Fabulous book for advice and recipes, 30 Sep 2008
I have recommended this book to everyone. It's full of good advice for different weaning stages. And I cook the 9months + recipes for my husband...he always says how nice they are and then I tell them that the meal was designed for a 12 month old!! Lovely food for babies, toddlers, and adults.

Location, location, location, 10 Sep 2008
This book does give lots of interesting ideas, but depending on your location, many of the ingredients might not be readily available, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and some fruits. There also seem to be a lot of fish recipes.

Very useful and easy to follow., 24 Aug 2008
This book is amazing! I find myself using it on a daily basis to look things up as well as using the recipes. It's great for people like me who do not have a clue about cooking as it is very easy to follow. Even if you are a good cook already, you will find this book invaluable for giving you ideas on what to give your little one. I think my daughter would be living on jars of baby food if I hadn't bought this book!

tedious waste of time, 24 Aug 2008
Why cook separately for children? Why not simply give them smaller portions of properly made food for adults? I bought this book when my children were very small, I had made my own baby food, not through any sense of righteous "earthmotherlyness", but through necessity brought on by living in the Central American jungle. Using this book meant I doubled up cooking first for my children and then for myself and my husband. Until I saw the light, threw the book away and stopped wasting time & money. Use a decent proper cook book, and teach your children to eat food not cartoon faced vegetable caterpillars.

Tasty, easy recipes, 09 Aug 2008
I got this in preparation for weaning my daughter who is 11 months at time of writing. Every recipe we have tried has been a winner and mum & dad have even enjoyed some too! I would recommend Gina Ford's weaning book alongside this one as a more comprehensive guide to actually going about weaning. This is better for the recipes.

Fabulous book for advice and recipes, 30 Sep 2008
I have recommended this book to everyone. It's full of good advice for different weaning stages. And I cook the 9months + recipes for my husband...he always says how nice they are and then I tell them that the meal was designed for a 12 month old!! Lovely food for babies, toddlers, and adults.

Location, location, location, 10 Sep 2008
This book does give lots of interesting ideas, but depending on your location, many of the ingredients might not be readily available, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and some fruits. There also seem to be a lot of fish recipes.

Very useful and easy to follow., 24 Aug 2008
This book is amazing! I find myself using it on a daily basis to look things up as well as using the recipes. It's great for people like me who do not have a clue about cooking as it is very easy to follow. Even if you are a good cook already, you will find this book invaluable for giving you ideas on what to give your little one. I think my daughter would be living on jars of baby food if I hadn't bought this book!

tedious waste of time, 24 Aug 2008
Why cook separately for children? Why not simply give them smaller portions of properly made food for adults? I bought this book when my children were very small, I had made my own baby food, not through any sense of righteous "earthmotherlyness", but through necessity brought on by living in the Central American jungle. Using this book meant I doubled up cooking first for my children and then for myself and my husband. Until I saw the light, threw the book away and stopped wasting time & money. Use a decent proper cook book, and teach your children to eat food not cartoon faced vegetable caterpillars.

Tasty, easy recipes, 09 Aug 2008
I got this in preparation for weaning my daughter who is 11 months at time of writing. Every recipe we have tried has been a winner and mum & dad have even enjoyed some too! I would recommend Gina Ford's weaning book alongside this one as a more comprehensive guide to actually going about weaning. This is better for the recipes.

Excellent!!!, 18 Aug 2008
I really love this book, the recipes are very easy and tasty, my baby loves them!!!.
If I didn't have the book, I would have never used broccoli, nor onion on a purée for example. This book has been an excellent guide to me. The author also gives very good nutritional tips.
I'm very happy to have this book and I would recommend it to first time parents without a doubt.

very good, 18 Aug 2008
i got this for and thought it was great, then i was bought a newer version with a toddler bit in,i do tend to use the newer one. but i git some great ideas out of here.some things i didnt realise i was aloud to give my son at that age. a good book all in all.

Good, but not the best, 17 Aug 2008
I found this book good for the 1st stages of weaning, but not so much after that. Some good ideas, but there are defiantely better books out there by lesser known authors.

