and leaves it up to the parent to make the choice they feel is best. How refreshing! This book is a must have for anyone with children who needs good information to make good choices for their child/ren.

I am the mother of 6 adult children, and I wish this book was available when my children were young. Dr. Wootan is the father of 11, and his book is extremely practical and helpful in dealing with childhood illness and crises. He also describes how to examine a newborn, which gives much reassuring information. He is truly interested in his patients' well-being, and the book is worth purchasing just for the advice on dealing with ear infections and avoiding the placement of tubes in the child's ears. Dr. Wootan observes in several places that medicine is a business in which simple measures are sometimes disregarded and more profitable methods used. His advice on raising children is down-to-earth and he has some suggestions that will bring a smile to you. This is a wonderful book if you want to raise your child without excessive intervention, wish to breastfeed and be close to your children.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It can give parents the knowledge and confidence to diagnose and treat many childhood illnesses, and to work WITH their child's pediatrician, instead of simply deferring to him or her. It is also very touching and personal, with many stories from Dr. Wootan's own marriage and family. This is by far the best book on childcare that I have read (and I have read many!), and it is a permanent fixture on my bedside table.

Wouldn't it be nice if all doctors were like this?

Wootan embarks on new territory to share with parents an UNDERSTANDING of childhood health and dieases and the many other random parent/child concerns that pop up over the years.

I initially discovered this book while caring for an infant but I've used it dozens of times over the last decade and I'm sure I always will. Some things never change.

The book will give you a profoundly HELPFUL knowledge of diseases that have been around for ages and some more recent ones, too.

And an excellent way to recognize and evaluate the health of your healthy child, too so that when something is wrong, you'll know it.

Very highly recommended for any new parent and especially for any parent who feels insecure, jittery, tentative, confused or overwhelmed by the prescious new life that has graced their world - and the FLOOD of information out there. Relax, it's not that complicated!

Wootan will give you an amazing amount of confidence. Especially after the first couple of times you need, use it and diacover that it works.

If I could, I'd send this book home with the every new baby!

Thanks SOOOO much, Dr. Wootan for an amazing contribution that should grace the bookshelf of every new parent.