Infants Books

Even though I know Beverly Morgan is a highly respected IBCLC (Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant), I was surprised at how MUCH breastfeeding information she packed into this audio book and how beautifully she articulated the connection between baby-mother communication and a successful breastfeeding relationship. There was so much useful information that I had to listen several times. She presented all of this in a way that FELT extremely empowering.

This audiobook is a must-have addition to any new mother's library. I wish there was also a paper version. The audiobook is beautifully narrated and is perfect for the new mom to listen to while she is breastfeeding, pumping, or even driving in the car. The style of the book made it easy to visualize baby's cues, positions, movements, and
vocalizations. Beverly Morgan gives vivid descriptions of all of this baby language and how to know what it means for you and your baby. She goes on to tell you how to respond to these communications/cues in a way that meets your baby's individual needs.

I recommend this audiobook to the new or veteran mom looking for breastfeeding information or simply looking for a more connected relationship with their baby.

If you've ever helplessly held a baby who is crying and wondered what they were trying to tell you, this is the book you need to listen too. After listening to Reading Your Baby's Body Language, I am now able to interpret my newborn baby's facial expressions and hand or leg positions to understand what he needs or wants. There is a lot less frustration on his part and mine. What more could a mother wish for in those early months?

As a busy mom of three children under the age of four, my youngest just a few weeks old, I found this audio book perfect to listen to while driving them all around town. It was easy to stick in the diaper bag and listen to at home while feeding the baby or cooking dinner as well. If only all of the books I wish to read were this convenient! The narrator's voice is very soothing and captures the attention well. I've had a variety of different levels of ease and hardships with my three individual babies with breastfeeding and how I wish I'd have known this information earlier, but it is so helpful with my third-born as well. I look forward to listening to Beverly Morgan's other audio books too!

The book's format is the first good thing about it. I had a bad breastfeeding experience with my first child, who is now 3. I ordered the audiobook while pregnant and listened to it in the car on the way to work. Afterwards, I can listen to it during a feeding to help decipher baby's body language. The next best thing is Ms. Morgan's emphasis on becoming a partner with your baby rather than remaining in the teaching role. This helped me not to try to control the breastfeeding sessions, letting them be baby-led, which made baby and me both happier, resulting in improved feedings and milk supply. I would recommend this book to everyone and not just first-time mothers!

Joanne Baum teaches moms and dads the importance of parenting with respect and empathy for a child's needs. Baum convincingly drives home her point that with the insights and lessons learned in her book, along with a bit of conscious daily effort, more cooperation, self-esteem and joy will blossom for your child and you. As parents learn to understand what is behind the behavior of their child, they are building a solid foundation of understanding and communication between parent and child. That is the key to success in future years for a well-adjusted, healthy, happy child. In addition, this philosophy simultaneously enables a parent to heal their own personal histories. Highly recommended for the first 3 years.

Get this book! Dr. Baum presents a way of parenting which will not only help parents avoid the terrible 2's, but lays the groundwork for avoiding the terrible 7's, 9's and 14's. She empowers parents by presenting a philosophy of parenting which, once understood, will enable a parent to invent his or her own behavior in any parenting situation. This is a book of principles, not recipies. Above all, following her philosophy of child-centered respect models the type of behavior we desperately need in the next generation. In raising a child, you build the future. This book is an excellent guide for parents who want to raise a child who has a strong psychological center and sense of self.

When I found out that I was pregnant, I immediately purchased all the "right" parenting books - and found most of them lacking. Each had valid points, but few actually gave me solid advice on the whole "good parenting" thing. Then I read this book, and I actually finished it in one sitting! I have been using the advice regularly, and have found it to be exceptional. I've already seen results - my daughter, who just turned one, is already saying "Thank you" when given treats (without prompting!), and I've received numerous compliments on how well behaved she is. If you want great advice on raising great kids, this is the book for you!

This book had my [...]moving and shaking every time we read it. I didn't really care for the CD's ... but LOVE the book!

