The Expectant Parents' Companion: Simplifying What to Do, Buy, or Borrow for an Easy Life With Baby Review

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(More customer reviews)I have never written a review on Amazon before, but this book compelled me to do so because I have found it so helpful. While I agree with the reviewer who said the book is biased (Huggins' preferences for breastfeeding, natural birth, etc. come out loud and clear), it is still an incredibly useful resource for someone like me--a first-time mom who knows absolutely nothing! I have no younger siblings, rarely babysat, and just generally have not spent much time around infants, so I'm going into parenthood with a totally blank slate. For this reason, I've been looking for someone or something that could tell me what is necessary to do and buy and what is not. (Prior to reading it, I couldn't have told you what a "layette" or a "bumper" was, and I certainly would not have known what to do with a "nasal aspirator.") Registering for my baby shower made me realize how saturated the market is with all kinds of gadgets that scream "buy me!" but personally, I can't afford to buy out the baby section at Target. And I'm not so hypnotized by marketing that I believe I need it all. Huggins breaks down not only what products are necessary for your baby's care, but also what might be better to borrow than to buy. She also offers suggestions for making or doing things yourself instead of paying for them (breast pads, for instance, cut out of diapers)--welcome advice for anyone on a budget! The book is recent enough (2006) that its information on actual products, name brands, etc. is totally up-to-date, a fact I also appreciated. I highly recommend this book for sorting through all the overwhelming purchasing and planning decisions, big and small, you will face as you prepare for parenthood.

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This is the ultimate, all-around baby guide. Not only does it help you navigate the dizzying array of baby products or gear, it also helps you get ready for baby in numerous ways, from preparing for birth, to feeding your newborn, to sleeping arrangements, and to making your home safe for baby. Most other baby-gear guides make you think you need to build on an extra room in your house to accommodate all the necessary items. However, Kathleen Huggins' years of experience with moms and newborns have taught her what you'll need, what you'll want, and what you can definitely do without.

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Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home Review

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(More customer reviews)I read this book and liked quite a bit, but felt it wasn't really geared towards the every day person. I have a decent income, yet it overwhelmed me on it's push to buy, buy, buy to keep my family safe. It wasn't until I was almost finished that I realized his Hollywood connection, but it had seemed incredulous up to that point how he'd attracted so many celebrities as just a non-profit green guy.
All that namedropping made it harder to see the book as aimed at everyday people (I wanted to see regular people talking about their changes and making it work, not people with millions to work with). Several of the shops mentioned in the resources section for places to buy from "just happened" to be owned by celebrities. A lot of the items mentioned as critical were really advertorial for specific brands and of course very expensive. There were a few homemade recipes & ideas, but just as many pushes for things that are a financial stretch for many people. A lot of cheap greener living items were barely touched on. Cloth diapers were a tiny paragraph and not given much kudos yet that is a huge item that is feasible for any income level. Only 1 of the 4 diaper brands listed in the resources was cloth.
The intention was there, but IMO there are other books by regular people that are more inspiring, more realistic in what you're able to do time-wise and financially and still be as green and safe as you can.

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Learn how to Create a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home - from Christopher Gavigan and the trusted experts at Healthy Child Healthy World. Healthy Child Healthy World is the essential guide for parents! All parents want a happy and healthy child in a safe home, but where do they start?It starts with the small steps to creating a healthier, less toxic, and more environmentally sound home - and this is the definitive book to get you there. Unfortunately, tens of millions of Americans, overwhelmingly children, now face chronic disease and illnesses including cancer, autism, asthma, allergies, birth defects, ADD/ADHD, obesity/diabetes, and learning and developmental disabilities. The number gets higher each year and more parents ask WHY? Scientific evidence increasingly finds chemicals in everyday products like cleaning supplies, beauty care and cosmetics, home furnishings, plastics, food, and even toys that are contributors to these ailments. The good news is that you can something to protect your children with a few simple changes! Inside, you'll find practical, inexpensive, and easy lifestyle advice for every stage of parenting including: *Advice on preparing a nontoxic nursery for a new baby *What every expectant mom needs to do to have a safer pregnancy *Clarifying which plastics and baby products to avoid and the healthier solutions *Tips to take to the grocery store, including the most and least pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables and the best healthy kid-approved snacks *Which beauty care / cosmetic products pose the biggest risk to health *The best recipes for healthy snacks, low-cost and safe homemade cleaners, and non-toxic art supplies *How to easily minimize allergens, dust, and lead *A greener garden, yard, and outdoor spaces *Tips to keep your pets healthy, and the unwanted pests out naturally *Renovation ideas, naturally fresher indoor air, and safer sleeping options, *An 27 page extensive shopper's guide to most trusted and best products every home needs Inside is also packed with over 40 featured contributions from renowned doctors, environmental scientists, and public-health experts like Dr. Harvey Karp, Dr Philip Landrigan, and William McDonough, as well as many celebrity parents like Gwyneth Paltrow, Tobey Maguire, Sheryl Crow, Erin Brockovich and Tom Hanks.A special featured contribution from First Lady Michelle Obama on her best ways of coping with her daughter's asthma.

