Reviews (4)

Never has so much said so little
This thing is a beast! It's difficult to read - the space between lines is so short, you feel like you're reading the same line over and over. The material repeats itself quite often - so much that the book could use some editing. I guess the authors get paid by the word. As a nursing student in an ADN program with absolutely no interest in the field of Pediatric Nursing, I resented having to lug this turkey around. I'm sure it's treasured by pediatric nurses and educators world wide, but if you've got to buy it, get a used one or an older edition. No need in breaking your bank account and your back!

7th Edition worth its weight in gold
Whaley and Wongs updated bible for paediatric nurses is essential reading now it has gone in to its seventh edition, Those who had the 1995 version will already be familiar with the fully comprehensive care plans and evidence based practice rigorously detailed within the book, but 2002's new edition not only updates knowledge but also improves clarity using excellent illustrations, and also includes an entire new chapter regarding community care- an issue at the forefront of modern nursing. This is a core text for all students and qualified nurses alike.

antsy nursing student
I have a hard time reading some books that are required in nursing school. However this book is exceptional! I loved this reader friendly textbook. It is very easy to understand. I wish more of my books were like this one. Thank you Donna Wong.

The definitive pediatric nursing textbook
The 6th edition of this textbook is the best ever. Wong as usual provides the latest research with every topic covered. The color-coded chapters make it easy to use. The CD-ROM is very useful as a study aid and to view clips of nursing procedures. Highly recommended for nursing students and practicing pediatric nurses. ... Read more

Book Description

Right after "Is it a boy or a girl?" and "What's his/her name?," the next question people invariably ask new parents is "Are you getting any sleep?" Unfortunately, the answer is usually "Not much." In fact, studies show that approximately 25% of young children experience some type of sleep problem and, as any bleary-eyed parent will attest, it is one of the most difficult challenges of parenting.

Drawing on her ten years of experience in the assessment and treatment of common sleep problems in children, Dr. Jodi A. Mindell now provides tips and techniques, the answers to commonly asked questions, and case studies and quotes from parents who have successfully solved their children's sleep problems.

Unlike other books on the subject, Dr. Mindell also offers practical tips on bedtime, rather than middle-of-the-night-sleep training, and shows how all members of the family can cope with the stresses associated with teaching a child to sleep. ... Read more

Reviews (93)

The methods in this book worked for us
My daughter is 10 1/2 months old and has only just begun to sleep through the night. She's my first and only child so I don't have any experience with this but perhaps she just hit the age when she was ready or perhaps it was the methods I used from this book that helped. Mindell does advocate crying it out but encourages you to check on the baby and reassure the baby as frequently as you need to. I was putting my daughter down very drowsy where she'd start to fall asleep in my arms but wake upon putting her in the crib for many weeks before I started to put her down fully awake. I think this was a very gentle transition and my daughter never cried more than 10 minutes before falling asleep. She still sheds a few tears for a few minutes but then falls fast asleep and we don't hear from her until 11 hours later. It took us over 10 months but this was also a hard transition for me because I think I looked forward to rocking her all sweet and quiet during those dark middle of the night hours.

This method isn't for everyone so if you think crying it out is babaric, then don't get this book. If you're really tired of waking up and need some fresh ideas to help your baby teach him/herself how to get to sleep, then it's definitely worthwhile trying this book.

Another cry it out book
The thing with this book is, it's touted as a "gentle" way to get your baby to sleep through the night. The truth is that it is yet another "baby training" book that "teaches" you to let your baby cry alone in a dark room in his/her crib until s/he finally gives up and goes to sleep. The only difference is that Mindell "lets" you go and pick up, comfort, etc. your little one with any subsequent night wakings (Ferber methods "teach" to let the baby cry with each subsequent waking). Basically, if you have the heart to let your baby cry him/herself to sleep, don't waste the money on this book-it won't teach you anything you don't know. IF, however, you don't want to try a "cry-it-out" approach, you'd do much better by buying Dr. William Sears book titled "Nighttime Parenting". This excellent book will explain baby's sleep patterns & why your baby may be having sleep problems. With understanding you can usually gain tolerance, and that will help you deal with a baby who doesn't like to sleep alone a lot better than letting him/her cry.

Unbelievably helpful
My partner and I agonized over using this method, which is really a more gentle version of Ferber's method. Our twins were so different, our baby girl sleeping 10 hrs at night by 5 months old, while our little boy struggled, waking up 4x/night at this age, requiring 20-30 minutes of walking/jiggling to get back to sleep. We finally reached a point where we could no longer do this and continue to work. After using this method, in 3 nights he was putting himself to sleep and a much happier baby. unfortunately, he was also a child who kept up with night waking and a month later we finally did the 'cry it out' method for night wakings as well....whichi'm happy to report only took 1 night of painful short (10-20 min) episodes of crying. Now he sleeps routinely 7 pm- 4 am, i give him 1 feeding, and he sleeps til 6-7 (now 8 mo. old). We did not agree with the idea of no nursing before bedtime, i still do that, but the difference is that i don't nurse them til they're asleep....instead i let them nurse 5 min or so til drowsy and then put them down.

we have been so happy with this book and the 'healthy sleep habits' book, used together, that i recommend them to all my friends. just know you have to believe 100% that this is the right thing for your child because it is incredibly painful to go through. we were rewarded by seeing such a change in his demeanor once he got better quality sleep that i know it was the right thing for him.

Doesn't work for everyone
I have followed this book to the letter and - 6 weeks later and many many tears - my son still cries and cries at bedtime and does not sleep through the night. Not even close.

