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...)

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.
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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)

Customer Reviews

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.

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.

27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Clueless, March 13, 2004

By	Reader - See all my reviews

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.