This book was given to me as a gift last year when I began teaching early childhood. My kids LOVE it! It is the most requested book in our library. The kids love to get out the musical instruments and shake along with the music. Every preschool class should have a copy of this book.

My godson,Austin,absolutely loves this story. AOL put it up on KOL Jr and he loves to listen to it on the computer. I will definately be adding this one to his collection. He giggles when he sees the adorable babies dancing the way he does and the part about,"Rockers' don't take naps." definately applies to him.

The ever profound and fascinating Dr. Michel Odent explains love, on a physiological level. In The Scientification. . ., he undertook the Herculean task of piecing together relevant findings from a broad range of scientific disciplines. He then provided a comprehensive look at the maternal/infant bond and its implications for survival of the human race. The book is small, but the implications are huge!

In order to fully understand how the capacity to love develops (or doesn't, as the case may be) it helps to understand the power of hormones and how they shape behavior. How love is expressed--whether maternally, sexually, as companionship and kindness, as the feeling of blissful one-ness ("oceanic love") that accompanies mystical experience (including uninhibited birth experiences), etc.-- can be understood by studying the balance of oxytocin, "the love hormone", in relation to complementary and mitigating hormones of the adrenaline-noradrenaline family. The technical information in this book is well-written and accessible for the lay reader.

If you're searching for a reason to birth outside the medical model, Dr. Odent provides the simplest and most compelling reason of all: stimulating a laboring mother's neo-cortex (new brain, located in the temporal lobe) inhibits the release of oxytocin and causes the mother to lose access to her instincts. It also negatively affects bonding. This is why all mammals have strategies for birthing in privacy. The more we interfere, the more complicated birth becomes, and the more we necessitate interference (the snowball effect). Conversely, privacy and autonomy allow the mother to connect with the instinctive, primal brain, so that she is able to safely and appropriately respond to her body and her baby.

Perhaps the most poignant information Dr. Odent presents is the explanation for violent, disruptive birth practices. If you've ever looked in dismay at the state of modern obstetric care and wondered "How did we get here?", Dr. Odent provides a disturbing answer. There is an evolutionary advantage to cultivating aggression and impairing the capacity to love. The advancement of every successful (dominant) civilization has corresponded with the ability to conquer nature and other human groups. Therefore, stifling love, compassion, and the ability to empathize has been an effective means of advancement. Until now. Humanity's continued success depends on peaceful co-existence, non-violent resolution of conflicts, compassionate interest in future generations, and recognition of the interdependence of the Earth and ourselves. Dr. Odent's far-reaching work strikes at the heart of the matter: with mothers and babies and the imperative to reclaim birth as a natural rite of passage. He wisely points the way toward a gentler beginning.

The Scientification of Love is a book that looks at the very core of our love and our relationships. Dr. Odent research looks at love and birth as a continuum of our sexual life. He explores the role of oxytocin - " the love hormone" in labor, birth and breastfeeding, as well as, oxytocin's role in the maternal-infant attachment process that forms the basis for all our relationships in life. I started to read this book early one morning and couldn't put it down. It's thought provoking ideas have stayed with me since. When we can incorporate Dr. Odent's research and ideas we will bring about a change that will include; undisturbed birthing, bonding and a peaceful society.

I highly recommend this book for anyone planning or expecting a child as well as childbirth educators, doulas, midwives and physicians. Anyone that would like to help create peaceful birthing and thus a peaceful society will enjoy Dr. Odent's work.

Under a deceptively simple and small format, this is perhaps the most sophisticated and far-ranging of all Michel Odent's books until now. It brings together Michel's clinical experience of uninterfered human birth with his more recent research on the links between 'primal' experiences - before birth, around birth and in the first year-, and well being later on in life, with thought-provoking insights in every single chapter. While some readers may already be aware of the importance of oxytocin, the 'hormone of love', and endorphins in all apsects of human sexuality including lactation, the book explores their role in a wider concept of love that encompasses maternal love as prototype of all love and mystical emotions in altered states of consciousness. A very wide range of evidence from the biological and other sciences as well as the humanities is brought together in a logical sequence of chapters followed by both a summary of each argument and a list of references. The cross-section of scientific papers included is impressive and keeps the reader on track to catch a glimpse of the whole, the 'unbroken mirror' of human behaviour. From a review of studies of oxytocin receptors in and outside the brain to the relevance of the disputed 'aquatic ape theory' and the salience of comparable features in the births of Buddha and Jesus, there is a concordance which specialist readers should remain open to. The argument is anything but a reductionist one; the more extensive our analysis of the molecular level, -the'scientification' of love-, the greater our understanding of how malleable the hormonal balance of humans as social beings can be.

