Infants Books

Although I haven't had breast reduction surgery, I did have surgery to remove a small lump in my left breast. My surgeon told me that I'd have no problems breastfeeding (the incision was quite small), so I was completely surprised when my first child was born and our breastfeeding experience did not go well. I am now pregnant with my third child and I wish that I would have had this book from the beginning. It seems like most doctors and lactation consultants do not necessarily have a lot of info on BFAR (BreastFeeding After Reduction), and this book can really fill in the gaps.

While most breastfeeding books discuss the anatomy of the breasts and how they make milk, this may or may not be the same for post-surgical breasts. For example, where an incision is made, even if the incision is tiny, can greatly affect the breast's ability to make milk depending on which nerves or how many ducts are severed. This book also has great information on how the ducts and nerves can repair themselves, which is something that I was unaware of. The book provides methods specific to BFAR mothers for increasing supply, which can be different from the methods recommended to mothers that haven't been surgically treated. I think one of my favorite aspects of this book is that it is very non-judgemental. Many breastfeeding books make formula out to be poison; this book acknowledges that breast milk is best, but that an infant's nutritional needs come first and some women do need to supplement. A definite must-read for any BFAR mother!

This is the only useful book I've seen about breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery, and it really does a great job. The majority of the book would really be useful for women who have had any type of breast surgery and are worried about breastfeeding successfully. There's really detailed information about just about anything you'd need to know -- and a lot of information that it would have never occurred to me to look for, but I'm so grateful to have! The book has a lot of detail on how to prepare in advance, where to go for support, what positions might work best, how breast surgery can affect latch and let-down and the rest of the breastfeeding process, the pros and cons of using pumps to increase supply, using at-breast supplementers rather than bottles, different techniques to increase supply, etc.

Some of the information in the book is now out-of-date (especially regarding the use of artificial nipples for bottle feeding and pacifiers), and the author has updated information on the website (www.bfar.org). The other concern is, of course, that the book is now out of print.

Luckily on both counts, the author's website reports that a revised edition is in the works -- I can't wait, but I'm glad I have this copy -- and the author's website -- in the meantime.

This book was suggested by a doula friend and it was exactly what I needed to read. It had all the information necessary as well as all the what if's. If you had a previous surgery and plan to breastfeed you must read this. Because of this book I was able to fully feed my child without supplementing!

I'd been doing BFAR (Breastfeeding After Reduction Surgery) for three months before I discovered this book and I really wish I'd had it from the beginning. It's basically a textbook and goes into great detail about how the surgery could have affected your breastfeeding ability and what you can do if you have a low milk supply (herbs, prescription medications, pumping, psychological exercises). It goes into the emotional issues you may be dealing with and discusses methods of supplementing your baby with donated human milk or formula. There is also a section in the back for professionals who may be working with BFAR mothers.

It is very pro breastfeeding, but not in a way that I felt bullied. I did feel a little guilty that there were things I could have done in the first month that I didn't know about until reading the book, but the section on emotional issues helped with that, saying not to feel guilty over decisions you made in the past when you had different information.

This book is informative and encouraging - and HIGHLY recommended for any doctor, mid-wife, or nurse, as well as for anyone who has had this type of surgery.

I bought this calendar after another one that I had purchased was a disappointment. This is an adorable calendar! It is a great way to keep track of everything our daughter is doing.

This is an easy way to keep up on your baby's progress. Very cute calendar. Love the story!

This calendar is perfect for either a baby boy or girl. We have a boy, & the pictures in the calendar are straight out of the book, so if you love the book, you'll love the calendar. The stickers are cute & still leave a little room in the day to add a little note to it if you want.

I like the Baby's First Year calendar (Guess How Much I Love You)... probably because I LOVE the story itself. However I was disappointed that EACH MONTH did NOT have a SPOT for a PICTURE taken that month. I always give a 'first year calendar' for new babies or babies to be and overall, I would recommend this calendar.

The stickers peel and place easily and have a lot of "firsts" covered. Very cute.

this book is great on several levels. i love the workshop format, which allows me to get involved by doing the assignments and i am inspired by the images. this book is exactly what i wanted it to be.

I purchased this book for a friend's birthday and decided to get a copy for myself. I have a great interest in photography and have two small children. This book has wonderful ideas for compostion and easy to understand tips. All of the ideas and suggestions reinforce what I am learning in my basic photography class. I love that each photo includes the manual camera settings that were used.

Love this book! The pictures inside are just gorgeous and information about the camera settings for each picture are included. The book is an easy read and is full of insightful information. There are practice sessions at the end of each chaper too. I can't say that I have taken the time to do any yet, but the suggestions are still great none-the-less.

I highly recommend this book to any avid photographer and aspiring professional photographer. I'd like to get more books in the photoworkshop series.

