Robin Weiss - The Better Way to Care for Your Baby: A Week-by-Week Illustrated Companion for Parenting and Protecting Your Child Using the Latest and Sa

A Week-by-Week Illustrated Companion
for Parenting and Protecting Your Child
Using the Latest and Safest Techniques

Robin Elise Weiss

L.C.C.E., I.C.C.E.-C.P.E., C.L.C .

DEDICATION

To Noa Simonefor sharing your first year with me as I wrote this book. You are one sweet, energetic, and lovely baby girl. Happy first birthday!

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T hey say that raising a child takes a village. Well, writing a book takes a village as well. Many people have helped me along this journey. Marci Yesowitch Hopkins, Teri Shilling, and Pat Predmore were great online cheerleaders as I worked diligently. Many thanks go to Sarah and Ashley Benz, Lucian and Stacie Walker, and Erin and Bella Vest for answering endless questions about the first year of a babys life. Sharon Muza, Angela Garvin, and Nicole Aldridge were great go-to-gals for those last-minute questions on what should be contained on the pages within this book, as well as tireless cheerleaders. Jill Alexander was a wonderful sounding board at Fair Winds Press. Andrea Mattei helped with gentle and thoughtful editing and her experience as a mother. My agent, Barb Doyen, was always there with a great suggestion and positive attitude. Much love and appreciation also go to my family for helping me run the house while writing: Kevin, Hilary, Benjamin, Isaac, Lilah, Owen, Clara, Ada, and Noa.

Contents

MONTH ONE
Week 14
Get to Know Baby

MONTH TWO
Week 58
Find a Rhythm

MONTH THREE
Week 913
Take It All In

MONTH FOUR
Week 1417
Interact with Baby

MONTH FIVE
Week 1821
Watch and Wait

MONTH SIX
Week 2226
Move On Up

MONTH SEVEN
Week 2730
Try New Things

MONTH EIGHT
Week 3134
Make It Work

MONTH NINE
Week 3539
So Big!

MONTH TEN
Week 4043
A Mind of His Own

MONTH ELEVEN
Week 4447
Enjoy Your Baby

MONTH TWELVE
Week 4852
Prepare for Toddlerhood

INTRODUCTION

Babies are really great!
They are sweet, adorable, quiet...
oh wait, thats a television prop, not a real baby.

B abies can be all of those things at times. The problem is that those cute and cuddly moments might not occur as often as you expected after watching babies on TV or talking to friends who have babies.

In truth, newborn babies can be perplexingthey are helpless little bundles who need to eat and be changed constantly, cannot do anything for themselves, and, yes, cry and fuss... sometimes more than you might like. In the early days of parenthood, it might seem daunting to read your babys signals and decipher what she is trying to tell you. After all, babies dont come with an owners manual.

Most parents complain that the missing owners manual is the problem. What do you do when your baby cries? Which cry means what? How do you know what your baby needs? How can you enjoy your baby with everything else going on?

Look at this book as your replacement owners manual. Here you will find quick tips on the things that matter most in your life: feeding, sleeping, and playing with your baby. You will also find lengthier discussions on what your babys development will look like at certain points along the way in the first year of life. The photos and drawings within will also give you plenty of visual examples for guidance as you navigate the murky waters of new parenthood.

This book is designed to help every parent. Whether this is your first baby or your sixth, there are things you need to remember. The fog of being a new parent is the same for almost all of us. Having everything in one handy location is a huge benefit.

Making all the decisions that need to be made about your babys health and safety is a big part of babys first year. Which pediatrician or doctor should you choose? Should you get immunizations? On which time schedule? Do you need to get all of them? What do the top doctors and baby organizations say about hot topics like infant feeding, allergies, developmental play, and more? In these pages, were certainly not shying away from the tough issues.

Sit down and flip through each chapter. You will get the basics of what youre looking forward to if you scan ahead. Each month will offer you some in-depth looks at various topics, not to mention weekly advice. Each week, you can find a new tip or trick to use when it comes to eating, playing, sleeping, and general advice for your family. As with any advice, some will work perfectly and some will need to be tweaked to fit into your familys lifestyle. Remember, parenting is about compromise, patience, and love. You will be able to make the right choices for your family if you have all the information you need.

Enjoy reading and using this book. But above all, enjoy the first year with your baby. Walk that fine line between enjoying being in the moment and looking forward to the next big thing. Remembering to pause and appreciate each moment as it happens can be one of the hardest things about parenting in general. But with all the excitement and anticipation of things to come during the first year, it becomes even harder. From the moment your baby is born, until youre singing happy birthday and blowing out a single candle, the time flies. Dont miss a thing!