The Mighty Toddler by Robin Barker

Rating: 4 out of 5

Publisher: Macmillan Australia
ISBN: 1405039116

Robin Barker is a registered nurse, midwife and early childhood nurse with over 30 years experience with families and babies, and we think you'll enjoy her commonsense approach.

This is a technical book about all things toddler. There are specific chapters on things like behaviour, development, health, family dynamics, and immunisation. In each chapter she breaks down the issues and gives you strategies on how to deal with them.

For the most part Robin Baker does not lecture. There are a couple of comments where she states her belief. For instance in the travel section she mentions she would never travel with a toddler, but acknowledges this is not practical for most families, and provides advice on coping. But the whole section is not her lecturing you on what she feels. She states her view, then moves on and presents both sides of the argument.

Her advice is simple and grounded in the latest research. The behaviour section in particular I feel will be very beneficial when the time comes. Her advice is very reassuring and practical. A lot of it made you think "oh yes well der that is obvious" but it might not have occurred to you otherwise.

However I did not necessarily agree with all her advice. This is why I didn't give this book the full 5 rating. But I have found with most baby books take away the information you find relevant to you and ignore the rest; and 90% of Robin Barker's advice I would gladly take on board.

A good basics book. For me the best part was the sections dealing with behavior which sets this book apart from other baby/toddler books around.

Kid-Wrangling by Kaz Cooke

Rating: 4 out of 5
Paperback: 784 pages
Publisher: Ten Speed Press (October 1, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1580085571
ISBN-13: 978-1580085571

So now you have a baby. Now what do you do with it? This is the guide for you.

This books covers pretty much all issues from a newborn to preschooler. Issues such as getting through the first weeks, sleeping, eating, illness, getting ready for school, teaching kids to behave, using dummies (or not), tv shows for kids, books for kids, and the list goes on.

Her advice is practical, non judgemental, and makes sense. She also brings in a big dollop of humor, to lets face it a dry subject, which will have you chuckling. For instance in a section about dealing with tantrums, she lists ways to deal with tantrums then right at the end she writes "Or you can feign unconsciousness".

The version I have is the Australian one. I do not know if the UK or USA version is the same or if she changes parts for the overseas market. Personally I would think she would change certain information, otherwise I could see the point in her releasing it overseas. For instance when she talks about Australian laws (for cots, toys, broadcasting, car seats etc), I would imagine for over seas books this information would need to be changed.

Also a new edition has recently been released in Australia. This particular edition I read is from mid 2000's and some of the advice reflects this (she mentions the teletubbies as a good show for babies/toddlers and I'm pretty sure this show is no longer broadcast in Australia anyway). It is not glaringly out of date but there were some things that I noticed. However I assume the new edition addresses this.

This would be a great book for the new parent

Raising Boys by Steve Biddulph

Rating: 4 out of 5

Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Harper Thorsons; New edition edition (8 July 2003)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0007153694
ISBN-13: 978-0007153695

This is a book about how to raise boys. Steve Biddulph is a Psychologist who has worked with children for over 27 years.

This book looks more into the psychology of boys at various stages of their lives. He divides a man's life into roughly three stages; 0-6 years, 7-14 years, and 14- adult. Then discusses each stage, what is happening, what to expect behaviour wise, and what strategies you can implement to ensure your son navigates these stages as safely as possible.

The book focuses on what influences a boy in each stage. For instance the 0-6 year stage, the mother is the strongest influence in the boys life, but by 14 and over this has shifted to someone outside of the family. Biddulph gives some tips for single mothers how to ensure these influences are met for their child, and how to select a good candidate.

Most of the book is pretty common sense. But it is helpful to see the stages and the ideas for how to navigate them laid out. The style of writing is easy and chatty, it feels like you are sitting down having a coffee with the author and you are having a nice chat with a friend about the subject. There are no big words that have you reaching for the dictionary, nor does he talk in a condescending manner.