Child Abuse
The methods prescribed in this book are CHILD ABUSE - plain and simple. If you are desparate and tired - try reading a book that will help you UNDERSTAND infant developmental appropriateness - Dr. Sears and Elizabeth Pantley are good.

If you have to harden your heart to let your baby cry until they vomit - you are ignoring nature's gift to you "Mother's Instinct".

Ask yourself how YOU would want to be treated? Humanely and with respect.

All the posters who say it "worked like a charm" are fooling themselves about the long-term effects of this type of program. Parenting is a long road - a quick solution may not be the answer! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An Excellent Resource
In preparation for a future career in genetic counselling, I asked for this volume on my 16th birthday. Admittedly, it is a strange request for a teenager, but it has proved to be a great resource of information. I'm now in a work-study program, and thanks in no small part to studying this book, I can hold my own in conversations about Kabuki, CHARGE or Waardenburg Syndromes.

I highly recommend this book for preprofessionals who are interested in pursuing a career in clinical medicine.

Superb Resource
This is the best book about congenital malformations available for general pediatricians. It is highly accessible and fairly easy to use. It really helps one put together a differential diagnosis for children with dysmorphic features. The price makes it a bargain that should be in every general pediatric clinic.

I do have one suggested improvement: This book is perfect for conversion into a searchable CD-ROM so that one could simply key in the list of features and get back a list of possible syndromes ranked by likelihood.

The Best
This is the best book about congenital malformations available for general pediatricians. It is highly accessible and fairly easy to use. It really helps one put together a differential diagnosis for children with dysmorphic features. The price makes it a bargain that should be in every general pediatric clinic.

I do have one suggested improvement: This book is perfect for conversion into a searchable CD-ROM so that one could simply key in the list of features and get back a list of possible syndromes ranked by likelihood.

Outstanding, easily assimilated clinical reference
This is a really outstanding clinical reference. It is of particular relevance to genetic counselors, pediatric specialists, dermatologists, and other clinicians who frequently encounter patients with congenital anomalies and uncommon syndromes. Although the clinical photos are in black and white (no color), they are well chosen to illustrate the features of the (many) syndromes discussed. I have seen several texts that cover roughly the same subject matter as Smith's Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation; however, none are as comprehensive or nearly as easy to use. I expect this text will replace MEDLINE as my initial go-to reference when I need to get info regarding patients with uncommon congenital syndromes. This text would be a bargain at twice the price! I recommend it most highly ... Read more

Book Description

Take a good look around you: You can't go into stores or restaurants without seeing joyless children screaming, sulking, resisting their parents, or pulling things off shelves. Parents, in turn, nag, complain, and often try desperately to ignore their unruly, surly offspring.

In today's world, both parents and children are suffering all around us. But it takes a catastrophic event like the tragedy at Columbine High School -- or one of any number of other frightening examples that make headlines weekly -- to get us to acknowledge that something terrible is happening to our children. We have lost touch with what they need from us to grow and thrive, and in the process we've created enormous numbers of children who are disaffected, alienated, amoral, emotionally stunted, and even violent. In The Epidemic, esteemed child and family psychiatrist Robert Shaw brings to bear a lifetime of firsthand experience with and knowledge of this plague, which has become so much the norm that we often don't even recognize its warning signs.

This bold and timely book tells you how to save your child and yourself from this epidemic, but its suggestions will not be the ones that today's parents are used to hearing. While the media is far from innocent, the bulk of the blame lies with the faddish, both neglectful and overindulgent, child-rearing practices that experts have promoted for the past three decades. "These children are not an aberration. They are the natural outcome of the way we have been raising them," Shaw notes. But there is hope, and Shaw's commonsense approach cuts to the core of the problem and shows us the cure, covering such important and controversial issues as:

• The myths and realities of bonding and attachment
• How to recognize when nonparental care is working -- and when it isn't
• Milestones in your child's moral and ethical development
• The difference between self-centeredness and self-esteem
• Why you must stop the media from mugging your child
• Strategies for bringing children back from the edge

The Epidemic is not just a "how-to" book, it is a "what is necessary" book -- a call for parents to take responsibility for their children and give them what they truly need in order to grow, thrive, and love.

Reviews (19)

The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
I'll begin with what I like about this book: The chapter called "The Truth and Consequences of Child Care" is a well done illustration of the rock and the hard place parents are driven to today in order to provide for their children while they are very young.

The rest of the book is a suave combination of good advice, observations that should be obvious to anyone, and Chicken Little. Shaw is right that parents who buy their children everything instead of spending time with them are probably going to raise jerks. My guess, though, is that any parent who cares enough to pick up a book about parenting is probably smart enough to figure this out already. Shaw is not right that we are all going to hell in a handbasket. Just look at the title of this book: Epidemic, rot, permissive, plague, joyless, selfish. He's just trying to make money from making people think the world is worse than it actually is.

The biggest problem I have with this book is that Shaw seems to think there is only one acceptable parenting style. No baby should be fed at night beyond six months of age? All two-and-a-half-year-olds should be completely potty trained? Forcing your baby to sleep in a crib when both you and the baby would rather sleep together is necessary? I've got news for Shaw: There's more than one way to raise a kid, and implying that a child is going to be a sociopath just because he's still nursing all night at 18 months (or isn't potty trained at 3, or has a parent who adds "okay?" to the end of sentences, or...) is ridiculous.

