Finally! An amazing, informed, evidence-based tour through the most common questions and concerns of parenthood that I can recommend without hesitation. A must for any science minded new parent, or for anyone who thinks Google doesn't replace expertly curated information." This was very disappointing. I was hoping for something more like Expecting Better, which was a fairly reasonable look at the evidence that does and doesn't exist, but tempered with some general skepticism and at its heart an understanding about the trade-offs that exist. This book is more like a mostly naive summary of the current literature, but it completely ignores the replication crisis. Reading Rigor Mortis will, I hope, give you a lot more skepticism about just believing whatever the extant studies say, since a huge fraction of them are effectively worthless, unfortunately. Not once is it mentioned whether any of the trials mentioned here were pre-registered or that that might be an issue. As someone who has spent many years as a biomedical researcher, I was keen to find a book covering the early years from an evidence-based perspective. After a few hours’ research I decided to buy this book, and I’m glad I did. The book shines with clear explanations of the reasoning behind common hospital practices such as labor induction, vitamin K shots, and taking Apgar scores, including up-to-date summaries of the sometimes overwhelming-data surrounding giving birth and infant care choices. Subjects of controversy, such as allergies and sleep training, receive in-depth, scientifically minded treatment." In The Informed Parent, journalists Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham manage to answer everything a parent could possibly be worried about during pregnancy, birth, infancy, and toddlerhood. What makes this book different from every other book on this subject (and there are many) is that the authors take on not only the science of what concerns us, but encourage us to think along with them--giving us the tools to answer other questions in the future. It was like reading the answer sheet before the test."

Yoni Freedhoff, MD, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, University of Ottawa and creator of the Weighty Matters blog The latest scientific research on home birth, breastfeeding, sleep training, vaccines, and other key topics—to help parents make their own best-informed decisions. The Informed Parent was originally set up in September 1992 to counter frustration and isolation experienced by parents in their efforts to seek information about immunisation, following uncertainty about its safety and effectiveness.Suzanne Barston, the "Fearless Formula Feeder" and author of Bottled Up: How the Way We Feed Babies Has Come to Define Motherhood, and Why It Shouldn't The Informed Parentis a beacon of science-based sanity for new parents caught in a blizzard of dubious child rearing advice. Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham are sure-handed guides, distilling the most up-to-date, reliable research into sensible advice that neither patronizes nor terrorizes. Circumcision? Television? Nipple confusion? Relax, Tara and Emily have got you covered.” The ultimate resource for today's science-minded generation, The Informed Parent was written for readers who prefer facts to 'friendly advice,' and who prefer to make up their own minds, based on the latest findings as well as their own personal preferences. Science writers and parents themselves, authors Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham have sifted through thousands of research studies on dozens of essential topics, and distill them in this essential and engaging book. Accessible and informative…For anyone headed into parenthood, this is a must-read, as it answers so many questions new parents are bound to ask.” In the era of questionable Internet "facts" and parental oversharing, it's more important than ever to find credible information on everything from prenatal vitamins to screen time. The good news is that parents and parents-to-be no longer need to rely on an opinionated mother-in-law about whether it’s OK to eat sushi in your third trimester, an old college roommate for sleep-training “rules,” or an online parenting group about how long you should breastfeed (there’s a vehement group for every opinion). Credible scientific studies are out there – and they’re “bottom-lined” in this book.

Journalists Haelle and Willingham have made an ambitious but uneven attempt to build a comprehensive Suzanne Barston, the “Fearless Formula Feeder” and author of Bottled Up: How the Way We Feed Babies Has Come to Define Motherhood, and Why It Shouldn’t The ultimate resource for today's science-minded generation, The Informed Parent was written for readers who prefer facts to 'friendly advice,' and who prefer to make up their own minds, based on the latest findings as well as their own personal preferences. In the era of questionable Internet “facts” and parental oversharing, it’s more important than ever to find credible information on everything from prenatal vitamins to screen time. The good news is that parents and parents-to-be no longer need to rely on an opinionated mother-in-law about whether it’s OK to eat sushi in your third trimester, an old college roommate for sleep-training “rules,” or an online parenting group about how long you should breastfeed (there’s a vehement group for every opinion). Credible scientific studies are out there – and they’re “bottom-lined” in this book. Alice Callahan, PhD, author of The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby's First YearIn The Informed Parent, Emily Willingham and Tara Haelle, two widely respected science writers (and parents), explore key questions about child health, beginning with fetal development and continuing into toddlerhood. The result is engaging, conversational, deeply researched, and smart, a book that should be considered a necessary resource for all 21st century parents.”

It is essential that more of the general public become informed as the threat of mandatory vaccine laws are upon us presently! In many parts of Europe, US and Australia some parents are facing either mandatory laws, fines and/or enormous pressure and penalties regarding child benefits if they refuse vaccination for their families. I wish they would present more data directly from the reports. The analysis is useful, but I always feel more confident in an analysis when I can see the data myself. Dan Fagin,Director of the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at NYU, and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Toms River: A Story of Science and SalvationDan Fagin, Director of the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at NYU, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation In The Informed Parent, journalists Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham manage to answer everything a parent could possibly be worried about during pregnancy, birth, infancy, and toddlerhood. What makes this book different from every other book on this subject (and there are many) is that the authors take on not only the science of what concerns us, but encourage us to think along with them—giving us the tools to answer other questions in the future. It was like reading the answer sheet before the test.”

About the Book The latest scientific research on home birth, breastfeeding, sleep training, vaccines, and other key topics—to help parents make their own best-informed decisions. To arrange and facilitate local talks, discussions and seminars on vaccinations and preventative medicine for childhood illnesses.In The Informed Parent, Emily Willingham and Tara Haelle, two widely respected science writers (and parents), explore key questions about child health, beginning with fetal development and continuing into toddlerhood. The result is engaging, conversational, deeply researched, and smart, a book that should be considered a necessary resource for all 21st century parents." Parents in the internet age have to navigate their way through a maze of confusing information and misinformation. Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham are the perfect guides to what’s fact and fiction when it comes to the science of parenting.” In the era of questionable Internet 'facts' and parental oversharing, it's more important than ever to find credible information on everything from prenatal vitamins to screen time. The good news is that parents and parents-to-be no longer need to rely on an opinionated mother-in-law about whether it's OK to eat sushi in your third trimester, an old college roommate for sleep-training 'rules,' or an online parenting group about how long you should breastfeed (there's a vehement group for every opinion). Credible scientific studies are out there - and they're 'bottom-lined' in this book. Subscription is on an annual basis with 3 newsletters per year to provide a wide range of information on the vaccination issue.