Biddulph refers to many studies and trials that support his advice. He also uses a lot of testimonials and examples from clients he has had through the years. These are interesting and in the case of some of the trials (one in particular about a school in the UK that seperated year 8 boys and girls maths and english classes) makes you wonder why the education system has not changed.

My only gripe is he makes statements like "a boy should not be put in daycare till he is 3 years old". This is all well and good (the argument is they do not thrive as well as girls and require more one on one care) but the fact is in today's society this is just not practical. Most parents need double income to survive and need to put their children into care. I would have liked the author to perhaps give more advice on how to help your child through this period, rather then say "don't do it". Just telling the reader to not do it is not helpful, especially when there is no other choice. All it does is make the reader feel guilty.

This book is not in depth enough to deal with real meaty behaviour issues. It also does not give detailed advice on parenting or discipline. That is not the point of this book. This book is to give you an insight as to what is happening over all in a boys life, and what could be causing any bad behaviour.

A good book for any parent who has boys and wants to gain a better insight into what drives them.

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing by Mayra Calvani & Anne K. Edwards

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Paperback: 186 pages
Publisher: Twilight Times Books (15 Jun 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1933353228
ISBN-13: 978-1933353227

The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing is a how to guide for reviewing books. This book helps build your skills for writing a good book review. This includes how to read critically, how to rate books, prevent amateurish mistakes, and how to start your own review site.

The main point to this book is the do's and dont's of reviewing books. There are some wonderful examples of good and bad reviews. Useful tips are provided on how to avoid falling into the bad review category. Bad habits you should be preventing include basic things like grammar and spelling. To more complicated issues like avoiding sugar coated or caustic reviews.

The advice in this book is clear and simple to read. Advice is grouped into relevant chapters/sections such as five keys to being a good reviewer, reviewing; practical tips to remember, and reviews and publishers. This makes finding the information you need easy.

From what I could see I fall somewhere in the middle with my reviews, which is comforting, apparently I hadn't been doing a bad job after all. Though there is probably a lot I could do better as well.

There is valuable advice for book reviewers who are looking to be more serious about reviewing, even being a professional. It also delves into the issues such as ethics and legalities of reviewing, book blogger vs reviewer, how to start your own review website, and how to rate books.

Personally I felt some of the examples they gave made the review feel stilted and boring. I would probably be suspicious of the "good" review examples given, I would feel like the reviewer was being paid in some way for it. I apparently like a bit of amateur hour in the reviews I read, to me that makes them more believable, more honest. I like it if a review puts a little emotion in their reviews. For me a book is an emotional thing and just like people sometimes you just don't like, or you love a book for no particular reason. If you can find a happy balance for book blogging purposes I think it would work really well.

There is a good section on how to read critically. If I was more serious about reviewing this would be invaluable. However I do not like to stop reading to make notes, as for me that interrupts the flow of the narrative. Also these days I just do not have the time to do that. But I recognise the ability to read a book critically is an important part of reviewing.

After reading the book, it did make me rethink some of the reviews I am currently writing. What I could include in the review to make it more valuable to the reader of my review. Hopefully the small changes I will be implementing will be of value to those reading my reviews.

All in all I think this is an excellent book for book reviewers starting out, and even reviewers who have been doing it awhile. I found some of the tips very useful and will be working to implement them into my reviews. For anyone who is serious about their book reviews, or wants to write reviews professionally this book is invaluable. As for the rest of us it is a great resource to help hone our skills just a little more.

Baby-Led Weaning by Gill Rapley

Rating: 4 out of 5

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Random House UK (December 16, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0091923808
ISBN-13: 978-0091923808

Baby-Led Weaning in a nutshell is about letting the baby decide what to eat, and how much to eat. This book is a practical guide to getting started, what to expect, and how to deal with issues.

Gill Rapley asserts that babies should be formula/breastfed exclusively till 6 months of age (in accordance with World Health Organisations recommendations). When a baby is 6 months old they are generally able to sit, hold their head up, and grab. They therefor have the basic skills required to (messily) self feed. Even if you start your baby on puree foods many professionals recommended giving your six month old baby finger food.