There is more than one way to raise a happy, healthy, well-behaved child. I'm sure the methods Shaw suggests work for some folks, but all children are different and all parents are different and all families are different.

Take the good stuff away from this book, and take the rest of it with a can of salt. The sky is not falling.

This is well worth the money.
I saw Robert Shaw on CNN a few months ago touting this book. Immediately, I knew I wanted to read it. I have friends that make me feel guilty because my children are well behaved and theirs aren't. This book helped me to validate for myself that my sometimes "harsh" or "strict" ways is in fact training them and providing them with "gifts" they can use over and over again during their lifetime. It is a terrific book for parents who need that encouragement that they are doing the right thing for their children, despite the societal pulls that gnaw at you and your family.

Disagree with secularkangaroo
I have read Dr. Shaw's wise, wonderful book and wish everyone I know with kids would read it. I have friends whose lives and households are absolutely dominated by their infants or toddlers - who can't eat, shower, wash dishes, have a quiet evening with their spouses or do anything normal because they are so obsessed with gratifying every want expressed by their small children. We need a return to common sense and Dr. Shaw is just reminding us that we have the power to make childrearing an enjoyable and rewarding experience for everyone involved. Let's stop raising brats!!!
Thank you Dr. Shaw!!!

Disagree with previous reviewer
he says that Shaw thinks that there is only one acceptable parenting style but this is clearly not what he is saying:

page 50: There is no reason to believe that any adviser knows for sure about the best child rearing practices or has more common sense than you innately have yourself. I include in that statement the advice of pediatricians, psychologists, lactation consultants, nannies, early childhood educators, self-annointed or media appruved gurus, family and friends, and even what I say in this book

Shaw repeately suggests that you use common sense and test approaches with your child- although he has strong opinions about ineffective or conterproductive methods

A Hands-On Guide for Parents
Although the book opens with a discussion of tragedy of the school shooting at Columbine High School, the purpose of The Epidemic is not to pinpoint an immediate or public causes that causes youths like Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold to do what they did, but to highlight their cases as symptomatic - an extreme one, admittedly - of a broad problem of children who grow up oversaturated with stimuli, incapable of emotional development, and uncontrollable at school and at home. All of these, Shaw says, "are signs that our society has become toxic to children".

On this foundation, Shaw's goal is to give instructions for parents in preventing these problems before they arrive. This begins as early as infancy, where Shaw encourages the parent to begin a dialogue with the child (at this early stage, the "dialogue" being nonverbal expressions of affection, such as kisses on the baby's head). While the message for parents to be involved in the child's life seems to be self-evident, pressures for the parents in the workplace can threaten the development of this bond. Also, Shaw is very thorough in instructing parents on the *right* way to develop this bond, mixing anecdotal evidence from his practice with broad guidelines and checklists of symptoms to watch out for, so that the time and effort spent with the child won't be in vain.

By focusing on the internal family structure rather than the external factors that might threaten it, Shaw's book avoids criticizing many of the outside cultural factors surrounding the Columbine shooting that others have pointed to (whether correctly or not), and thereby makes the book accessible for parents of nearly every political persuasion who are looking for practical childrearing tips. ... Read more

Book Description

More than just Board review for USMLE, Steps 2 & 3, Blueprints Pediatrics, 3rd edition can help you during clerkship rotations and subinternship. The new edition has been updated with the help of residents to maintain a student-to-student approach. Features include:

Concise, accurate, clinical high-yield content covering all you need to know for the USMLE and rotations

USMLE style questions with full explanations provided in the answers

Key Points in every section highlighting the most important, high-yield information for each topic

Color-enhanced design to increase the usefulness of figures and tables ... Read more

Reviews (8)

BLUEPRINTS SERIES - GREAT
As with most of the blueprints series for clinical rotations, the book for Peds is an excellent source to use early on in the rotation to pump knowledge into your brain. Use this text to weave the fabric connecting the entire rotation. Use UpToDate or big, fat peds texts (Nelsons, Rudolphs) to learn specifics about your patients. And finally use a question book (Appleton and Lange, for example) to prepare for the shelf.

The ONLY book to buy for step 2 peds
this is THE pediatrics book to buy if you are preparing for the step 2. i found the questions asked on the step 2 exam were not as demnading as one may contemplate upon reading this book. Its great if you have the time..(the first reading takes a while)..and some tables (eg baby's milestones table) are very long and boring, sometimes even so detailed that they seem silly for a review book. I had no problems with any pediatrics questions after i read this book.....i got a cool score on the step 2. the other fabulous BluePrints book is the OBG one. DOnt even bother buying any others....

Excellent for the shelf exam!
I just took the Pediatrics shelf exam having studied this book thoroughly, and I thought it was superb. The authors did an excellent job selecting high-yield topics and covering them without extraneous detail. However, you really do have to know everything in the book, basically everything that made it into this book is pretty critical.

I also found it handy to add any other facts I learned over the course of the rotation into the margins of the book. It leaves you with a reasonably thorough study guide.

Some people insist on reading Nelson's or another mega-text, but I can't imagine anyone remembering 900 (dense) pages with only three weeks or so of studying. I'd go with blueprints any day.

good concise resource
Provides a handy and concise resource of information on almost everything related to pediatrics. Great for 3rd year students, like me. Easier to handle than Lange peds book and much more brief.