Great book, however be advised..., 04 Aug 2008
This is a fabulous book with lovely delicious recipes that once you've tasted, you cannot deny are good enough for the rest of the family. The book is split into recipes for the appropriate ages which is very helpful, and although the book is entitled top 100 baby 'purees', as the baby gets older many of the recipes included are not really purees, but rather just mashed loosely, or for example with small pasta pieces. However one word of caution, although many of the meals are indeed 'quick and easy', a number of them are not 'quick' as they involve you making up your own stock by boiling and simmering vegetables/chicken carcasses for 1-2 hours, then cooling for 2 hrs/overnight. Whilst this is fantastic for flavour and nutritional goodness, it is simply a fact that this is a real pain when it's 5 o'clock already and for those of us who aren't always particularly well organised, you've only just picked up the book to decide what to make your baby for dinner. To be perfectly honest it can sometimes be simply too much hassle as well to take the time to make up the stocks to then use them to make up a fresh puree. You can get around this of course by simply purchasing the Heinz ready made stocks or alternatively just being more organised! I'd definitely still recommend this book to anyone. My baby has eaten everything happily, and there's a wide range of foods suggested, including exotic fruit such as mango's and papaya's that I'd never even tasted myself until adulthood, yet my baby's enjoying them in the first year of her life!

Love it!, 01 Aug 2008
I love this book. My baby eats better than I do.
I've cooked most of the recipes and my baby loves them all. In fact I do too. I recommend making at least double a recipe to save time and if you do extra you can have some for your own dinner before pureeing/freezing the baby's. Recipes are adaptable too if you want to change or omit the odd ingredient.

Fabulous book for advice and recipes, 30 Sep 2008
I have recommended this book to everyone. It's full of good advice for different weaning stages. And I cook the 9months + recipes for my husband...he always says how nice they are and then I tell them that the meal was designed for a 12 month old!! Lovely food for babies, toddlers, and adults.

Location, location, location, 10 Sep 2008
This book does give lots of interesting ideas, but depending on your location, many of the ingredients might not be readily available, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and some fruits. There also seem to be a lot of fish recipes.

Very useful and easy to follow., 24 Aug 2008
This book is amazing! I find myself using it on a daily basis to look things up as well as using the recipes. It's great for people like me who do not have a clue about cooking as it is very easy to follow. Even if you are a good cook already, you will find this book invaluable for giving you ideas on what to give your little one. I think my daughter would be living on jars of baby food if I hadn't bought this book!

tedious waste of time, 24 Aug 2008
Why cook separately for children? Why not simply give them smaller portions of properly made food for adults? I bought this book when my children were very small, I had made my own baby food, not through any sense of righteous "earthmotherlyness", but through necessity brought on by living in the Central American jungle. Using this book meant I doubled up cooking first for my children and then for myself and my husband. Until I saw the light, threw the book away and stopped wasting time & money. Use a decent proper cook book, and teach your children to eat food not cartoon faced vegetable caterpillars.

Tasty, easy recipes, 09 Aug 2008
I got this in preparation for weaning my daughter who is 11 months at time of writing. Every recipe we have tried has been a winner and mum & dad have even enjoyed some too! I would recommend Gina Ford's weaning book alongside this one as a more comprehensive guide to actually going about weaning. This is better for the recipes.

Excellent!!!, 18 Aug 2008
I really love this book, the recipes are very easy and tasty, my baby loves them!!!.
If I didn't have the book, I would have never used broccoli, nor onion on a purée for example. This book has been an excellent guide to me. The author also gives very good nutritional tips.
I'm very happy to have this book and I would recommend it to first time parents without a doubt.

very good, 18 Aug 2008
i got this for and thought it was great, then i was bought a newer version with a toddler bit in,i do tend to use the newer one. but i git some great ideas out of here.some things i didnt realise i was aloud to give my son at that age. a good book all in all.

Good, but not the best, 17 Aug 2008
I found this book good for the 1st stages of weaning, but not so much after that. Some good ideas, but there are defiantely better books out there by lesser known authors.

