Your Baby and Child »

Penelope Leach, educated at Cambridge University and at the London School of Economics, is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a founding member of the U.K. branch of the World Association for Infant Mental Health. She works on both sides of the Atlantic for organizations concerned with prenatal care and birth, family-friendly working practices, child care, and early-years education. She lives in Lewes, England.

This is the new, fully updated version of the authoritative childcare classic. New features include sections of parents' most-asked questions and Dr. Leach's answers, as well as all new safety information.

Library Journal

This updated version of the child-rearing standard by renowned British psychologist Leach is touted by the publisher as the "essential guide fully revised for today's family." Although the five chapter subdivisions based on the child's age remain the same, and some of the opening essays on each age are lifted almost verbatim from the 1989 edition (Knopf), critical updates in some areas of concern, such as SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), make this an essential purchase. In addition to physical growth and progress, Leach addresses the psychosocial needs of children. She also includes parent concerns and responses similar to those found in Workman's "What To Expect" series. Public and academic libraries would do well to stock the new version of this primer on children and their development for circulation as well as for the reference shelf.Lisa Williams, Moline Southeast Lib., Ill.

Introduction 9

The Newborn

Getting together 23

The first days of life 31

Newborn characteristics 38

Feeding and growing 55

Everyday care 90

Excreting 104

Sleeping 107

Crying and comforting 113

Learning from each other 124

Heavy heads and reflexes 132

Senses and sensations 135

The Settled Baby

The first six months 141

Feeding and growing 148

Teeth and teething 173

Everyday care 174

Excreting 177

Sleeping 179

Crying and comforting 185

Muscle power 190

Seeing and understanding 196

Hearing and making sounds 204

Playing and learning 211

Loving and spoiling 216

The Older Baby

From six months to one year 225

Feeding and growing 233

Teeth and teething 248

Everyday care 253

Excreting 255

Sleeping 256

Crying and comforting 269

More muscle power 277

Seeing and doing 289

Listening and talking 294

Playing and learning 303

Enjoying the bridge from baby to toddler 310

The Toddler

From one year to two and a half 321

Eating and growing 329

Teeth and teething 340

Everyday care 343

Toilet mastery 349

Sleeping 356

Crying and comforting 366

Even more muscle power 380

Learning speech 391

Playing and thinking 399

Moving into early childhood 416

The Young Child

From two and a half to five years 431

Eating and growing 436

Teeth and teething 447

Everyday care 450

Toilet mastery and after 454

Sleeping 462

Crying and coping 471

Bodies, minds and feelings 482

Talking 493

Playing and thinking 509

Learning how to behave 523

Early years education 538

Index 554