Quite good review for Step 2, and excellent for the wards.
This book helped me score well on the Step 2 exam; I did particularly well on the peds section and I'm not going into that specialty! The book has too much detail in some chapters, but overall it's an excellent review. It goes well with the other blueprints books, particularly medicine and surgery. Ironically, this book helped me understand many adult diseases too! Well worth a buy. ... Read more

Book Description

Providing a wide-ranging overview of developmental anomalies, disorders and intersex conditions, this textbook presents the best possible advice and practical recommendations concerning medical intervention. With its multidisciplinary approach to health care, the book will be recommended reading for specialists in paediatric and adolescent gynaecology, reproductive endocrinologists, paediatric and plastic surgeons, and clinical geneticists. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An Excellent, Useful Publication
This book allows the student, resident, pediatrician and family practitioner to review the most frequent clinical pathologies in an easy to follow schematic fashion. The flow chart design allows the reader review diagnostic and therapeutic options without a lot of superflous information. It's a great study tool as well as a reference guide. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Here's the 35th-anniversary edition of the big book on breastfeeding, written by the experts at La Leche League International. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a comprehensive resource guide providing just about everything you need to know about how--and why--to breastfeed your baby. Latch on to this book for step-by-step guides to early months, common concerns, problems, and weaning. Additional sections on general nutrition, sleep issues, going back to work, discipline, and fathering are useful for all breastfeeding mothers. Unfortunately the black-and-white photos are not always as clear as they should be, and the informative line-drawings are too scarce. ... Read more

Reviews (88)

La Leche League Propaganda and Philosophy; Not A Lot of Help
I was lucky enough to have friends who breastfed before I got pregnant, so I knew that was the road I wanted to follow. One of my friends loaned me this book, and while reading it, I alternated between laughing hysterically and wanted to scream back at the sanctimonious preaching within its pages.

This book is full of La Leche League philosophy on breastfeeding, bonding and attachment, but you have to really dig into it to find the practical and helpful information. Information about storing breast milk, pumping, and introducing bottles was very light and hard to find. When located, it was presented in a fashion that suggested that any mother who needed to do any of these things wasn't a good mother and wasn't encouraging good attachment with her baby. Well, my daughter was in the NICU, so pumping and storage and bottles were a necessity when she was first born.

Another problem I have this book is that it is not very supportive of working mothers. There is only one small chapter dedicated to working mothers, again implying that you do so at the peril of your child and your relationship with your child.

There are better, more informative books on the market.

The definitive book on breastfeeding
This book covers just about every situation that could happen in the normal course of breastfeeding (as well as lots of special circumstances). From how to get breastfeeding off to a good start all the way through to starting solids and weaning, you can find just about any information on breastfeeding you need.

Are you a working mom and need information on the mechanics of pumping and storing breastmilk? The answer is here. Are you an at-home mom and need suggestions on how to meet the needs of your baby while still taking care of the house, other children, your husband, and yourself? A myriad of suggestions are offered.

Want to know how various choices in childbirth options can affect getting breastfeeding off to a good start? Look no further. If you're having a problem (thrush, mastitis, overactive letdown, etc.), this book is full of helpful tips and suggestions to help you overcome the problem.

While this is a wonderful book for the breastfeeding mother to read, it's even better for the expectant mother to read---being prepared with knowledge and information ahead of time can help a mother avoid problems and have a wonderful breastfeeding relationship with her baby from the very beginning.

This book should be on the bookshelf of every expectant or breastfeeding mother.

A must have reference!
This is a must-have, no-nonsense reference guide for the breastfeeding woman. It was invaluable to me when all the questions arose with my first breastfeeding experience, as well as packed with lots of interesting information that made me understand my body much better.

Fear tactics and Guilt at its best.
The only use I got out of this book was as a doorstop. In the case of difficulties it makes it seem like all you need is determination. It preaches the 'evils' of supplementing and tries to be scientific but fails.

Quoting research from the 1920s an 30s does nothing except try to instill the fear of your baby dying. I found much better information and non-judgemental support from my OBs office and my ped.

This book was horrible! It didn't offer any useful advice on common breastfeeding problems like Mastitis .. at least nothing useful.

The Breastfeeding Bible, No Excuses
The Womanly Art has been considered the ultimate guide for the breastfeeding mother since the 1950s. In those days there was little medical research, most data was anecdotal and there were only a few mothers, and very few medical professionals who knew what breastfeeding was really like. The breastfeeding rates in the USA at that point were abysmal (As was infant health,) and LLL and this book changed all that. Breastfeeding rates rose and continue to rise in the USA and Europe, babies became healthier and breastfeeding became the norm, as it should be, this book and LLL are responsible.

If the information in this book wasn't working and hadn't worked, breastfeeding wouldn't be as workable as it is for so many women for more than a generation, and have the record numbers of women now doing what is BEST for themselves and their babies. This book WORKS!

This book is comprehensive. It covers most aspects of breastfeeding, BUT it pulls NO punches. Having a baby is in no way a convenience, and caring for that baby properly is not convenient either. Breastfeeding is not always simple, but this book makes it direct, and gives you the power and knowlege on how to be successful. Some may be offended by this book's frankness, it's dedication to the fact that BABIES are what this is all about (not convenience) and some are threatened by the facts which prove the absoluteness that breastfeeding has no peer in infant feeding and there is simply NO substitute for Human Milk. But this book is honest, it gives the needed answers and it has thousands, if not milllions, of women and babies to vouch for it. The 2004 Edition (soon to be released) has even more medical benefits (including 47 studies on reduction of breast cancer and the most important IQ studies,) as well as even more information for women who choose to return to the workplace and require expressing milk for their babies while they are gone. (Wait for the new book, it is great!)

