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

I bought and read maybe 10 different baby books and I highly recommend this one to any new parent as my top choice. Makes a great gift too. Very sensible, succinct, easy to search for whatever topic you need to find some info on, like a baby encyclopedia... What sets it apart from other parenting books is the relaxed attitude to parenting (European if you want, or maybe "back to basics" and not as anxious as the American granola helicopter parenting style). You don't have to follow the author's advice to a T, but I find it refreshing to have someone tell me to relax a bit and not to overthink all the information and conflicting advice that will be coming your way during pregnancy and once the baby is born.

I cannot begin to say how helpful this book has been. As a millennial in the age of information I have felt overwhelmed with parenting decisions. Will I ruin my baby’s feeding patterns with a bottle? Will paci’s give nipple confusion? Am I wicked mom if I sleep train, formula feed, or have a medicated birth? Turning to google, mommy blogs, friends and family often leaves me feeling conflicted.Dr. Cohen gives parents freedom from these societal worries. His guidance is factual and direct. There is a great deal of humor in each passage. But most importantly he frees parents up to truly choose what’s best for the family armed with sound medical experience. I have a 2 year old and this has got us through sleeping, picky eating, introducing siblings, weight gain, transitioning out of the crib, breastfeeding and on and on. All of the above concerns had me SO STRESSED OUT. But a little clarity from Dr. Cohen and I’m back on track trusting my mama instincts. I have worked as a parenting coach and read many many parenting reference books. This one is my favorite. It would be nice to have an updated edition as a few of the passages are dated (such as the portion on Autism). But the relevant FAR outweighs the out of date. If you are on the fence but need a break, a no nonsense approach to regaining your sanity, buy this! I do not believe that you will regret it.

I could not recommend this book more! I read The New Basics is the only baby & child book you need. It is well written & easy to understand.I read it when I was pregnant, when my son was born every doctor & nurse commented that my husband & I seemed incredibly relaxed & confident for 1st time parents. When my son refused to nurse the hospital had all sorts of recommendations & equipment to help us. I took Dr. Cohen's advice & asked my Grandmother instead. After a quite hour cuddling my son nursed like a champ.I am most greatful for Dr. Cohen's sleep advice. My son refused to sleep after he started to teeth. I tried "no cry" and gentle sleep methods... For months.... I slept for a few hours a night. Finally I convinced my husband to lovingly place our 18 month old in his crib & walk away until morning. The first night was no fun. The next night he fell asleep after five minutes & slept the ENTIRE NIGHT!! God Bless Dr. Cohen!

This was probably the most laissez faire of all the (myriad) baby/pregnancy books I've read, and it was refreshing. The main gist of this book is, "Calm down. You're not going to kill your baby unless you pretty much try to, so just do whatever feels right and I'm sure s/he will be fine." It's setup alphabetically to be a quick reference tool so when your baby has symptoms/habits you're freaking out about, you can quickly get a little reassurance that everything is probably fine and some helpful tips to address the issue (or just cope with it!).My mom also found this book really helpful since she was surprised at how many basic baby care recommendations (like diaper rash treatment and sleeping positions) had completely reversed course in the past 20 years. So this is a good one to share with grandparents-to-be as well.

This is the best baby book ever. The guy who wrote this was really thinking. Easy to read. Pragmatic. I bought two more to give to friends with newborns. Love it! Calmed my high strung wife down quite a bit. This guy takes a relaxed approach to raising children. Not Bob Marley relaxed, but pragmatically relaxed. If you are a high stress type A mom, or are married to one, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!!!!

My daughter goes to Tribeca Pediatrics and we love the doctors there. I appreciate their "common sense" methodology and approach to caring for children. Their approach is not traditional and a lot of times goes against what has been taught previously to many parents e.g. they advocate letting infants try almost anything and not giving single solids to start. The book addresses almost everything new parents will encounter in their first couple of years like what to do when your baby develops a fever and how to train your baby to sleep through the night. I also own several other books including the Dr. Spock book, but I find myself referring to this one the most.

Superb book, very well written comprehensive guidelines covering a wide range of topics for new moms and dads, along with practical, scientific information on general baby issues, breastfeeding, formula feeding, baby sleep issues etc. Best book I have read on paediatric advice, and I have read quite a few. I keep reaching out to this book instead of the paed the moment a new problem crops up with my sonThanks Dr Cohen!

If you're looking for a new take on parenting and not the same old diatribe. This is the book for you. Dr. Cohen has a sensible and realistic approach to how to make your life simple while still allowing for all the bonding with your child the other doctors preach can only exist if you lose yourself in parenting.

Really like this book. Bought after reading French Children Don't Throw Food and Michel Cohen being mentioned as the 'go to' paediatrician in New York and as a first time Mum I found this book very reassuring. Would highly recommend

décontracté et plein d'humourtrès ouvert sur les apports du "maternage proximal" (allaitement,portage etc...) mais SANS le côté culpabilisant (vous devez une dévotion totale à votre bébé et faire tourner toute votre vie autour de lui,sous peine de le "traumatiser")bref,pour les parents qui veulent aussi continuer à vivre normalement...:-)une section "sleep" bien utilerq: organisé par entrées alphabétiques;certains parents préfèreront peut etre avoir un ouvrage chronologique âge par age en complément...

This is for all those expecting parents who are fearful of everything that is suppose to be going wrong when your baby is born. Please read, enjoy, learn...