I rarely take the time to write a review for something I buy. But this book has really touched me and enlightened me. It is so well written and organized. I am a mom of six and love taking pictures of my kids. I'm trying to learn more to be able to take really good pictures. This book was so straight-forward. The pictures are REAL - not the strange art-studio type pictures that seem so popular now. I really appreciate that the information is shown for each picture. It's really helped me "see" what differences aperture and shutter speed make. The exercises at the end of each chapter have pushed me to really think about what I'm taking pictures of and stretch my thinking a little more outside the box. I can't wait to complete some of the assignments and upload them to the website. I've bought 6 or 7 photography books on amazon and none compare to this one- its just the best and well worth the money. What I want to know is - does Ginny offer workshops? I would LOVE to attend one if she does!

As a beginner photographer, I loved all the information in this book. The assignments were especially fun for me and my daughters. I loved the pictures and it gave me several ideas for creating beautiful family photographs. Since it's the only book in this Photo Workshop series that I've bought, I don't know if they all use this format, but it was very helpful for this new photographer!

Alligator baby
I read the alligator baby. It was a woman who had a baby in the zoo. The parents keep going back and forward because they thought they grabbed the baby but they grabbed baby animals. This time the little girl went and got her little baby brother back. This book is five stars because it is funny!

Another weird book by Munsch.

Kristen's clueless parents drive to the zoo instead of the hospital when her mom is in labor. Three times, they ignore their daughter's warnings that their son is another's, and three times they get whapped in the face by the not-a-people-baby.

Finally, Kristen has to save the day, which she does in a quick and admirable way (the illustrations in the zoo are funny in and of themselves, by the way). Everybody gets their own baby back, and we're told that everything is fine from then on... until Kristen's mom had twins. (Uh-oh.)

This book is so absurd, you can't not love it. I really recommend it to anybody having a second child. It's a wonderful change of pace from standard "new baby" books.

My 20 month old daughter loves it. I'm not sure that she connects it to her 2 month old brother, but she sure enjoys having us read it to her. She pulls it out again and again and screams along!

I read Alligator Baby. I liked this book because it has funny pictures. In the book I read that the "gorilla grabbed her mom's ear and the father's ear and they both yelled Aaaaaaahhhhhaaaaa!" This helped convince me that it was a good book.

I love Robert Munsch and this is one of his books that the kids in my 2nd grade class loved the most!

Well, I originally purchased this book for one of my nieces who was expecting; however, I have a new kitten, and I wanted to give him a unique name. His name is now Winston. My niece did choose a very, very, very unique name for their baby, but I'm not sure they found it in this book. Although, I really do think they did. 8]
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SEPTEMBER 29, 2008 UPDATE

Well, another niece of mine is expecting in 2009, so I am purchasing this book again. I really do think you will find several names to choose from with the help of this book.

This book took the stress and indecision out of the baby name process and gives first class guidance in what is probably one of the most important decisions you'll ever make.

Whatsmore far from being a task, this book was fun too. I looked forward to resuming where I left off.

Its a big book and a sound investment in your baby's future. My baby is worth it and I'm glad I made it.

This is one of the best book about baby names. There are very nice categories which help to choose the best name for you baby. I'm pregnant with my second child but I wish this book existed earlier because I could use it to name my first child as well. If you buy this book you won't need any other. I've bought many baby name books and when my husband saw that I have a new one he said "Oh, the next useless book about names.", but when he took a look at this book he said "Hmm, finally you got something worth to read". I can proudly say that my second baby will be named with a name from this book. I'm also planning to have more kids, so I won't need other book because I got the best here. So ladies, what I'm trying to say is that if you wonder which baby name book to buy, you should definitely buy this one! Recommendation from a happy family.

This baby name book includes fun things like numerology, first letter meanings, popular names, tips on naming, and history/origin of the names. I also like the big size as it makes it easier for me to read while sitting infront of the TV or laying in bed. It would be better if it included an index of the names and more names. I am glad to have this book and recommend it. I also recommend The Hidden Truth of Your Name, The Nomenology Project.

This was one of the most useful and interesting baby naming books I've read! This book is a jewel of a find! I've flipped through and purchased countless baby name books. This is BY FAR my favorite. It's perfectly organized, well-written, insightful and incredibly helpful. It goes into much more detail than the books that just list names. It includes thousands of names from all over the world with absolutely accurate meanings, most popular names, tips on names, first letter meanings, numerology and a lot of entertaining material. Other books I've seen just give you an alphabetical listing of names, the origins and it's specific meaning - how boring! It's really unique among all other baby name books. A great book for yourself to read as you select a name for your child or as a fun gift for expectant parents. I highly recommend it!


I would have given it a 6+ if it was possible! +++++++

This book and the help of my family are what kept me sane during my daughter's 6 week stay in the NICU (and beyond). I found this to be an invaluable resource to help me deal with the wild emotional swings that occur as the parent of a preemie. I am a physician and personally recommend this book to everyone I know who delivers a premature child. This book definitely deserves a 5 star rating.