Parenting is not for the weak, the complaining, or the excuse makers. That goes double for breastfeeding parents. Breastfeeding CAN be done, and this book ELIMINATES the excuses and leaves the reader with ONE choice, that breastfeeding can be done and should be done. Through it's gentle manner, interesting case studies and medical fact, excuses why "I couldn't breastfeed...." are explained, dealt with and then eliminated by this book. That might makes it *difficult* for some to read. But that is the reason why it is the BEST book on the market for parents. You can do this, and the Womanly Art will give you the ability to do so, if you are willing.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." The same can be said for making one feel "Guilty." No one can make an other feel guilty, one can only tell the truth, which is what this book does.

Read this book, and perhaps speak with a local La Leche League leader, and you WILL be able to breastfeed. It may take some courage, but that is what parenting is all about. ... Read more

Book Description

The leading resource on identifying children’s problems through play therapy—completely revised The first edition of Play Diagnosis and Assessment was the first volume of its kind to provide a comprehensive overview of the diagnosis and assessment of children through play. Over the past several years, numerous changes within the field have encouraged the development of improved techniques that surpass traditional assessment protocols and methods, such as new scales, more focused procedures, and instruments with higher levels of reliability and validity than have been previously established. Now, this classic book has been updated to address and reflect these ongoing changes. Focusing on the needs of the clinician, this new edition presents empirically tested diagnostic tools and describes improvements to existing play therapy assessment instruments, such as new testing instruments for time-limited therapy and early intervention assessment tools for young children. The book is divided into six sections:

• Developmental Play Assessments
• Diagnostic Play Assessments
• Parent-Child Interaction Play Assessments
• Family Play Assessments
• Peer Interaction Play Assessments
• Projective Play Assessments

Amazon.com

This book tastes great and it's good for you, too. Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health: Birth Through Age Six is based on the principle of "metabolic programming," the scientifically rooted idea that foods eaten in early childhood directly affect the function of individual cells that control strength, intelligence, the immune system, and other vital functions. Think of it as a convoluted molecular take on the old maxim "You are what you eat." Genetics and other external factors also play a role, of course, but those factors are beyond our control. What goes on the dinner table, however, is not. The point of this book is to help parents teach their kids to like healthful foods, thus getting them into a lifelong habit of eating well and staying healthy.

There is a fair amount of science in this book, but the clear writing and good organization make it go down easy. Particularly helpful are the numerous graphs and boxes that highlight such topics as the best sources of calcium and iron (and why too much iron is dangerous), the differences between breast milk and formula, the eight key nutrients for different ages, and how to identify and even prevent allergies and intolerance to certain foods. The recipes, sample meals, healthy snacks, and tips for dealing with finicky eaters are alone worth the price of the book. Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health is an invaluable guide to ensuring that not only will your kids eat their vegetables, they'll even ask for seconds. --Shawn Carkonen ... Read more

Reviews (18)

What You Don't Know About Feeding Children
With a toddler and an infant always on the go, who has time to read another parenting book? But this one hooked me right away with the realization that the "healthy" low-fat, high-fiber food I'd been feeding my family was not necessarily the best thing for my children at their different stages of growth. "Feeding Your Child.." helped me better understand food from a child's point of view - mentally and physically. Lots of popular misconceptions like mine are unveiled, with loads of easy-to-use everyday feeding advice. An excellent book for any parent or caregiver who wants to help children enjoy healthy food, in a developmentally appropriate manner. (And for those of us in need of the occasional quick fix, the comprehensive index and table of contents make it very easy to locate specific topics.)

Truly excellent -- with a couple of caveats
Of all the books I have read on feeding babies, toddlers, and children, I find this the most realistic and most the clearly based in scientific research.

It's clearly written and well organized, and doesn't recommend any strange foods you wouldn't put on the table for guests or tuck into yourself.

That said, I was disappointed at the authors recommendation to start kids on refined breads and crackers because 'they don't need the extra fiber' -- along side the suggestion that you not start your child out on anything you don't want them to prefer. It seems contradictory to me, and my little guy is getting whole grains only. I was also disappointed at the author's lack of knowledge about breastfeeding. In the parts of the book that deal with slightly older children, they have some misleading and out of date information that discounts the benefits of extended breastfeeding and overstates the benefits of cows milk and artificial baby milks.

But, even so, I must say that they have some extremely wise and useful information about how children think about and respond to food and some excellent advice for how to raise a child with a good relationship to food -- it's balanced (an occasional piece of candy at a friend's house or a packet of chips after swim class won't kill most children) but weighted in favor of whole foods and higher nutrition.

Just what I was looking for!

Informative book for parents
I would recommend this book for all parents. I wish I'd read it when my oldest was born instead of when he was 2 1/2 and my youngest was 1. Good, practical tips for getting toddlers to eat veggies. OVerall healthy eating practices recommended. Debunks some myths/wives tales, ec. Pediatricians should be recommending this, too. I think I do a good job with my children's nutrition, especially when I see the junk that most of America and even some of my friends let their children eat, but this definitely inspired me to do much better.

Essential for all Moms
As a registered nurse and Mom this book is essential. It goes through the stages of feeding starting with breast vs. bottle, including exellent info on breasfeeding. You dont even need to buy a seperate breastfeeding book. Then moves on to babys first foods, including which foods to introduce at certain ages. Gives sample menus for babies of all ages. Also helps parents understand that pushing food on kids only makes them not want to eat. Helps with tips for picky eaters. How to get your kids to eat the foods you want them to eat with them knowing it.