Great book, however be advised..., 04 Aug 2008
This is a fabulous book with lovely delicious recipes that once you've tasted, you cannot deny are good enough for the rest of the family. The book is split into recipes for the appropriate ages which is very helpful, and although the book is entitled top 100 baby 'purees', as the baby gets older many of the recipes included are not really purees, but rather just mashed loosely, or for example with small pasta pieces. However one word of caution, although many of the meals are indeed 'quick and easy', a number of them are not 'quick' as they involve you making up your own stock by boiling and simmering vegetables/chicken carcasses for 1-2 hours, then cooling for 2 hrs/overnight. Whilst this is fantastic for flavour and nutritional goodness, it is simply a fact that this is a real pain when it's 5 o'clock already and for those of us who aren't always particularly well organised, you've only just picked up the book to decide what to make your baby for dinner. To be perfectly honest it can sometimes be simply too much hassle as well to take the time to make up the stocks to then use them to make up a fresh puree. You can get around this of course by simply purchasing the Heinz ready made stocks or alternatively just being more organised! I'd definitely still recommend this book to anyone. My baby has eaten everything happily, and there's a wide range of foods suggested, including exotic fruit such as mango's and papaya's that I'd never even tasted myself until adulthood, yet my baby's enjoying them in the first year of her life!

Love it!, 01 Aug 2008
I love this book. My baby eats better than I do.
I've cooked most of the recipes and my baby loves them all. In fact I do too. I recommend making at least double a recipe to save time and if you do extra you can have some for your own dinner before pureeing/freezing the baby's. Recipes are adaptable too if you want to change or omit the odd ingredient.

Too much, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a bad book, it is very comprehensive and well written, so it is fun to read and contains useful information. It seems intended to be read through more than as a reference book.
However, in my opinion it is a bit too much. The information overloads the reader and then it is difficcult to remember the key things a new mom has to have in mind.It would suit you if you have a control freak side and want to know absolutelly everything about -1 yr old babies. It won't suit you if you are an aprehensive person.

Brilliant, honest, fair advice, 30 Sep 2008
This is the best book I bought for advice on raising my newborn son (and I bought a lot!). It contains honest, straightforward, non-judgemental ideas and advice. I found it really interesting, reassuring and sensible. It counters the 'ideal' (and seemingly theoretical) advice in many books with practical responses I could identify with. Strongly recommended.

Great source of advice, 19 Sep 2008
I received the first in the series from a very dear friend when I was pregnant (what to expect when expecting). Because I got so much out of it, I bought this one soon after my baby arrived. Great source of advice. Just one thing though: Don't wait until after your baby's arrival. Buy it when 6months pregnant as you will need some of the advice right from the 1st day. Not to miss.

BUY BUY BUY, 31 Aug 2008
This book is a must for all parents. It has so much information packed into it. It has answered nearly every question I've had on bringing up my child so far! Its very easy to dip in and out of, and you can see easily what to expect in future months!


V helpful for first time mums, 25 Aug 2008
This is a complete godsend when you have conflicting advice from all those around you. You can either read it on a month by month basis or use the index at the back. I cannot recommend it enough and it has put both mine and my husband's mind at ease when we're confused.

Fabulous book for advice and recipes, 30 Sep 2008
I have recommended this book to everyone. It's full of good advice for different weaning stages. And I cook the 9months + recipes for my husband...he always says how nice they are and then I tell them that the meal was designed for a 12 month old!! Lovely food for babies, toddlers, and adults.

Location, location, location, 10 Sep 2008
This book does give lots of interesting ideas, but depending on your location, many of the ingredients might not be readily available, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and some fruits. There also seem to be a lot of fish recipes.

Very useful and easy to follow., 24 Aug 2008
This book is amazing! I find myself using it on a daily basis to look things up as well as using the recipes. It's great for people like me who do not have a clue about cooking as it is very easy to follow. Even if you are a good cook already, you will find this book invaluable for giving you ideas on what to give your little one. I think my daughter would be living on jars of baby food if I hadn't bought this book!

tedious waste of time, 24 Aug 2008
Why cook separately for children? Why not simply give them smaller portions of properly made food for adults? I bought this book when my children were very small, I had made my own baby food, not through any sense of righteous "earthmotherlyness", but through necessity brought on by living in the Central American jungle. Using this book meant I doubled up cooking first for my children and then for myself and my husband. Until I saw the light, threw the book away and stopped wasting time & money. Use a decent proper cook book, and teach your children to eat food not cartoon faced vegetable caterpillars.

Tasty, easy recipes, 09 Aug 2008
I got this in preparation for weaning my daughter who is 11 months at time of writing. Every recipe we have tried has been a winner and mum & dad have even enjoyed some too! I would recommend Gina Ford's weaning book alongside this one as a more comprehensive guide to actually going about weaning. This is better for the recipes.