... since this is the *definitive* book for people like me who've been through this life-changing experience. And as an avid reader who's already bought many other Preemie books, I sure don't say WOW lightly.

As other reviewers noted, I too wish I had come across this resource much much sooner. Our 30 week twins spent 8+ verrrrrry stressful weeks in the NICU. The months following their joyful homecoming was (and still is) constantly colored by awareness & vigilance re: issues related to their prematurity.

In particular, this book does a terrific job of validating & acknowledging a parent's feelings that only other families who've been through this journey are going to "get it". I felt like the book often like that song... somebody to lean on.

This book was very helpful to me and my husband. We had a long NICU stay of 9 weeks and felt like we were the only ones in the unit who wasn't in and out. This book caters to people like us who had to deal with the on-going, never-ending days of procedures, tests, emotional ups and downs, and disappointments. I was really able to prepare myself for discharge with the chapters about homecoming. The best part of this book was that we didn't feel so alone.

Don't be daunted by the book's hefty size! This was without a doubt the most useful book of all that I referenced during our two months in the NICU. Other books explain all of the technology, procedures, etc., but this one covers the mental and emotional side of the NICU - handling the one-step-forward-two-steps-back preemie dance, grief at the premature birth experience, anxieties about care, worries for the future, feelings about separation and having others taking care of your child, and the hesitancy in parenting with so many barriers in the way. This book was invaulable during the hospital experience and has been such a help in the homecoming experience. Already I know that this will take us through the next few years, as it also covers topics regarding developmental issues and what to expect as our child grows. In addition to the advice in the book, there are quotes throughout from other preemie parents who have handled all of these issues. This was one book that didn't manage to have anything to scare us; rather it validated all of the feelings we've had. The health care professionals with whom we have shared this book were impressed and wanted their own copies! I can't recommend this book highly enough!

A 902-page compendium of information, Parenting Your Premature Baby And Child: The Emotional Journey by developmental psychologist Deborah L. Davis and clinical psychologist Mara Tesler Stein addresses dealing with powerful and painful emotions associated with being the parent of a premature child, physical recovery from difficult childbirth, forming bonds with one's baby when it must be kept in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), dealing with the difficulties of discharge, homecoming, and settling in, observing one's child for evidence of disabilities and coping with them, and also, how to deal with the loss of a child. Parenting Your Premature Baby And Child presents the wisdom of experts in no-nonsense terms for lay people and parents. An extensive index allows for quick reference, in this well-rounded and thorough compendium of vital information.

I love the activities, information, pictures and songs in this book. Great book for you and your newborn.

The book was good, but for the price I was disappointed. You are your baby's first "entertainment system" with silly faces and songs. For $20 this book basically gives you ideas that you can easily find for free on the internet and in less costly books! Don't waste your money; there are less expensive books on the market with the same information.

When I brought my first baby home from the hospital, I looked at him and thought, "OK, now what do I do with him?" This book gives you a little something to focus on each day, either a song to sing, an exercise, a game, or other suggestions to entertain and stimulate your baby. It's like a friend giving you a good piece of advice every day! You and your baby will love it!

This is a great, easy to read guide for new parents. It gives great suggestions and information on building a close relationship with a newborn. The book includes information and activities appropriate for each week of a baby's life, up to age 24 weeks. It also has great bold illustrations for each week that are fascinating to babies - very handy for baby's visual stimulation. The book is very pro-baby, pro-hands on bonding, pro-parent/baby interaction. This would be a great gift for any expectant or new mom/dad to give her/him tangible suggestions on what to do with baby to make the most of their relationship and to optimize baby's development. This book is simply wonderful!

Babies -- there is so much for them to experience and learn! And there is nothing they enjoy more than spending time with those who love them! Where can you find information to help make the most of your baby's first 6 months -- a most important time of their lives?

The book, "Baby Be Loved," by Susan Ann Stelfox, will help you do just that! This ingenius book contains ideas, activities, and helpful information for each day of your baby's life, from birth to the 24th week. You'll find developmental milestones, exercises, games, songs and other inspirational ideas for bonding with your baby. In addition, each week of the book displays a baby-friendly image that will help stimulate your baby's developing vision.

MyParenTime.com highly recommends this book -- how I wish it was available when I was a new mom :). The spiral bound book is made so it can hang like a calendar, which makes it very accessible for quick glances of information. Most new parents don't have time to read standard parenting books to find a great daily idea or suggestion. This book helps solve that problem by allowing information to be found quickly and easily. What a perfect way to leave more time for treasuring those special moments with your new baby :).

