Product Description

Having a baby is an incredible experience, and the ultimate responsibility! Parenting is a job that you start with no training at all – and friends and family always seem to be the first to tell you how best to bring up your children. But there’s no sure–fire formula for raising kids. Maybe that’s because every child, like every parent, is an individual, and no two parent–child relationships are ever the same. So, you can give up any notions of being a perfect parent. But, you can learn to keep the big mistakes to a minimum and make the parenting experience easier and more rewarding for your children and yourself. Which is where this book comes in.

Covering information for newborns to pre–teens, Parenting For Dummies gives you the essentials of parenting basics. From dealing with a crying baby and potty training, to building self–esteem and dealing with sibling rivalry, it offers a gold mine of up–to–date advice.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #77375 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 390 pages

Review
"…practical advice…" (motheratwork.com, December 2006)

…down to earth advice and practical answers for dealing with kids from newborn to pre–teens. Read it and relax!” (Best, February 2007)

“If you’re after a book that does exactly what it says on the tin, this is it…Well done, Helen!” (Families South West Magazine, March 2007)

“…essential reading for all new mums and dads…a refreshing look at the trials and tribulations of bringing up children”. (Scotland’s Weekly News, 21st April 2007)

Review
"…practical advice…" (motheratwork.com, December 2006)

…down to earth advice and practical answers for dealing with kids from newborn to pre–teens. Read it and relax!” (Best, February 2007)

“If you’re after a book that does exactly what it says on the tin, this is it…Well done, Helen!” (Families South West Magazine, March 2007)

“…essential reading for all new mums and dads…a refreshing look at the trials and tribulations of bringing up children”. (Scotland’s Weekly News, 21st April 2007)

Scotland s Weekly News, 21st April 2007
"essential reading for all new mums and dads, a refreshing look at the trials and tribulations of bringing up children

Customer Reviews

What a great book!
How refreshing to read a parenting book that isn't trying to peddle some 'magic' sort-your-baby-out routine. Instead, it's full of just what all us parents need: wise advice, clever tips - and laugh-out-loud humour.
I really liked the chapters on behaviour and discipline - lots of really helpful, positive strategies. And the sections on Sleep and Food are brilliant to dip in and out of.
You can tell it's been written by a mum who's been there and worn the parenting T-shirt: not some 'expert' who hasn't actually dealt with a tantrumming toddler for decades.
And, best of all, it doesn't stop at the toddler stage - there's some brilliant stuff about bringing up preschoolers and school-age children, too.
I honestly can't recommend this book enough!

Down-to-earth, honest parenting advice
Having worked with Helen Brown many years ago, I knew this book was bound to be meticulously and painstakingly researched. However, I'm not a big fan of the Dummies format so I didn't expect to like this book nearly as much as I did. My neighbour, who's a new mum, kept raving about the book (she didn't know I knew Helen) and as I now teach HypnoBirthing classes I thought I'd get a copy to see if it would be a good book to recommend to my parents-to-be. I keep dipping in and out of it and am continually amazed by the common-sense and humorous approach. My friend kept mentioning the parenting mantra 'Once more, with feeling' as something she's kept using when her six-month-old son has been driving her round the bend all day. She says that this mantra, which encourages you to get enthusiastic and excited about what your child is doing and summon that last tiny spurt of energy to really engage with your child (one more time!) has made all the difference. Reading this book, you know Helen really has been there, and has put all the wisdom she's gained as a parent and journalist into one, really easy to read, book. I'm now recommending Parenting For Dummies to all my HypnoBirthing parents as I know they'll find its sanity-saving advice invaluable.

Sound advice, no gimmicks
I can only echo the other commenters: this book has set me straight when I'm left confused by conflicting advice by all the baby "experts". It's full of simple, sound advice, weighing up the pros and cons of the latest babycare fads and never trying to patronise or insist there's "one true way" of bringing up your child. The format is clear and simple - for instance the chart of foods for weaning is copied and up in my kitchen as a ready reference. I am sure I'll keep referring and referring to it as my child reaches toddlerdom and beyond.