Excellent!!!, 18 Aug 2008
I really love this book, the recipes are very easy and tasty, my baby loves them!!!.
If I didn't have the book, I would have never used broccoli, nor onion on a purée for example. This book has been an excellent guide to me. The author also gives very good nutritional tips.
I'm very happy to have this book and I would recommend it to first time parents without a doubt.

very good, 18 Aug 2008
i got this for and thought it was great, then i was bought a newer version with a toddler bit in,i do tend to use the newer one. but i git some great ideas out of here.some things i didnt realise i was aloud to give my son at that age. a good book all in all.

Good, but not the best, 17 Aug 2008
I found this book good for the 1st stages of weaning, but not so much after that. Some good ideas, but there are defiantely better books out there by lesser known authors.

Great book, however be advised..., 04 Aug 2008
This is a fabulous book with lovely delicious recipes that once you've tasted, you cannot deny are good enough for the rest of the family. The book is split into recipes for the appropriate ages which is very helpful, and although the book is entitled top 100 baby 'purees', as the baby gets older many of the recipes included are not really purees, but rather just mashed loosely, or for example with small pasta pieces. However one word of caution, although many of the meals are indeed 'quick and easy', a number of them are not 'quick' as they involve you making up your own stock by boiling and simmering vegetables/chicken carcasses for 1-2 hours, then cooling for 2 hrs/overnight. Whilst this is fantastic for flavour and nutritional goodness, it is simply a fact that this is a real pain when it's 5 o'clock already and for those of us who aren't always particularly well organised, you've only just picked up the book to decide what to make your baby for dinner. To be perfectly honest it can sometimes be simply too much hassle as well to take the time to make up the stocks to then use them to make up a fresh puree. You can get around this of course by simply purchasing the Heinz ready made stocks or alternatively just being more organised! I'd definitely still recommend this book to anyone. My baby has eaten everything happily, and there's a wide range of foods suggested, including exotic fruit such as mango's and papaya's that I'd never even tasted myself until adulthood, yet my baby's enjoying them in the first year of her life!

Love it!, 01 Aug 2008
I love this book. My baby eats better than I do.
I've cooked most of the recipes and my baby loves them all. In fact I do too. I recommend making at least double a recipe to save time and if you do extra you can have some for your own dinner before pureeing/freezing the baby's. Recipes are adaptable too if you want to change or omit the odd ingredient.

Too much, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a bad book, it is very comprehensive and well written, so it is fun to read and contains useful information. It seems intended to be read through more than as a reference book.
However, in my opinion it is a bit too much. The information overloads the reader and then it is difficcult to remember the key things a new mom has to have in mind.It would suit you if you have a control freak side and want to know absolutelly everything about -1 yr old babies. It won't suit you if you are an aprehensive person.

Brilliant, honest, fair advice, 30 Sep 2008
This is the best book I bought for advice on raising my newborn son (and I bought a lot!). It contains honest, straightforward, non-judgemental ideas and advice. I found it really interesting, reassuring and sensible. It counters the 'ideal' (and seemingly theoretical) advice in many books with practical responses I could identify with. Strongly recommended.

Great source of advice, 19 Sep 2008
I received the first in the series from a very dear friend when I was pregnant (what to expect when expecting). Because I got so much out of it, I bought this one soon after my baby arrived. Great source of advice. Just one thing though: Don't wait until after your baby's arrival. Buy it when 6months pregnant as you will need some of the advice right from the 1st day. Not to miss.

BUY BUY BUY, 31 Aug 2008
This book is a must for all parents. It has so much information packed into it. It has answered nearly every question I've had on bringing up my child so far! Its very easy to dip in and out of, and you can see easily what to expect in future months!


V helpful for first time mums, 25 Aug 2008
This is a complete godsend when you have conflicting advice from all those around you. You can either read it on a month by month basis or use the index at the back. I cannot recommend it enough and it has put both mine and my husband's mind at ease when we're confused.

Excellant!, 23 Feb 2007
I was given this book, before starting my NC child care and early education, i then used if for both my level 2 and 3 SVQ modern aprrentice, and found this much easier to use than books supplied on the course's. I say this book is a must have for anyone studying or wishing to study childcare.

Fantastic help for NVQ3, 27 Jun 2006
This book is really really helpful, I am currently working my way through my NVQ3 and ordered this book in the hope that it would provide more information than what is given in the child care and development book when breaking down the ages and stages of child development, especially in the cognitive and language development sections, which are covered in less detail in the other child care book. The way it is set out is clear and concise and also provides activity ideas too.

excellant, 02 May 2006
This book is a must for anyone doing courses in childcare.
It is written in clear and is very easy to understand. I have found it invaluable whilst attending my cache diploma course. I have even used it to assess my own children. This book focuses on all child development upto the age of 16.