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Holler for Your Health: Be the Key to a Healthy Family Review

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(More customer reviews)The author has done a very good job at explaining the strong links between diet and our environment and various ailments including stress and diabetes that makes for very interesting reading. I always felt the genetic link to obesity to be hogwash, but the author did a good job at convincing me the biological reason for the linkage. After reading this book I was sufficiently convinced to buy hormone free milk for my children and certain organic produce for the family, utilize a water filter for the home, and cease applying traditional lawn fertilizers on my lawn in favor of more natural, organic alternatives.

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As we have immersed ourselves in products laden with hidden chemicals, society has become plagued with a host of chronic illnesses.In the span of one industrial century the incidence of cancer has soared from 1 in 8000 to nearly 1 in 2. In fact, nearly half of all Americans now suffer from at least one chronic illness. The sharp rise in childhood illnesses such as asthma, autism, ADD, and childhood cancers are especially bothersome.The problem: Toxic chemicals are bad for health and health is getting bad. For every pound of industrial toxin released into our air and water an average of 42 pounds of the same chemicals are used in products intended for use in or around the home. And so our greatest toxic threat comes from our own purchasing decisions. The Solution: This means we have the power to change the state of our health by simply choosing to purchase safer products.The Difficulty: Toxic chemicals are frequently omitted from labels and grocery shopping practically requires a PhD in chemistry. The Answer: Holler for Your Health: Be the Key to a Healthy Family uncovers the truth about the hazardous products lurking in and around your home and provides practical solutions to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals.The Bottom Line: You cannot rely on well-meaning doctors who are not trained to deal with toxic chemicals nor can you expect lax government regulations to insure only safe products line store shelves. You must take control of your family's health in order to increase the odds of remaining healthy in this era of illness.About the Book: Holler for Your Health begins by recognizing the inadequacies of relying on others to protect ourselves and our children. It then provides the information needed to avoid chemicals known or suspected of causing health problems. For instance, the following will be revealed: -the scientific evidence regarding vaccinations and autism -the problem with silver dental fillings -which plastic products are safe and which are not -how to find out what is in your drinking water and how to choose an effective water purification system -how to select less toxic food, children s toys, personal care products, cleaning supplies, cookware, and moreStrategies to avoid toxins are offered to accommodate all families regardless of income. The book culminates in a 10-Step Action Plan to immediately apply this knowledge and achieve a lifetime of better health. Holler for Your Health empowers each of us to take control of our own health rather than focusing on the institutions that are failing to protect us. The solution, to stop treating and start preventing disease, truly is in reach. It lies within each of us.

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The Baby Book: How to Enjoy Year One Review

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(More customer reviews)I found this book to be helpful with some tweaking. She mentions that the child should take their long nap in the morning and the short one in the afternoon; I did just the opposite and my 7 month old twins are AWESOME sleepers. They take a 45-55 minute nap in the morning, 2-2.5 hour nap in the afternoon and sleep from 7:30/8pm till 9/9:30am every night! Also, they are exclusively breastfed so I never gave them boiled water since they were hydrated enough from the nursing. Very helpful pointers though overall. If I can schedule and get twin boys to sleep this well, then anyone can!!!

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An experienced maternity nurse and mother offers practical advice on coping with your baby's first year. Rachel Waddilove has worked for many years as a private maternity nurse; her clients include Gwyneth Paltrow. In this book, she draws on her considerable professional and personal experience to advise young parents on everything they need to know about looking after a baby in its first year. Areas covered include: needs for the nursery, coming home from hospital, breast feeding vs bottle feeding, establishing a routine, sleep, crying, and introducing solid food. In addition to the host of practical information given, Rachel also considers the emotional and social aspects of becoming a parent.Rachel's down-to-earth style and wealth of experience makes this an essential guide for new parents, expectant parents, and all who want the best care for their children.