Great intro on feeding your child
The best thing about this book is the advice to avoid making feeding times a battleground, and using non-nutritious food as a reward to eat nutritious food. It is excellent in providing sample menus and charts at different stages. I reccommend it to many new parents.

A couple of caveats: I do wish it had more recipies. I mostly use my adult cookbooks instead, but I would love more healthy "brown bag" lunch ideas. I also think the reader must keep in mind that the approach of "keep putting it on their plate" does not always work, sometimes a child (just like an adult) simply won't like the taste of a food. Finally, the authors don't encourage giving whole grain foods (bread, pasta, crackers) to toddlers because they have a low fiber requirement. However, the authors do advise getting the child to like healthy food early on. To me this is contridictory as I would never feed my dd more white bread if I can give her less whole wheat.

All in all I think this was money well spent. ... Read more

Book Description

The revision of this classic major reference will continue to outline the latest findings in diagnosing children's eye diseases and their treatment options. The information in this edition will be presented in the same user-friendly format, heavily illustrated in color plates, tables, charts, and decision-making guidelines. This approach will enable the practitioner to make the most accurate diagnosis and choose the most effective treatment option. The highlights of this edition will include the new coverage of surgical treatment options and illustrated surgical techniques. Also, it will cover the most comprehensive list ever published of systematic syndromes associated with ocular anomalies. The most notable breakthroughs in the past 5 years in pediatric ophthalmology are reflected through the field of medical genetics. Therefore each chapter will be completely updated and revised in order to reflect these changes. ... Read more

Book Description

The newly updated Tarascon Adult Emergency Pocketbook is designed as the ultimate portable reference for the busy emergency physician or internist.This concise, organized pocket guide is packed with essential lists, figures, & tables providing instant reminders of hard-to-remember yet vitally important clinical information. The Tarascon Adult Emergency Pocketbook is meticulously referenced and provides expert commentary on current academic controversies within the field. Convenient reference sections include dysrhythmia protocols, emergency drug infusions, antibiotic therapy, rapid-sequence intubation, toxicology, trauma care, burn care, and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A very good pocket reference
A very handy pocket reference book for cheap! As good as most Palm programs, but it costs much less. Good for the EM Resident/Attending.

ADULT EMERGENCY POCKETBOOK
Handy and compact! Great quick reference for dosing regimens and treatment protocols. Not error free though, so should only be used to jog one's memeory. Otherwise a must. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Any parent who has suspected something was off with their baby will empathize with the first chapters of The Boy Who Loved Windows, which recounts the familiar tale of medical practitioners refusing to run tests or offer diagnoses. You'll empathize even more when it turns out that mom (and author) Patricia Stacey was right: young Walker is autistic. It's partially the empathy that makes this such a compelling read. Some chapters are devoted to Walker's life at home; others mix his development with medical details. The facts are wrenching: an estimated 1 in 500 people has some level of autism, causes are unclear, and the expectation for a cure is microscopic. But midway through the book, the family meets up with Dr. Stanley Greenspan (The Child With Special Needs), who introduces new techniques that spread rapidly to Walker's assorted therapists. Progress begins, if at a glacial pace. Stacey lets readers into her emotional process over the years she details; her anger, frustration, and concern over the rest of her family and her wild joy at some seemingly minor events provide a roller coaster in contrast to the more methodical research explanation. As a complement to more direct parenting books on autism or simply as a fascinating look at the early development of an atypical child, this book makes good on the promise of its intriguing title. --Jill Lightner ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A Welcome New Voice in Literary Nonfiction
I inhaled this book in two days. Patricia Stacey's breathtaking style, as she relates gripping family drama one minute and ponders the philosophical intricacies of the mind-body connection the next, weaves together the strands of raw gold that form her story, gold that might have emerged heavy and tarnished in the hands of a lesser writer. Like another reviewer, I recommend it to anyone who loves a child, who is interested in developmental psychology, to the many parents who struggle for the confidence to raise their children according to their own instincts in the face of a society that relentlessly questions them--but more than anything else, this is a book for anyone who is interested in reading about the mysteries that are the human condition. For in telling us her story, Pat illuminates all stories, especially family stories. An avid reader, much of what I read comes and goes; this book will stay with me and I am grateful Pat has written it.

The Boy Who Loved Windows
The Boy Who Loved Windows: Opening the Heart and Mind of a Child Threatened With Autism by Patricia Stacey is a wonderfully rich, poignant book that is compelling and beautifully written. As a clinician working with children and families on the autistic spectrum I have come to know and work with many children and their families. This book gives a clear picture describing the components that make up the autism spectrum and gives hope to all of those who are diagnosed.

Ms. Stacey describes what happened with her own son and family in beautiful prose while giving clear, practical information on how to help and work with all children. We need to follow their lead, encourage them to be engaged with us and help them to grow using the developmental model. The method that Ms. Stacey chose to use with her son (Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship Based) helped him to engage, attend and enjoy relationships and the world around him.

I find that this book is many things. It is mostly about possibility for change and growth. When a child is diagnosed with having an autism spectrum disorder it affects the whole family system. The hopelessness and despair that parents feel upon having their fears confirmed can be, and often is devastating. In many areas of the country older intervention methods are relied upon and people are not aware that newer methodologies exist-let alone work. Ms. Stacey gives her readers many gifts in her book. She gives clear information on Sensory Integration, Autism Spectrum Disorders, courage and hope.