A Must have, 03 Apr 2006
I'm currently in my 2nd year of the CACHE Diploma and this book is an absolute necessity. It features sections on all ages upto 16 years and a section on child development theory.
It is ideal for observations and assignments and is a must have for any student/practitioner.

Hopefully, it will come in handy for when I start University in September.

Brilliant for Child care practitioners and all., 16 Jun 2004
This book was a core book to use as part of my Cache diploma level three in childcare and education course at college 2 years ago. (I don't know what i would have done without it...)
The book contains sections regarding child development starting from birth to 8 years. I found this book really easy to use, furthermore, the language used in the book is also easy for us to understand and relate to.

I was particuarly impressed with the recommended actvities section for each age group situated within the book. Also there is a section on meeting the needs of all children including children with special educational needs which i thought was a good idea to include as i have a family member who has SEN and i also work with children with SEN too. This allowed me the opportunity to use some of the recommended actvities and helped me in the assistance of my assignments which are part of the course.

I am currently studying early childhood studies at university and i can reflect and refer to this book when needing information. I have told other students about this book and they are buying it.

Fabulous book for advice and recipes, 30 Sep 2008
I have recommended this book to everyone. It's full of good advice for different weaning stages. And I cook the 9months + recipes for my husband...he always says how nice they are and then I tell them that the meal was designed for a 12 month old!! Lovely food for babies, toddlers, and adults.

Location, location, location, 10 Sep 2008
This book does give lots of interesting ideas, but depending on your location, many of the ingredients might not be readily available, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and some fruits. There also seem to be a lot of fish recipes.

Very useful and easy to follow., 24 Aug 2008
This book is amazing! I find myself using it on a daily basis to look things up as well as using the recipes. It's great for people like me who do not have a clue about cooking as it is very easy to follow. Even if you are a good cook already, you will find this book invaluable for giving you ideas on what to give your little one. I think my daughter would be living on jars of baby food if I hadn't bought this book!

tedious waste of time, 24 Aug 2008
Why cook separately for children? Why not simply give them smaller portions of properly made food for adults? I bought this book when my children were very small, I had made my own baby food, not through any sense of righteous "earthmotherlyness", but through necessity brought on by living in the Central American jungle. Using this book meant I doubled up cooking first for my children and then for myself and my husband. Until I saw the light, threw the book away and stopped wasting time & money. Use a decent proper cook book, and teach your children to eat food not cartoon faced vegetable caterpillars.

Tasty, easy recipes, 09 Aug 2008
I got this in preparation for weaning my daughter who is 11 months at time of writing. Every recipe we have tried has been a winner and mum & dad have even enjoyed some too! I would recommend Gina Ford's weaning book alongside this one as a more comprehensive guide to actually going about weaning. This is better for the recipes.

Excellent!!!, 18 Aug 2008
I really love this book, the recipes are very easy and tasty, my baby loves them!!!.
If I didn't have the book, I would have never used broccoli, nor onion on a purée for example. This book has been an excellent guide to me. The author also gives very good nutritional tips.
I'm very happy to have this book and I would recommend it to first time parents without a doubt.

very good, 18 Aug 2008
i got this for and thought it was great, then i was bought a newer version with a toddler bit in,i do tend to use the newer one. but i git some great ideas out of here.some things i didnt realise i was aloud to give my son at that age. a good book all in all.

Good, but not the best, 17 Aug 2008
I found this book good for the 1st stages of weaning, but not so much after that. Some good ideas, but there are defiantely better books out there by lesser known authors.