Rapley states that babies should be given a choice of food and be able to decide for themselves what they want to eat. This is done simply by placing the food in front of the baby and letting them pick it up themselves (no assisting!).

The best starter foods are Finger foods. However you should also include mashed foods and even liquid food (such as soups). This is so your baby is exposed to different textures and flavours from an early age. This way of eating also teaches them hand/eye coordination, fine and gross motor skills, chewing skills, and appetite control.

At 6 months a babies digestive and immune system has developed enough to handle any foods so unless there is a history of allergies in the family, you are not limited in the food you can start your baby on.

In the edition I had, no real studies had been performed looking into this. Rapley had performed a basic study while studying her masters in University which indicated her theory was sound. Rapley also points to other studies that also indicate self feeding is a viable option. I saw on Amazon.com there is a new edition due for release perhaps further study has been completed by Rapley. I certainly hope so, as to me, the method makes a lot of sense.

This is an interesting read. A chunk of the book is the typical baby book mumbo jumbo of why this method is the best method under the face of the sun. But there is a lot of interesting points and testimonials that are worth the read.

Your Baby and Child by Penelope Leach

Rating: 5 out of 5

This book by Penelope Leach is intended to be a baby bible. A one stop book that covers virtually everything that is baby related from birth to five years old. This book covers everything from sleeping to development, feeding to playing, health to crying, and may more subjects.

Your Baby and Child has been a international best seller for twenty years. The book has been kept up to date and across the latest research, theories, and advice for raising children and babies. Penelope Leach is a research psychologist who specializes in child development. She is also president of the National Childminding Association, research advisor to National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, founding committee member of UK branch World Association for Infant Mental Health, and a mother and grandmother. Needles to say Penelope Leach has lots of experience in the art of raising children.

Ms Leach breaks the book into age groups which makes it easy to read and find the section you need when you come across individual problems (such as teething). At each stage she covers everything you will need to know and expect to find at the stage your child is going through. There is a comprehensive table of contents at the start of the book which assists you in finding the information you require.

The advice is practical and none judgemental. Penelope Leach presents both sides of an issue and has advice on what to do no matter what you decide, for instance she handles the issue of breastfeeding or bottle feeding with compassion and facts. She does not tell you what you should do or make you feel guilty. The information is presented clearly and in plain English. It is also based on the latest research and statistics.

This is an excellent beginners guide. If you have very little experience with babies and children this is the book for you. The book goes through nearly everything you need to know about caring for a child. I would recommend this book for all new parents and even experienced parents.

Gymboree The Parent's Guide To Play

Rating: 5 out of 5

Stuck for ideas on how to entertain your child? Want games that are educational and develop your child's skills? This is the book for you. It has 170 games and activities that cover the ages of birth to two. All the games have been proven to help with your child's development as well as keep them entertained.

Gymboree has been providing fun, educational and age appropriate programs to children for 30 years . They have early child centres in 30 countries. It was started in 1976 by a Californian mother who was trying to find activities she could provide her child with.

The book is broken down into age groups so it easy to find fun and relevant games for your child. Most of the games and activities are simple involving every day items around the house such as the good old pots and pans as musical instruments. This is handy if like me you don't have a lot of space for endless amounts of toys.

Each activity also has valuable information on what it helps to develop like fine motor skills, language and balance to name a few. There are also useful facts scattered through out the book based on research, like the importance of reading stories to babies to develop their language skills.

There is a bright coloured picture that shows you the activity and gives you an idea of how it should be done. Colour coded pages make it easy to find the age you need to find activities for. The book is easy to navigate and understand.

This is an excellent resource for any parent. I highly recommend it.

Sleeping Like A Baby by Pinky McKay

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pinky McKay is an Australian parenting expert. She is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Certified Infant Massage Instructor. Pinky is also a mother to five children.