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1001 Chemicals in Everyday Products, 2nd Edition Review

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(More customer reviews)Very understandable book. As an M.D., I often deal with patients with Asthma, allergies, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and other health problems caused by the vast amount of chemicals we touch each day. I found this book to be valuable and interesting. Hot current topics such as the safety of antibacterial chemicals, plants that can harm your pets, and dangerous chemical additives and colorings are talked about. Olestra, melatonin and DHEA are discussed, along with fun topics like the chemical components of chocolate.

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There is a virtual laboratory of chemicals in the food we eat and the products we encounter every dayat home, at school, and at work. What are these substances and how are they used? How are they helpful? Can they be harmful?
Here are fast, hands-on answers to these and other crucial questions about hundreds of chemical substances we come into contact with on a regular basis. From MSG in food to perchloroethylene in dry cleaning, this AZ guide provides clear, no-nonsense information on the use and health effects of hundreds of chemicals found in food, medicines, cosmetics, cleaning solutions, lawn and garden products, and more. Well-organized and easy-to-use, it gives you the help you need to make smarter choices about the products you choosefor yourself and your family. Inside 1,001 Chemicals in Everyday Products you'll find:
-Entries listing products, uses, precautions, and synonyms-Direct answers to over 250 frequently asked questions on everyday chemicals-Handy product and chemical synonym indexes-A nationwide listing of Poison Control Centers

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Expecting 411: Clear Answers & Smart Advice for Your Pregnancy Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been a practicing obstetrician for 16 years. I try to read the pregnancy information books as they come out so I know which ones to recommend to my patients. I found this book to be accurate and easy to read; the advice is sound and well supported by the medical literature. I have purchased a few for my waiting room and I will definitely be recommending it to my patients.

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Congratulations! You're pregnant! Now, where do you turn to for the best advice? What if you could bottle the wisdom of all those women who came before you—and combine it with the solid medical advice from a renowned Beverly Hills' OB/GYN and nationally known pediatrician? Expecting 411 is the answer: smart, up-to-date and refreshingly free of paranoia, this is the book you'll turn to for quick answers to your most pressing questions.

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Changing Diapers: The Hip Mom's Guide to Modern Cloth Diapering Review

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(More customer reviews)Every pregnant/expecting mother should read this book.
There are chapters on why cloth diapers are a good choice, choosing the right diapers and styles for your needs, what to do if you are going back to work, cloth diapers in daycare, cloth diapering multiples, how to wash your diapers, what to do if rashes/leaks occur...there's an even a chapter devoted to DAD!
In addition to covering all the information, there's a wealth of extra resources at the end of the book. There are suggestions on how to pack your diaper bag. There's a chart to keep track of what you have and what you need, with regards to cloth diapering. There's an empty log for you to keep track of your "fluffy" purchases. There's even a place for you to take notes!While you are reading, you'll find fun quotes and tips ("Fluffy Stuff" as she calls it) about cloth diapering, beautiful photos, and helpful diagrams. Additionally, she offers suggestions on several brands on the cloth diapering market. Granted, there are HUNDREDS, so she can't address them all -- but she hits the big ones! What you WON'T find inside:
Acronyms and abbreviations that make no sense to you.
Someone sounding all "preachy" on why you have to use cloth diapers.
Boring, useless information or shameless product plugs.
--
Most importantly, Kelly writes in a way that feels personal. It's like you are sitting down and having a conversation with one of the leading cloth diaper experts--right there in your living room.
Kelly's book covers it all--and it's right there at your fingertips, no need to search for hours through thousands of cloth diaper websites.
There are so many misconceptions about cloth diapers and the amount of work they require. This book will give you the real picture.
To Sum It Up:Easy to read.
Easy to understand.
Informative.
Useful.
NECESSARY.

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Now the proud recipient of GOLD in the Mom's Choice Awards!Finally, a book about modern cloth diapering that covers everything. Topics covered: - Why Choose Cloth Diapers? - Basic Cloth Diaper Talk - The Back-to-Work and Daycare Diapering Dilemma - Daddies and Diapers - Laundry: How to Wash Your Cloth Diapers - Resources and more Kelly Wels, a leading authority in the movement toward modern cloth diapering, has pulled the whole industry together to offer the best information on everything from what to buy, how to fit, and how to launder, to the health benefits for baby and the impact of diapers on the environment. Wels is a well-known powerhouse advocate and has become the main voice in the industry. The marketplace for this book is constant, as the US birthrate hovers over 4 million babies born per year and the word is getting out about the benefits of using modern cloth versus disposables. Wels is a continuous presence on her popular blogs and is often featured by other bloggers in the industry. When Wels talks, her audience listens, and her audience grows. She even received a Congressional Award for her work from Olympia Snow. These are not your mother s cloth diapers! Contents Acknowledgments The Poop on Modern Cloth Diapering: An Introduction - Don't Poo-poo It Until You Know More - Why Listen to Me? - Diaper Overload - Who in the World Cloth Diapers Their Babies These Days? - Join the Movement 1. Why Choose Cloth Diapers? - Reason #1: It's Best for Baby - Reason #2: You Can Save Big Bucks - Reason #3: You Can Be Eco-Friendly - Reason #4: Despite What You Think, Cloth Is Convenient - Reason #5: Yes, Cloth Diapering Is Fun for Many Moms 2. Snappis, Doublers, AIOs, and Pockets: Understanding Basic Cloth Diaper Talk - Cloth Diapering 101 - What You Need to Know about Cloth Diaper Fabrics

