New Basics, The and over 360,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon’s new wireless reading device. Learn more

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
54 used & new from $0.68

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
Sorry!
The New Basics: A-to-Z Baby & Child Care for the Modern Parent
 
 
Start reading New Basics, The on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

The New Basics: A-to-Z Baby & Child Care for the Modern Parent (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Adenoids are glands located behind the nose..." (more)
Key Phrases: tooth rot, stool retention, predisposed children, Michel Cohen, United States, Case Study (more...)
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)

List Price: $24.95
Price: $19.96 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $4.99 (20%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Tuesday, November 10? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
23 new from $8.71 31 used from $0.68

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Kindle Edition $9.59 -- --
  Hardcover $19.96 $8.71 $0.68
  Paperback $10.57 $5.74 $2.80

Frequently Bought Together

The New Basics: A-to-Z Baby & Child Care for the Modern Parent + The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer + Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
Price For All Three: $39.33

Show availability and shipping details

  • This item: The New Basics: A-to-Z Baby & Child Care for the Modern Parent by Michel Cohen

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (Revised and Updated Edition)

The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (Revised and Updated Edition)

by William Sears
4.2 out of 5 stars (884)  $12.60
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child

by Marc Weissbluth
Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, Revised Edition: Birth to Age 5 (Shelov, Caring for your Baby and Young Child, Birth to Age 5)

Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, Revised Edition: Birth to Age 5 (Shelov, Caring for your Baby and Young Child, Birth to Age 5)

by American Academy Of Pediatrics
4.4 out of 5 stars (176)  $13.60
Touchpoints-Birth to Three

Touchpoints-Birth to Three

by T. Berry Brazelton
4.3 out of 5 stars (24)  $12.21
Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby's First Foods

Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby's First Foods

by Nina Planck
4.6 out of 5 stars (16)  $11.56
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Pediatrician Michel Cohen delights in offering anxious parents unconventional wisdom about children and toddlers: "less medicine is often the best medicine." Following an A to Z format, Cohen successfully skewers myths about every aspect of childcare. Using generic case kids "Lucy" and "Jimmy," and "real questions from real parents" he offers a compendium of health care information. Whether talking about behavior (bed-wetting, thumb sucking, school anxiety), symptoms (green mucus, earwax or eczema), or prevention (immunization, vitamins, toothbrushing), Cohen's approach is fresh and his tone is wise and wry--when discussing the drawbacks of medication for carsickness, he suggests that the best remedy is a plastic bag. Consistent core beliefs underline Cohen's alphabet: Doctors should not medicate all ills, antibiotics weaken natural immunity, you can't spoil your baby, but you can spoil your life. This practical, enjoyable guide is limited only by its short A-Z format--the information is so clear and valuable that parents will surely want to hear more from Dr. Cohen. --Barbara Mackoff


From Publishers Weekly

Essentially a user's guide to babies and young children, Cohen's book makes parenting sound as simple and straightforward as changing a light bulb or fixing a broken screen door. By no means comprehensive, the book provides simple and reliable information on health care for the under-12 set. Cohen, a founding member of New York's Tribeca Pediatrics, is something of a celebrity pediatrician, and his book has a slightly hip feel to it: it's done in a clean layout, with snappy sidebars featuring "real questions from real parents" and little symbols near many entries specifying what age group the advice pertains to. Naturally, some subjects get more coverage than others (e.g., the section on adopted children spans three pages, while car sickness gets a quarter of a page). This resource should come in handy as a quick reference on subjects as diverse as calcium, cavities, school anxiety and swimmer's ear.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 368 pages
  • Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (January 6, 2004)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060535474
  • ISBN-13: 978-0060535476
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #330,181 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

Michel Cohen
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Michel Cohen Page

Inside This Book (learn more)


Books on Related Topics (learn more)
 
 


Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 
(6)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

61 Reviews
5 star:
 (42)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (11)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (61 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed perspective on child care, March 23, 2005
By Rachel (mother of 3) - See all my reviews
Dr. Cohen's common sense approach to child care is a much needed perspective in pediatrics today. Too often doctors prescribe medication/intervention solely for the parents' benefit (so that they can feel a false sense of control). I think the hardest thing for most modern parents to accept is that they cannot "fix" many of their child's problems (colds, potty training, sleep issues, etc.).

It turns out there are many times when raising children that medical/parental intervention is not the best answer, and patience is the only solution. I think it is commendable that an MD is putting forth this perspective.