This book is a must read for parents, family, friends and professionals. Whether you know someone on the spectrum or not, you will gain a new level of understanding on what it is like to live the life of a parent of a child with autism, what a child with autism means to the family and community and that there are wonderful new interventions available to help the child (or adult) to change and grow in a positive way.

Ms. Stacey's book is not about shunning the autism community or those on the autism spectrum. Stanley Greenspan, M.D., puts it beautifully when he talks about working with those with communication and learning disorders-"redefining potential". It is about giving hope and help and that there is potential for each child on the spectrum-and that each of us can do better, can climb the developmental ladder and be more comfortable within ourselves, in the world and with one another. This is the message that comes through in the book and it is an amazing gift to readers.

buyer beware
Readers of this book please keep in mind this is from a parents perspective. There is no "cure" for autism. Therapies do offer children ways to cope. There are many statements in this book which are not accurate so consult with your doctor or autism specailist.

Book Deserves Ten Stars!!!
The Boy Who Loved Windows engages the reader at every level - as a personal memoir, a family chronicle, a medical narrative, and a philosophical meditation. Like a master photographer, Patricia Stacey moves confidently among these genres, zooming in until we feel ourselves inhabiting the same space as Walker and his family, then pulling back to give a panoramic view of the medical research and philosophical questions underpinning the diagnosis and treatment of autism. Stacey's "voice" rings with such clarity, curiosity and compassion that it brings to mind the wonderful work of Oliver Sacks, the renown neurologist, professor, and author of The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and An Anthropologist on Mars. Like Sacks, Stacey honors what is unique to each individual while extracting what is universal about all of us. By so vividly imagining herself inside Walker's autistic body and mind, she enlarges our understanding of what being human is essentially about. No matter what disease, disorder, defect or disability may befall us - early in life or later on - we all strive for greater self-awareness even as we reach out to the world around us.

If you approach this book with an expansive mind, it will reward you with fresh insights and intuitive leaps. In my case, I was struck by the author's description of Greenspan's presentation of floor time as a "philosophy of moments." This is the essence of the practice of mindfulness - being open to an awareness of the moment. It occurred to me that floor time is to a child with autism spectrum disorder what the practice of mindfulness is to an adult with an acutely sensitive nervous system. Whether child or adult, many individuals have nervous systems that often cause them to feel overwhelmed by the world and stymied on their path to self-discovery. For them, the practice of mindfulness leads to a relaxed state of attentiveness to both the inner world of thoughts and feelings and the outer world of actions and perceptions. Like floor time, mindful engagement not only increases connection with words and objects, but also increases connection with people. Along with a focus on moments, the themes of joyful learning and empathy building are prominent in both floor time and mindfulness. Stacey puts it beautifully when she writes that floor time is "about two things, about building tolerance and about building humanity."

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who has come to understand him/herself (or a family member) as having a highly sensitive nervous system. Whether you've come to this realization through an experience with autism spectrum disorder, developmental language disorder (like dyslexia), attention deficit disorder, or affective spectrum disorder (like migraine, obsessive-compulsive or panic disorder), this book will enlarge your understanding of that experience. As Stacey observes near the end of the book, our culture has long neglected the development of highly individualized nervous systems. Through the introduction of floor time, she writes, Greenspan has taught us "that playing to the nervous system of a loved one is a matter of being mindful and watchful."

There is no known cure or quick fix for autism or any of the other spectrum disorders that have a significant sensory processing dysfunction. Contrary to what a previous reviewer writes, Stacey never claims there is cure for autism. A close reading of the book shows clearly that Stacey herself questions the use of the word "cure" in relation to autism as she struggles to better understand what differentiates autism "that is treatable from autism that isn't." Through her extensive social science research and her deep philosophical questioning, Stacey tries to bring some clarity to the medical nomenclature of diagnosis and treatment and she courageously approaches the essential mind/body problem that continues to divide psychologists and philosophers around the nature of Self and Other; Perception and Language; and Emotions, Behavior, and Cognition. What Stacey conveys so beautifully in the telling of Walker's story is stunningly simple and resoundingly true - we all want to feel at home in the world.

Extraordinary Story, Beautifully Told
From the moment I started this book I couldn't put it down. Patricia Stacey writes with exquisite detail, honesty and humor about the desperate journey she and her family began upon the birth of her son Walker. As I read of her race to uncover what was at the root of Walker's diffficulties, and to help him connect with her and the world at large, I too felt panic, chaos, exhilaration and hope. The book does an extraordinary job of making sensory integration understandable, and provides great detail about the specific therapies, especially Floortime, that enabled Walker to blossom. But this book is not only for parents of children with autism, or clinicians. Ms. Stacey puts beautiful words to larger thoughts and questions about how we all connect to each other that will linger long after finishing the book. ... Read more

Book Description

Play is to the child what verbalization is to the adult-it is a medium for expressing feelings, exploring relationships, describing experiences and disclosing wishes. Revised and updated, this second edition of the award-winning Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship provides comprehensive and detailed information for creating therapeutic relationships with children and facilitating the play therapy process. Guidelines, transcripts and case examples are provided for governing sensitive issues at every stage of the therapeutic process, from the first meeting to the end of the relationship. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Clear, concise, engaging introduction to play therapy
This book is a necessary addition to any therapists library, especially those who are just beginning or are interested in knowing the foundations for therapy with children. Clearly written and well organized, it is easy to read and an invaluable reference. Highly recommended for beginning play therapists ... Read more

Reviews (20)

"Take no prisoners" approach
The book describes what parents of ODD kids experience every day. Mr. Riley's suggestions are easily understood and seem natural. The book is easy to read. Then why I did not give it five stars?

