$Unique_ID{PAR00200}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Child Development:  Introduction}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Mendelson, Robert A
Mendelson, Lottie M
Meyerhoff, Michael K
Ames, Louise Bates}
$Subject{Introduction Introductions intro intros parent parents parenting
child children}
$Log{}

The New Parents' Question & Answer Book


Introduction


     Congratulations--and welcome to the wonderful world of parenting.  The
day that you have been waiting for has finally arrived--your baby is here.
The birth of your child is the culmination of nine months of excitement and
anticipation.  It is also the start of a new way of life for you.  Your
journey through parenthood has just begun.  It is a journey that will be
filled with joys, frustrations, rewards, responsibilities, challenges--and
above all, questions.  Because you and your child are both individuals, some
of what you'll need to know must be learned along the way.  That doesn't mean,
however, that you have to figure everything out on your own.  Within this
book, you'll find authoritative, practical answers to hundreds of child care
and parenting questions.  The book is designed to be a reference and resource
for parents like you--parents who want to give their child the best possible
start in life but who may not always be sure how to go about that task.
     Now that you are a parent, the last thing you have time to do is sift
through an entire book to find the advice and information you need.  For this
reason, Complete Book of Parenting is divided into four color-coded age
groups:  Birth to six months (pink), six months to one year (blue), one year
to two and a half years (yellow), and two and a half years to five years
(green).  This format allows you to turn directly to the questions and answers
that refer to your child's age group.
     Within each of the four age groups, you'll discover a wealth of
information on taking care of your child.  You'll also find a great deal more.
After all, there's more to being a parent than knowing how to change a diaper.
As your child's caregiver and guide, you need to know who your child is, what
she can do and comprehend, and why she behaves the way she does at each stage
of development.
     To give you the understanding as well as the information you need, each
age group contains sections on development, behavior, daily care, feeding and
nutrition, safety and health, parenting issues, and toys and equipment.  The
sections entitled "How Your Child Develops" trace your child's physical,
emotional, and intellectual development.  You'll get an idea of what kinds of
gains in height, weight, and ability you might expect--as well as reassurances
about lags and spurts in your child's progress.  The "typical" age ranges for
the onset of skills like crawling, walking, and talking are discussed, with an
emphasis on the wide variability among children and the need for patience on
your part.
     If you're wondering why your baby puts everything--including his feet--
into his mouth, why your toddler seems to refuse every request you make of
him, or why your preschooler won't go to bed without his favorite blanket,
then "Understanding Your Child's Behavior" is where you'll find the answer.
These questions and answers help you see your child's behavior in the context
of his abilities at each stage of development.  You'll discover that many of
the seemingly odd behaviors your child may exhibit are quite common and
actually make a good deal of sense when you think about how your child sees
the world.  With the insights you'll gain from these sections, you'll be able
to solve--and perhaps even prevent--some common parenting problems.
     In the "Daily Care Basics" sections, you'll get "hands-on" instructions
and step-by-step illustrations for tasks like diapering, dressing, and bathing
your child.  Our experts explore the pros and cons of cloth and disposable
diapers.  They also give you tips on making bath time easier, getting wiggly
arms and legs into shirts and sleepers, and making hygiene fun for your child.
In addition, you'll find guidelines for when and how to begin toilet training.
     To be sure you're providing your child with the nutrients she needs for
proper growth and development, refer to the "Feeding and Nutrition" section in
each age group.  You'll find discussions of breast-feeding and bottle-feeding
as well as step-by-step instructions on burping positions, nursing positions,
sterilizing bottles and formula, and preparing your own baby food.  The
authors provide helpful advice and recommendations on weaning, introducing
solids, offering a prudent diet, and encouraging healthy eating habits.
     Your concerns and questions about keeping your child from harm and
dealing with illness are covered in the extensive "Safety and Health" section
in each age group.  You'll find practical advice for making your home safe for
your child while encouraging him to explore and learn about the world.  You'll
also find expert advice and guidelines for dealing with common childhood
health problems; having your child immunized; taking your child's temperature;
knowing when to call the pediatrician; and much more.
     In the sections entitled "On Being a Parent," you'll learn how to play
the role of your child's "consultant"--by making her environment accessible
and interesting, by adding on to the information she is gaining herself, and
by using her interests and abilities as your guide.  The authors give you
advice on what you can do--and what you should try not to do--to help your
child learn about the world.  The sections cover tough parenting issues like
disciplining wisely, dealing with sibling rivalry, and selecting high-quality
day care.  You'll find advice on coping with your role as a parent, too.
You'll discover ways to enjoy your child, handle setbacks and frustrations,
and keep worries and guilt from getting out of hand.
     The final section in each age group, "Selecting Toys and Equipment,"
gives you solid advice and recommendations about choosing safe, suitable toys
and equipment for your child at each stage of development.  You'll even find
suggestions for turning household items into safe, entertaining, and
inexpensive playthings for your child.
     At the end of the book [at the bottom of the Contents of this Disc],
you'll find a handy glossary of terms used throughout the text and a detailed
index to help you locate the specific information you need quickly and easily.
     As you read and refer to this book, you may notice that we alternate, by
section, our references to the gender of your baby and the gender of your
pediatrician.  The exceptions to this are those questions in which the gender
of the baby is dictated by the topic being discussed (questions on
circumcision, for example).  This method was chosen in order to account for
the obvious possibilities without making the references confusing.  Unless
indicated otherwise, the answers apply to children of either gender.
     Of course, there is no single source that can answer every parenting
question in every situation.  Your child will grow, develop, and learn at his
own pace.  You will need to adjust your parenting strategies--and your
expectations--accordingly.  This book can, however, make the job of being a
parent easier.  With the authoritative and practical advice and information
presented here, you'll have a good head start on the road to becoming your
child's caregiver, protector, disciplinarian, instructor--and friend.
Together with your own natural instincts, your love for your child, and the
experience you'll pick up along the way, Complete Book of Parenting can help
you become the best parent you can be.