Great book, however be advised..., 04 Aug 2008
This is a fabulous book with lovely delicious recipes that once you've tasted, you cannot deny are good enough for the rest of the family. The book is split into recipes for the appropriate ages which is very helpful, and although the book is entitled top 100 baby 'purees', as the baby gets older many of the recipes included are not really purees, but rather just mashed loosely, or for example with small pasta pieces. However one word of caution, although many of the meals are indeed 'quick and easy', a number of them are not 'quick' as they involve you making up your own stock by boiling and simmering vegetables/chicken carcasses for 1-2 hours, then cooling for 2 hrs/overnight. Whilst this is fantastic for flavour and nutritional goodness, it is simply a fact that this is a real pain when it's 5 o'clock already and for those of us who aren't always particularly well organised, you've only just picked up the book to decide what to make your baby for dinner. To be perfectly honest it can sometimes be simply too much hassle as well to take the time to make up the stocks to then use them to make up a fresh puree. You can get around this of course by simply purchasing the Heinz ready made stocks or alternatively just being more organised! I'd definitely still recommend this book to anyone. My baby has eaten everything happily, and there's a wide range of foods suggested, including exotic fruit such as mango's and papaya's that I'd never even tasted myself until adulthood, yet my baby's enjoying them in the first year of her life!

Love it!, 01 Aug 2008
I love this book. My baby eats better than I do.
I've cooked most of the recipes and my baby loves them all. In fact I do too. I recommend making at least double a recipe to save time and if you do extra you can have some for your own dinner before pureeing/freezing the baby's. Recipes are adaptable too if you want to change or omit the odd ingredient.

Too much, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a bad book, it is very comprehensive and well written, so it is fun to read and contains useful information. It seems intended to be read through more than as a reference book.
However, in my opinion it is a bit too much. The information overloads the reader and then it is difficcult to remember the key things a new mom has to have in mind.It would suit you if you have a control freak side and want to know absolutelly everything about -1 yr old babies. It won't suit you if you are an aprehensive person.

Brilliant, honest, fair advice, 30 Sep 2008
This is the best book I bought for advice on raising my newborn son (and I bought a lot!). It contains honest, straightforward, non-judgemental ideas and advice. I found it really interesting, reassuring and sensible. It counters the 'ideal' (and seemingly theoretical) advice in many books with practical responses I could identify with. Strongly recommended.

Great source of advice, 19 Sep 2008
I received the first in the series from a very dear friend when I was pregnant (what to expect when expecting). Because I got so much out of it, I bought this one soon after my baby arrived. Great source of advice. Just one thing though: Don't wait until after your baby's arrival. Buy it when 6months pregnant as you will need some of the advice right from the 1st day. Not to miss.

BUY BUY BUY, 31 Aug 2008
This book is a must for all parents. It has so much information packed into it. It has answered nearly every question I've had on bringing up my child so far! Its very easy to dip in and out of, and you can see easily what to expect in future months!


V helpful for first time mums, 25 Aug 2008
This is a complete godsend when you have conflicting advice from all those around you. You can either read it on a month by month basis or use the index at the back. I cannot recommend it enough and it has put both mine and my husband's mind at ease when we're confused.

Excellant!, 23 Feb 2007
I was given this book, before starting my NC child care and early education, i then used if for both my level 2 and 3 SVQ modern aprrentice, and found this much easier to use than books supplied on the course's. I say this book is a must have for anyone studying or wishing to study childcare.

Fantastic help for NVQ3, 27 Jun 2006
This book is really really helpful, I am currently working my way through my NVQ3 and ordered this book in the hope that it would provide more information than what is given in the child care and development book when breaking down the ages and stages of child development, especially in the cognitive and language development sections, which are covered in less detail in the other child care book. The way it is set out is clear and concise and also provides activity ideas too.

excellant, 02 May 2006
This book is a must for anyone doing courses in childcare.
It is written in clear and is very easy to understand. I have found it invaluable whilst attending my cache diploma course. I have even used it to assess my own children. This book focuses on all child development upto the age of 16.

A Must have, 03 Apr 2006
I'm currently in my 2nd year of the CACHE Diploma and this book is an absolute necessity. It features sections on all ages upto 16 years and a section on child development theory.
It is ideal for observations and assignments and is a must have for any student/practitioner.

Hopefully, it will come in handy for when I start University in September.

Brilliant for Child care practitioners and all., 16 Jun 2004
This book was a core book to use as part of my Cache diploma level three in childcare and education course at college 2 years ago. (I don't know what i would have done without it...)
The book contains sections regarding child development starting from birth to 8 years. I found this book really easy to use, furthermore, the language used in the book is also easy for us to understand and relate to.

I was particuarly impressed with the recommended actvities section for each age group situated within the book. Also there is a section on meeting the needs of all children including children with special educational needs which i thought was a good idea to include as i have a family member who has SEN and i also work with children with SEN too. This allowed me the opportunity to use some of the recommended actvities and helped me in the assistance of my assignments which are part of the course.