If you consider buying this book, you probably already tried setting limits, star programs, timeouts, 1-2-3, and many other variations of dog training. You tried and found that both "motivation" and warnings are ignored, and that punishment only fuels more resentment.

Now you are stuck, but there is a hope -- Mr. Riley comes with new ideas for better, more severe and more painful punishment; of course all within the limits of the law. You are big and smart, and there are many ways to cause pain to your child without spanking. For example, you could explain that YOU own everything in your home and will take it away if he misbehaves.

So, what's wrong with the book?

First, the style. Mr. Riley speaks in a very distant, detached voice as if he is not talking about our children, but of some other species: evil, smart, and obviously very dangerous. My first reaction to the book was entirely intuitive -- its ice-cold style FELT wrong.

Second, the perception of the real problem. Whey you say "dress up now, we got to go", and your 8 year old answers with "F--- YOU", is it because you need more "parental authority", or because he is lacking some very basic skills needed for everyday life? And if your child is as evil and smart as the book suggests, why his life is such a hell?

If you think you have to win the war with your child, no matter what it takes -- this book is for you. If you want to teach your child the skills needed for everyday survival, try reading "The Explosive Child". I made my choice, now it's your turn.

A practical guide to understanding & dealing with ODD
With a child of 7 who recently was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD this book is helping us deal with some very difficult and scary situations. In addition to counseling, this book has been a good place to turn to when questions and concerns need to be addressed. This book was very informative and easy to read. It gives a concise easy to understand description of ODD and explains the disorder from the child's perspective very acurately. The authors goes on to give sound advice on how to handle conflicts and tough situations that can become daily battles at home and school. I'm hoping we will not still need this book in the teen years, but I'll keep it close by just in case we do.

Buy this book- solid content and no fluff!
If you're perusing discipline books, wondering what to do about in-your-face defiance, screaming, foul-language,etc., this is the book for you. It is right to the point and dead-on. I wish I'd found it about 2 years earlier, when my daughter started middle school and the behavior escalated. The author's suggestions definitely work. All I can add is, "Whew".

Right on the mark
This book has not only helped to understand a grandchild, it has also given some inspiration to a relative with an uncontrolable daughter. When you run our of ideas, buy this book.

Understanding the mind of the Defiant Child
Dr. Riley does a remarkable job of giving parents a glimpse of the mistaken ideas that guide the behavior of defiant children. Hopefully, parents will stop blaming themselves and recognize that these children act out due to their distorted sense of reality. Parents who read this book often report that the book serves as guideposts for how to make their children more sensitive.

Michael T. Smith ... Read more

Book Description

Increasing a child's competence and trust

Attachment-based play can help build the intimacy that creates the healthy parent-child interactions that are so vital to a child's development. This is especially true for children how are troubled by emotional or learning difficulties. The thoroughly revised second edition of the author's classic work Theraplay offers clear, easily understood guidelines for professionals and parents to a dynamic and proven approach for treating children with attachment and relationship problems.

Based on the work of the founder of the renowned Theraplay Institute in Chicago, this new book explores how to use play to communicate love and authority and shows how this effective form of treatment increases a child's competence and trust. A comprehensive resource, the book offers effective techniques for working with special populations including children who have been adopted or are in foster care, victims of trauma or abuse, and youngsters with autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Written in a clear and instructive style, Theraplay is an excellent guide for both parents and professionals who work with children.

... Read more

Reviews (2)

A book to refer back to again and again!
I can not say enough positive things about this outstanding book. As a child therapist, who works with many children in the foster care system and increasing numbers of adopted children, Theraplay has become the single most important tool in my repertoire of therapy modalities. It is very exciting to find a method of working with children that offers practical and impactful strategies to try, which are very different from what you may already be doing. I have also attended the Theraplay trainings at the Theraplay Institute in Chicago and am near completion of the Theraplay Certification process. Even if I am not using Theraplay with a particular child, the foundation and understanding of attachment that this model has given me pervade my work. Parents of children that I am using Theraplay with often report dramatic progress in their child's behavior and attachment to them in a short period of time. One father of an internationally adopted child that I am using Theraplay with said it best. He stated, "We finally came to realize that our child was not going to be able to fully benefit from all the supportive services we were taking him to (including occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy) until he was able to form an attachment with us. Theraplay has allowed that attachment to form and we are now seeing much more progress in other areas of development."

The model of using parents as co-therapists, as presented in the book, is very empowering to parents and the parents I use Theraplay with have many positive comments to say about this. One foster/adoptive mother recently told me she thinks that every foster or adoptive parent should be required to learn Theraplay. She adds "It has given me a whole new understanding of my adopted children and their needs."

Theraplay is not only useful for children with attachment and bonding difficulties, but I have found it particularly useful for children diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. This is a comprehensive book that you will refer back to again and again.

This book offers elegant solutions to complex problems.
Jernberg and Booth explore attachment beginning in the nursery, what it looks like when all goes well and when it doesn't. Difficult concepts are presented in ways that make them highly accessable. The beauty of this work, is in the solutions that are offered. As I read this book, I found my self saying repeatedly, "this make too much sense." After reading Theraplay, I registered for the next training offered in Chicago. Anyone working with children in most any capacity would benefit from this well researched, time-tested work. Reading this book and attending the training has had a tremendous, positive impact on my work as a child therapist. ... Read more