This is our second copy, as the second child chewed on the first one too much. Both our older children loved this as a toddler. It was their first book to be able to "read". It was so cute to see them act out the different pages, "How big is baby, so big; Clap hands baby" My children love this book. My third child is just starting to enjoy it (10 months), he loves the uh-oh page! Really a great book for very young ones! Much better than trying to read a long story to someone who can't sit still for longer than two minutes. Save the story books for when they are a little older.

The pictures of the babies in this book are very good. Babies and toddlers love seeing pictures of other babies. I also love the fact that all the babies are wearing cloth diapers! No disposables! Wish it was a board book so it would hold up longer.

Before my children were speakers, they would look through this book and act out the pages, from the repetition of us reading it. Another book tattered by love.

I just started trying to "read" books to my 9-wk-old son, and this is a favorite! I pick it up and show him the cover, and I immediately get a big smile! And the smiles continue as we continue the book. This book is a definite keeper! Try it out even on your very little ones!

This is one of three books my 11.5 month old daughter will pick off of her book shelf. I make this book very interactive by tickling her toes, clapping her hands, etc. based on what the babies are doing in the book.

My older son also loved this book when he was younger. We used the opening page which has multiple pictures to teach him the related words (dog, cat, ball, shoes) when he was around 1.5 years.

This is a great baby book! I wish I had it for my first. The one thing I thought it didn't have when I first looked through was a page for the baby's first handprint/footprint so we didn't have our son's put in. But it does, it's just not where I would have put the page. Besides that small thing, the book is wonderful and well thought out. It gives you lots of different questions to fill in that you would never think of on your own. I would highly recommend it.

I love this baby book because it allows you to record milestones and memories without asking for every little minute detail that you really wouldn't want to know 20 years from now (what time and date was baby's first B.M....stuff like that) that some baby books ask. It is good for either a girl or a boy and since we didn't know until our son was born that he was a boy this was key for me. There are pockets to put in all the stuff you want to save (hospital bracelet, ultrasound picture..etc) and it also goes up to 5 years instead of stopping at just 1. It does not have a month to month picture and update section so if that is what you are looking for this is not the baby book for you.

I spent a LOT of time looking for the right memory book for my daughter when she was born. I started to look around for a different one for the son I am expecting next month, and decided to go with this one again. The second one will feel cheated out of enough as it is; but at least I can give him the same quality memory book - provided I keep up with it! But as my daughter approaches 5, I'm so glad that I did continue to fill in hers. It is a wonderful keepsake - and incentive to print out at least a few of the 1000s of digital photos.

I was delighted with all the different pages. Seems to have a place for almost everything. The monthly photo section is my favorite I think. The book is made very well and should hold up for years and years. My only complaint is that I wish it had more envelopes to tuck small keepsakes in. But it shouldn't be a problems for me to add more in. This is still the best Baby's book you can get for this price. And I spent long hours hunting for the perfect one.

I am happy with this book. It has dividers for each section, it has pockets for storing things. It really is detailed for recording all the "firsts". It has a page for each month and then 'milestones and achievements' for 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5. It has milestones such as first scribbles, uses own name, turns pages one by one, points to pictures in a book. For having our first child it has covered practically everything that I wouldn't know to record. I have two books (this one I bought and the other was a gift). This is much more detailed than the other so it depends on what you are looking for. Also, the other book I have is more cute-sy and refers to parents as Mommy and Daddy. This book refers to parents as Mother & Father as well as Mommy and Daddy, Mom and Dad. For instance it says "Mom's Page" but then it says "Mother's full name." I like it better in that regard. Bottom line, I'd buy it again.

This book has a lot of fun and easy projects that don't take a lot of time, which as we all know, moms don't have a lot of. My favorite is the mohawk hat. It is really easy to read and follow directions as well. Great overall- price too!

(Insert Man's voice) I just looked thru the book and have come to the conclusion that men can use it as well! How grand is that? In behalf of all men with time, kids or a stick of glue, thank you Crafty Mama!

I am so excited to have this book finally. It is great for both the advanced and novice crafter. The fleece projects are worlds of fun, especially if sewing isn't your strong suit,the one adopted for the Boppy pillow is cute and great for young hands, the Insta-Bib clip is clever, cute and simple. The projects are really various and a little something for everyone. Also, something I loved in this book were the resources in the front to connect with other crafty moms. I was feeling a little isolated when I picked up this book and now Abby Pecoriello has provided not only fun projects, but places to meet other parents to make them with! Brilliant!

This book is fabulous! Whether you're super crafty, or just so-so, everyone will love this book. Each activity is rated according to the cost, the time, the skill, and "how ga-ga they'll go." It's very cute and helpful to new mothers who prioritize everything! There is quite a range of craft ideas and each one is super-cute. I highly recommend Crafty Mama.

This book is fantastic. I saw the author on the local news and she seemed brillant, crafty and fabulously fun. The ideas are easy to do and adorable. A great gift for mom and baby!