The new book Great Expectations: The Essential Guide to Breastfeeding by Marianne Neifert, M.D., is a wonderful resource for pregnant women and women who are currently breastfeeding. It contains comprehensive, up-to-date information in an easy to read format.

It’s refreshing to see evidence- and practice-based breastfeeding recommendations from a doctor. While most physicians receive very little education in breastfeeding, Dr. Neifert has many years of experience practicing breastfeeding medicine as a pediatrician, co-founder of one of the very first breastfeeding centers in the United States, and co-founder of the Denver Mothers’ Milk Bank (among a long list of credentials, not …read more

The classic parenting book How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish is as relevant and helpful today as it was when it first came out 30 years ago. The descriptions, examples and cartoons offer straightforward information that parents can put into practice right away. Readers can invest time in the practice exercises or simply skim the summaries for an overview or a brief refresher.

Throughout the chapters on “Helping Children Deal with Their Feelings,” “Engaging Cooperation,” and “Alternatives to Punishment” I found myself dog-earring pages and scribbling notes …read more

Whether breastfeeding or formula-feeding their babies, all parents can benefit from The No-Cry Nap Solution: Guaranteed Gentle Ways to Solve All Your Naptime Problems by Elizabeth Pantley. The book boils down to two fundamental principles I really like: (1) observe your baby’s cues and responses, and (2) do what works for you (short of forcing the baby to cry-it-out of course!) Most parents do those things instinctively and this book helps parents fine-tune their ability to identify their child’s needs, cues, and habits.

Mommy’s Little Breastfeeding Book: 101 Tips Your Baby Wants You to Know about Nursing is a great book! I love the concept and the philosophy presented. This little breastfeeding book is condensed enough to read in an hour yet it is jam-packed with helpful tips for successful breastfeeding. It has all the things I would want to tell a pregnant friend to encourage her to make the decision to breastfeed and to help her get started. One of my favorite tips?
41. A good rule of thumb is that Mommy puts the food in and Daddy takes it out.
A little …read more

A new breastfeeding book debuts next week. The ABCs of Breastfeeding: Everything a Mom Needs to Know for a Happy Nursing Experience is written by neonatal nurse practitioner and internationally board certified lactation consultant Stacey H. Rubin.
The website for the book offers a sample chapter on “The Signals That Will Let You Know When to Feed Your Baby”. The book appears to have an easy-to-read style peppered with stories and examples from the author’s interaction with her clients. I found myself nodding in agreement with the Rubin’s recommendations. How nice to read the following passage:

Libraryjournal.com reviewer Rebecca Raszewski also enjoyed …read more

There are lots of breastfeeding bloggers out there doing some great work and I thought it would be valuable to bring together their collective wisdom on breastfeeding and parenting product reviews. Each link takes you to the individual article or site mentioned in parentheses. I don’t necessarily agree with each review, and I only profit from products purchased through Breastfeeding 1-2-3’s Amazon.com store (if you find another person’s product review helpful, please use her affiliate link if she offers one!) Note that I’ve also linked to several resources for sewing your own breastfeeding and baby-related products and free videos on …read more

My rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Description: Hardcover children’s book published in 2001.
Subject: Being a big brother or sister.
Appropriate age of child: 3 and up.
Price: List price U.S. $12.99.
Authors: William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N. and Christie Watts Kelly with illustrator Renee Andriani
What Baby Needs is a companion book to Baby on the Way. Both are excellent books and will appeal greatly to parents who practice attachment parenting. If you’re looking for a book to help your child prepare to become a big brother or sister, personally I’d choose Baby on the Way with its discussion of pregnancy and birth …read more

My rating: 5 out of 5.
Details: Children’s paperback book published in 1994.
Subject: Nursing mammals (which include humans!)
Appropriate age of child: age 6 months and up.
Languages: also available in the Spanish version Nos Gusta Amamantar
Cons: I’d love to see a board book version of this. The paperback book is printed with fairly sturdy paper and there is a hardcover edition (although when I checked Amazon.com the hardcover edition was not currently available).
Pros: Purposefully simplistic yet engaging with illustrations and text that appeal to mothers and young children alike.
The engaging children’s book We Like to Nurse capitalizes on children’s love of …read more

My rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Description: Children’s board book published in 2001.
Subject: “A nursling’s celebration of the joys of breastfeeding.”
Appropriate age of child: 6 months and up.
List price: $8.95.
Pros: Sturdy board book. Actual color photographs as opposed to illustrations.
Cons: Strained rhymes. Grainy picture quality.
I do not relish criticizing any book much less a children’s book about nursing, but I simply cannot give this book my unreserved endorsement. The concept has such great potential but the result is disappointing. I’m Made of Mama’s Milk by Mary Olsen contains over 20 photographs of a nursling who appears to be approximately one …read more

I’m always on the lookout for books that portray breastfeeding in a positive manner, or frankly, at all! Occasionally I’ll review such books here at Breastfeeding 1-2-3.
Fans of William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N., and attachment parenting will not be disappointed by Baby on the Way, co-authored with Christie Watts Kelly and illustrated by Renee Andriani.
My rating: 5 out of 5.
Details: Children’s hardcover book published in 2001.
Subject: Becoming a big brother or sister.
Appropriate age of child: age 3 and older.
Price: Retail price U.S. $12.99, Amazon.com price as of this writing $10.18.
Cons:
~ Age level. My husband wanted to give …read more