For a long time, Michel Odent has been interested in culture from the perspective of birth and the handling of infants around the time of birth. One of the main hypotheses in this book, -quite a large piece of the mirror-, is that interference with the birth process can be linked historically with a long phase of human evolution in which aggressiveness was adaptive; yet 'homo ecologicus' has everything to gain from a full dose of love hormones at the start of life. As an anthropologist who has witnessed in her lifetime the undisturbed birthing of Amazonian forest people, then the havoc caused by enforced medicalisation and now the conscious but difficult revaluing of native ways, I endorse Michel's argument as the mnessage it also is. His book is an optimist one. It absolutely relies on reason and knowledge to expose how the physiological reduction of neocortical control during labour, -only possible if mothers are secure-, does not only facilitate the release and action of oxytocin during birth but also provides a starting point for harnessing the energies of love heralded by Teilhard de Chardin, in new cultural forms.

My daughter loves music and books and this book combines them both! We started out reading actually me singing the book to her. After our bath we both settle down in our glider and read a few books, then turn off the lights and we talk about what we did during the day, and then sing this song before bed! Definately a book for all year around, not just for Valentines Day!

My daughter absolutely adores this book - with it's cute pictures of real children and the words to the classic Skidamarink song, she wants to read it again and again and at 18 months would ask for it by saying "minkadink, minkadink." :)

My 2 year old got this from the library and we loved it so much we had to buy it. She loves to have me sing the song with her and now she knows all the words too! The cute pictures of babies are fun for kids and can be used to point out colors and objects for learning.

My mom used to read this book to me when I was little while playing the song in the background. Now, years later, I still enjoy the book, its art, and the band whose song inspired it.

David Byrne is the master of sarcasism and there is plenty of it to go around in just this song alone. A great, up beat, happy song with very open twist. This book not only captures this twist but even plays with it some more with great illustrations. This is a lot like other children's books that are filled with hidden meanings, that are sometimes downright scary. I am just happy that this marriage occured to one of my favorite Talking Heads songs. A great book!

It has been many years since I have seen a copy of this book.. but I remember being a child in 1989 and recieving a free copy of it from a librarian for Christmas I think. I wasn't into the Talking Heads like I am now (I had no clue who they were). But I remember the story was crazy and the illustrations were equally as crazy, but still pretty cool. I did my first so-called "book report" in 1st grade on this book. As I grew older, I was introduced to the Talking Heads and became an avid fan. My copy of this book, this artifact from my youth, is somewhere in the endless realm of my attic. But if I ever have children, I will use this to introduce them to the Talking Heads.

Great find for children as well as a lighthearted read for adults. You don't have to be a David Byrne fanatic to love this stuff!

This is so nice, since the sizes go up to 10 years old. I was getting very frustrated trying to knit for my toddler with books that only went up to 9-12 months in instruction. There are cute blanket patterns, too.

This is a book filled with great designs for kids. Even the beginner knitter can find a project. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in children's sweaters.

I purchased this book based on the cover photo alone. I was not disappointed. As a brand-new knitter and mother of 2 I look for books with patterns that my children would not be embarassed to be seen in, this does not disappoint. The amount of jackets for boys and girls alone makes it worth the investment. From there you are further inspired by the beautiful cardigans and pullovers. Simply another beautiful children's pattern book!
Happy knitting!!!
Nanette of Fruitland, ID

I liked the layout of this book far better then most of the top rated books. It has a good blend of baby sign language background and easy to follow, commonly used signs. The book is also good as a quick reference if you forget the exact way to do a sign. Overall, a great guide for first time parents looking for relevent material that your baby can use. The only thing that would make this book even better is if it were spiral bound, so it could be layed flat for easier viewing for parents and their babies.