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Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care Review

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(More customer reviews)Raising Baby Green was easy and quick to read and is a book I will keep around simply for the fact that Dr. Greene has put together an impressive resource guide of websites where one can find lots of information on greening one's life and home. I'm sure this book will be a great reference in the future when I'm looking to buy something, that being said, I had two problems with this book.
First, after about the second chapter this book starts to read like an advertisement to buy buy buy! For example, there is repeated references to bringing you own organic cotton sheets to wherever you give birth and using them to replace the sheets at the hospital/birthing center. Now call me pragmatic, but 300 count organic cotton sheets cost between $125-$175 for my bed, thus, these are not the ideal sheets TO GIVE BIRTH ON. They will be ruined and I know when I'm expecting a baby I don't generally have $175 dollars to throw away. Nor does he address the impracticality of packing home sheets covered in birth mess for washing.
While Dr. Green does repeatedly say you can do as little or as much greening as you like in your home, he really does seem to push for more. There comes a point when ripping up your current hardwoods floors which are perfectly good to put down new floors made from cork which is a renewable resource stops being green. If you gut your entire house to "remodel green" the question becomes, are you really being green? Or are you just buying into the latest fad and wasting valuable, usable resources?
This green baby guide seems to have bought into our consumer culture hook, line and sinker, which is the reason I was going to give it 4 stars, but I dropped that down to 3 stars when I ran into my second problem with this book: Mis-information.
On page 248 there is a section titled "How to Drive Green." Two of the suggestions given are changing your air filter (which he says will save you $130 in fuel economy) and filling your tank at night. Now if you google "10 gas saving myths" you will find several articles about, well, gas saving myths and both of these are on there. Neither filling up at night nor changing your air filter really increase you fuel economy.
Green goes on further to say that filling up at night, "decreases evaporation during pumping, so anything that escapes won't be cooked in to the ozone." So, those fumes I see/smell when I pump gas at night don't go into the ozone? Because it's night? So . . .where do they go? To the pub for a beer?
If Greene has mis-information about fuel economy in his book that can be disputed by a simple google search, it makes me wonder what else he got wrong.

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In this illustrated and easy-to-use guide, noted pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene, a leading voice of the green baby movement, advises parents how to make healthy green choices for pregnancy, childbirth, and baby care—from feeding your baby the best food available to using medicines wisely. Consumer advocate Jeanette Pavini includes information for making smart choices and applying green principles to a whole new universe of products from zero-VOC paints for the nursery, to pure and gentle lotions for baby's delicate skin, to the eco-friendly diapers now in the marketplace, as well as specific recommendations for hundreds of other products.

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

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(More customer reviews)I'm a full-time working mom of a 2.5 year old, incredible boy.
Initially when I read Sears my reaction was that to be a good parent I would have to quit working, spend my whole day breastfeeding and wearing my baby and never get a solid's night sleep again. (And, I've have to grind my own wheat, grow my organic vegetables and move to an unpolluted island...well, not quite, but that seemed to be the general drift.)
But, what the Sear's approach or Attachment Parenting approach to me comes down to this:
Know your baby.
Respond to your baby's cues.
Understand that your baby isn't a mini-adult who just happens to live in a diaper. Understand that your child comes with his own personality and developmental timetable. Understand that when he cries he needs you. Understand that cuddling, holding, touching your baby is good for him and is not "spoiling" him. Understand that being given a brand new soul to nurture can be exhausting, but that everything you do which demonstrates empathy will come back to you 10 fold in the bond you will have with your child.
I do wish that the AP "movement" was less associated with "crunchy granola" types of parents. AP (and the Sears as the best known proponents) is really doing what comes naturally: We are hardwired to pick up our babies and care for them when they cry. We are hardwired to feel the intense desire to protect them from discomfort. This isn't a "movement" this is how we are made, and Mother (and Father) Nature are brillant!

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