The Informed Parent: A Science-Based Resource for Your Child's First Four Years

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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.

Most parenting books present a philosophy what the author believes readers should do to raise happy, healthy kids. But more and more parents and parents-to-be prefer to make up their own minds, based on the latest findings as well as their own preferences. Science writers and parents themselves, Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham have sifted through research studies on dozens of essential topics, and distill them in this essential and engaging book. Entries include:Both authors are seasoned veterans in the world of parental and infant research and present the state of knowledge at publication in 2016. The book is wide-ranging, covering pre-conception, pregnancy and birth right through to pre-school. There are detailed examinations of hot topics, such as SIDS, vaccinations, and screen time. Throughout the book, they present the research without pre-judging it. Unfortunately the answer to many questions is “more research needed”, but the known positives and negatives are given along with any caveats. Any anecdotes are clearly signed, and they go to great lengths to point out that each child is different, so averages of meta-analyses should be taken with a pinch of salt. 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. 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."

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. Topics include: 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.” There were some chapters that did help us directly. Specifically the chapter on co-sleeping helped us make an informed decision on how to approach the matter with our second child. Likewise for our toddler, reading out disciplining, preschooling and the like was helpful. 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.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.” 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." With The Informed Parent, Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham have gifted today’s neurotic parents with fuel – and ultimately antidote – for their obsessive researching. Unlike most parenting books, the authors never preach, condone or praise. Instead, they report the science on all possible parenting controversies in a lay-friendly (and often pithy) style, allowing the reader to come to her/his own conclusions. Well-written, impeccably researched, and brilliantly suited for millennial parents, The Informed Parent should be on the top of everyone’s baby shower list.” I would skip this book. If you want to read a book looking at science-based parenting information, The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby's First Year is a much better book. 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.

Subscription is on an annual basis with 3 newsletters per year to provide a wide range of information on the vaccination issue. 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.”

Finally, the show is over: The End of Covid

To arrange and facilitate local talks, discussions and seminars on vaccinations and preventative medicine for childhood illnesses.

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.” 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." 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.”Is it confirmation bias to say that anyone who decides to look at scientific facts instead of hectoring parents is doing the world a service? If so, consider my opinion biased: This book will help a lot of folks!” 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." The other problem is the authors' confirmation bias. They talk about biases in the book, but they don't seem to follow their own advice. In the first half of the book they have a section where they discuss what they did. You can almost always predict what will be in that section based on the tone of the previous "objective" section. For example, in the bed sharing section, they state, "The majority of published research investigating bed sharing and SIDS (and SUID) risk shows an increased risk of death with bed sharing, but none of the studies finding that association controlled for every other possible risk factor, including prenatal smoking, mother's use of alcohol or drugs (legal or prescription), prenatal smoke exposure, premature or low birth weight, breastfeeding, and others." Well... okay. Guess what the authors did? They both bed shared. Which is fine, but there are other parts of the book where the studies also don't always control for all other possible risk factors for something (because controlling every other variable is generally impossible), and the authors seem happy to accept those studies. 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.”