This is an absolutely wonderful book! Exactly what I was looking for. It has a lot of pictures and instructions on how to do each sign. I have three kids and I don't have the time to just sit down to read. It's so great with this book to be able to just look up the word, view the picture and/or instructions, and I'm done.

This book is great. I was looking for something with easy to understand signs and easy to find in the book!
My husband and I already have the basics down and have started introducing them to our child. The signs are easy and large so I can print them and take them to daycare so they know what she wants as well. I searched all over for books and this is by far the best I have found.

Just like Baby Brain Basics, this is more than a book-- it is a kit containing four products: The Toddler Brain Basics Book, a book for the baby, a CD with songs from the book on it, and a toy buying guide for 12-24 month olds.

The book is spiral bound and very easy to hold and read. It has tabbed off sections so you can very easily locate the topics of interest to you. Some of the topics include research on brain development, language acquisition, and music as an aid for development. The last sections of the book give specific information for activities to do with your toddler at each stage. For example, activities that are best suited for 12-14 month olds, 15-18 months, etc. Some of the activities are ones parents seem to naturally do, which reinforces their benefit (such as singing to your toddler or playing peek-a-boo). However, I have found a bunch of new activities, that are simple, and use either common toys or household items that my toddler loves. Some of the activities suggested would be a safety concern if there weren't constant adult supervision. So heed the author's warnings that this is an activity for the two of you together.

The child's book has things the child can touch and levers the child can pull to make it interactive. The words in the book are words to songs that are found on the CD. My daughter loves it when we look through the book and I show her what all the levers do.

The CD contains the songs from the book in three different formats. The first format is a sing-a-long version. The second format plays the songs at a more upbeat tempo so you and your toddler can get up and dance. The third format plays a relaxing, instrumental version of the song that I found very enjoyable.

The toy buying guide is the best. I never know what to buy and this takes the guess work out of it. It gives suggestions for toys for different developmental goals, as well as different ages and even gives ideas about how to play with this toy with your child. I know that seems like a no brainer, but it's been a long time since I was a toddler and I need retraining in different ways to play.

i wish they will continue publishing about children stages up to teens.

As a teacher with many years experience with kids 2-7 years, I feel that this this kit is much more appropriate than many of the "learning" items on the market currently. Basically, it covers much of the information that you might learn if you went to get a 2 year early childhood degree. Please spend your money and time on things like this rather than all of the "ABC" and "123" stuff out there. So much of it is inappropriate for children under the age of 4 years. This item is going to promote social, emotional, physical, and academic growth that is much better for your child in the long run

This book is unbelievable! My 17month old never sat through a book until this one. He loves it! When it is bedtime, I can read it 20 times and he would just want me to start over! It's quick and simple, and always puts a smile on my son's face.

"Baby Loves" by Michael Lawrence and Adrian Reynolds is based on the premise that "baby" loves Mommy and Daddy more than anything else in the world except, breakfast; and baby loves breakfast more than anything else in the world, except. . .slippers. . . teddy. . .kitty, well you get the story. Bright colors, large type, and big two-page illustrations are a plus, especially when reading to more than one child at a time. The illustrations are colorful and comical, but with just enough detail that I am certain the authors wanted to entertain mommies and daddies as much as their little ones. The book is quick to read, and your children will quickly pick up the pattern as they follow along with what baby loves next. The best books have "sappy" endings and this one is no exception. One small aside, this book is bound with so-called "toddler-proof" pages, which should more accurately be called "nearly toddler-proof" pages.(nothing a little tape can't handle) Highly recommended for a keeper or a gift.

My twenty-month old really likes this book. She rapidlylearned all the words of the baby's loves (grandma, sunshine,bathtime, etc.) and happily calls them out as we turn the appropriate page. We really whiz through it -- it's a good book to have handy when you only have time for a quick one. The bold illustrations are great.