In her book Sleeping Like a Baby, she provides down to earth, realistic advice which is based on scientific evidence. She advocates a more natural and intuitive way of raising children such as co-sleeping, and breast feeding. Her advice goes against current trends of raising babies, which seems to advocate going against your instincts, and forcing the baby to do what you want (like the crying it out method). Her advice to me makes sense and seems right. However at no time do you feel lectured or pressured.

Lots of subjects regarding babies are covered in this book such as communication, sleep, feeding, and sleep environments. It talks about issues from newborn to toddler. The focus is on sleep and the factors that can effect sleeping habits.

Pinky discusses baby body language and the different stages of sleep and wakefulness. Each stage is fully discussed and some basic indicators of each stage are provided. She also gives advice on what you should do with your baby in these stages. For instance Quiet Alert stage is the best time to play with your baby. Some basic signs your baby is quiet alert are wide, bright eyes, looking at you directly, and 'cooing' noises. This section to me was very helpful in fully understanding a babies body language which is one of the few ways they can communicate.

Another point covered is sleep issues. She breaks down by age what can cause a baby to wake in the night, such as new development milestones or teething. This section was interesting to read as she explains what are the main causes of sleeplessness in that age bracket. She also suggests strategies to combat it. Though she points out that a baby is constantly growing and changing and so too is it's sleep patterns, and this is perfectly natural.

Pinky has clearly done a lot of research and has many studies to back up her advice. The end of her book also has lots of useful Internet sites and contact numbers for organisations that deal with various subjects like breastfeeding, SIDS, Depression, and Safety.

The biggest thing Pinky teaches in her book is that it's ok to let baby set the routine. It also teaches you that all those things we find natural to do with a baby (such as rocking to sleep) feel natural for a reason, they are natural. Also, finally, that we as parents can not completely control their babies sleeping habits. That while he might sleep perfectly now, in a week, fortnight, or months time it could all change again, and it is perfectly normal for this to happen. Her approach certainly helps you drop the guilt and stress about doing things "wrong".

I will definitely be purchasing her book Toddler Tactics.

Save Our Sleep by Tizzie Hall

Rating: 2 out of 5

Save Our Sleep is for anyone who is having sleeping issues with their baby. It is written by Tizzie Hall who is an internationally renowned baby whisperer and has spent 18 years working with parents resolving issues with their babies.

I had heard about this book through various people and was a little dubious about it. From what I had seen and heard Tizzie Hall's advice sounded very harsh and rigid. I bought the book thinking I should at least see what Tizzie Hall has to say as some people raved over it. But I did not really believe it would be of much help and definitely not for us. So I was rather surprised to find the book was no where near as bad as I thought.

Tizzie Hall's greatest tip for a settled baby is routine. She has various examples for different stages of a babies life in her book. Tizzie states that the routines are flexible and should be tailored to suit your life (for example if you have other children to work around etc).

Tizzie's other big point is learning the difference between a complaining cry and an emotional cry. She doesn't believe in the "crying out" method and firmly advises against it. Her belief is there are two main cries a baby does, and you can safely ignore one (the complaining cry) and absolutely not ignore the other (emotional cry). Which to me sounds like a variation of controlled crying, which we do not agree with.

Save our sleep also touches on other common sleep problems. These includes things like starting solids, teething, and health issues. It also discusses SIDS and safe sleeping arrangements. But there is no real depth to these issues or strategies to deal with them.

I can see how this book would appeal to distressed sleep deprived parents with the promise of a baby sleeping through from 7pm - 7am. I know far to many people it didn't work for then those who it did work for. Also I had a problem with the lack of scientific evidence in this book, all of Tizzie's advice is based purely on her beliefs and observations not on actual studies or facts. One piece of advice even flies in the face of advice given by the World Health Organisation (Tizzie believes babies should start solids at 4 months not the recommended 6 months).

Overall I would not recommend this book to other parents. I think it sets expectations to high that you can force a baby to sleep from 7pm-7am. The books focus is on routines, not really sleep problems. In the end I feel this book could cause more stress to parents if their baby failed to conform to the routine and was not "normal". The thing this book was good for was making us realise this method really was not for us, and we can set a routine that suits us.