I also think it may be difficult for some parents to accept his advice, because it challenges some tenets of child care that have been accepted as gospel for many years. However, I have seen Dr. Cohen's observations repeatedly supported by my experience with my own 3 children. If approached with an open mind, this book will save parents quite a bit of frustration, and make for a much less neurotic household.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
30 of 38 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Tragically uninformed, December 15, 2004
By A. Aukeman "Mom of three" (New York, New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Dr. Michel Cohen's laid back, "less is more" style has led to at least one case of undiagnosed, stage 4 cancer in a 3-year old patient of his here in New York. For this child's distended belly and painful bowel movements he prescribed prunes and enemas. A second opinion and a simple blood test told the truth. Tragically, this doctor is all flash and no substance, and the same could be said for his book.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Clueless, March 13, 2004
There are lots of unusual opinions in this book. Here's a good example: Page 315 says "No matter what you may have heard or read, toilet training is unnecessary." He says it's a normal part of development and "does not require training." Huh? My toddler's going to do it all on his own??? He says to let him run around naked at 18 months, buy a potty chair, and when he has to go he'll "remember this new piece of furniture". (Oh, so that's where the book cover idea came from.)

He thinks dentists and dental care are unnecessary for a baby, advising on p. 320 "don't bother with toothbrushing until 12 to 18 months" while the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advises parents to brush at the first sign of a tooth - mine get teeth at 4-5 months old.

Under sleep he answers the question "When is my baby going to sleep through the night?" with "Never." That's reassuring.

Colic - Page 73: "As far as I'm concerned, colic does not really exist." (One of mine had colic, and yes, it does exist!) He says they cry because they "never get the opportunity to cry" so they "cry all the time." I'm confused... And how to deal with excessive crying? Let her cry herself to sleep.

Gas doesn't exist either, according to the author "Gas is not a sign of discomfort" "do not give in to the temptation to help Lucy get rid of gas my massaging her belly or pumping her legs or burping her."

As a woman who has breastfed my children, and overcome many obstacles I cannot believe the erroneous information this author writes on the topic. He makes plenty of assumptions based on ignorance. He refers to breastfeeding as "popular" and says that the ideal breastfeeding consultant is "your mother or an older sister" and says of lactation consultants "beyond the expert hand-holding, however, I take a dim view of their professional equipment and theories." (p.48) and the first choice for help is a female family member, but if you don't have one "hire a lactation specialist to come help out at your house, as long as she leaves her equipment at hers." (Whatever that means, my LCs never had any strange equipment!)

He goes on to say that breastfeeding is easy and gives odd advice, for example, if your baby has difficult latching on "let her work harder for her meal." (Oh that oughta work!)

Under the family bed he says that "it's a challenge to create a larger family when your family is in your bed." Lots of co-sleeping families have more than one child! William Sears, the most vocal proponent of the family bed has eight children.

There's an odd disrespectful tone throughout, such as when talking about crooked teeth "If Lucy's fangs initially erupt crookedly don't be concerned."

I'm afraid to read any further. Definitely look for an alternative to this questionable book such as What to Expect, Gentle Baby Care, The Baby Book, the AAP Guide.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Love Love this book
This book really covers all of the basics and then some. I found it to be a reassuring source of information, whenever I have a question. Read more
Published 2 months ago by H. Cronin

1.0 out of 5 stars Useless!!
The doctor is only interested in sounding "cool"...I definitely prefer the other doctors in his office - anyone but him!!
Published 5 months ago by pragny11

5.0 out of 5 stars Our Baby Bible - A must for every new parent!
We received many baby books before the birth of our son, all of the well known ones of course. We also received this particular book from a friend who swore by it. Read more
Published 10 months ago by B. Cabral

5.0 out of 5 stars The New Basics by Michel Cohen
I absolutely LOVE this book!! All of the little concerns that I have had as a first time parent he addressed in this book. Read more
Published 22 months ago by E. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book.
This book is a god send. from illness to injury to behavior. I reference this book at least three times a week. Read more
Published on September 18, 2007 by Jessie

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST baby book ever
As a new mother, this is the book I can not live without. I buy it for all my friends who have a baby. Whenever I am worried, this book makes me feel better. Read more
Published on April 30, 2007 by J. Jacoby

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Have for Baby Library!
...Contrary to negative reviews, this book presents excellent, alternative answers to common baby/toddler questions. Read more
Published on March 11, 2007 by L&L's Mommy

5.0 out of 5 stars OH SWEET SANITY!
This book is exactly as "Instyle" reviewed it: Refreshing!

I expected to keep this book around and read a certain chapter
as the issue arose, but I ended up... Read more
Published on February 16, 2007 by M. Throop

1.0 out of 5 stars Arrogant and Detached
If you believe babies are manipulative monsters and like over-simplified over-confidant advice, this is the baby book for you!
Published on February 2, 2007 by L. Brundage

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, advice I can use!
I get so sick of all the newfangled advice flying around these days, or books that just touch the surface of an issue but don't offer any practical advice. I love Dr. Read more
Published on December 5, 2006 by Jane D. Stiegman

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   




Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.