I am currently studying early childhood studies at university and i can reflect and refer to this book when needing information. I have told other students about this book and they are buying it.

Why love matters is a conversation starter, 10 Mar 2008
Taking the book with me on the bus or at the Waitrose checkout or at the barbers shop or Sussex University its title attracts attention. In the brief encounters which follow I enjoy speaking to parents whose infants obviously enjoy what's going on with the adults. I'm able to affirm that the love care and attention they give the child in those early years do make a difference and will set her up for life. To older people, and I am elderly, I speak of the 'forgiving space' that Sue Gerhart gives me in which to understand my chequered life. As Kierkegaard said 'Life must be lived foward, but it can only be understood backwards.'

An eye opener, 22 Jan 2008
I'm expecting my first baby in Feb-2008. I was looking for books about babies psychology, it's true that there are many things you know by instinct but many others are part of medical research, also important to consider.
I read the reviews of this book and that made me buy it immediately!. I loved it since the beginning, although it gives lots of technical info in the first chapters,I found it important as well, to understand in depth the rest of the book.
It's a great eye opener for all parents, parents to be, teachers and everyone in general, interested to understand babies and human behaviour... to improve our lives and the lifes of our loved ones.
100% recommended.

Rock solid scientific evidence and easy-to-folllow advice, 20 Dec 2007
The book is great. It presents many scientific data without being boring or worse incomprehensible for lay-people and it gives plenty of good advice. I myself have a four month old son and I have greatly profited from the book. Many parents who come to visit my wife and me find my son sociable, smiling and happy. In my opinion this book is a must for parents and people who work in nurseries and in general with newborns and small children.

Little bit too technical, 04 Sep 2007
I thought this book was good but I found it difficult to read because of all the references to brain chemistry. It is interesting to know how your behaviour towards your baby affects their development, and how it occurs in the brain, but I found there was too much focus on this and not enough focus on how to love your baby in the right way. A lot of people have said it should be a recommended book for all new parents, but I think the 'average' parent would struggle to understand most of the terminology in the book. However, I do feel more knowledgeable now I have read it and will never leave my baby to cry for prolonged periods due to what the book has told me, and now I love my baby as much as I can during the day and I do feel she benefits from it, she is a really happy baby. Perhaps a watered down version of this book should be available to new parents.

In depth, thought provoking..., 31 Jul 2007
I am a parent and I also work with young children with their parents - and so often I want to express to them how important it is to connect with their children - it simply is not a 'given' that parents will do it. All to often we underestimate the amount of attention children need. Upon reading this book - I have been inspired to be braver and gently encourage greater parental involvement. There is such a a limited 'time window' to make the best connections in our babies' brains. This book is inspiring - I have just purchased another copy to give as a gift.

Fabulous book for advice and recipes, 30 Sep 2008
I have recommended this book to everyone. It's full of good advice for different weaning stages. And I cook the 9months + recipes for my husband...he always says how nice they are and then I tell them that the meal was designed for a 12 month old!! Lovely food for babies, toddlers, and adults.

Location, location, location, 10 Sep 2008
This book does give lots of interesting ideas, but depending on your location, many of the ingredients might not be readily available, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and some fruits. There also seem to be a lot of fish recipes.

Very useful and easy to follow., 24 Aug 2008
This book is amazing! I find myself using it on a daily basis to look things up as well as using the recipes. It's great for people like me who do not have a clue about cooking as it is very easy to follow. Even if you are a good cook already, you will find this book invaluable for giving you ideas on what to give your little one. I think my daughter would be living on jars of baby food if I hadn't bought this book!

tedious waste of time, 24 Aug 2008
Why cook separately for children? Why not simply give them smaller portions of properly made food for adults? I bought this book when my children were very small, I had made my own baby food, not through any sense of righteous "earthmotherlyness", but through necessity brought on by living in the Central American jungle. Using this book meant I doubled up cooking first for my children and then for myself and my husband. Until I saw the light, threw the book away and stopped wasting time & money. Use a decent proper cook book, and teach your children to eat food not cartoon faced vegetable caterpillars.

Tasty, easy recipes, 09 Aug 2008
I got this in preparation for weaning my daughter who is 11 months at time of writing. Every recipe we have tried has been a winner and mum & dad have even enjoyed some too! I would recommend Gina Ford's weaning book alongside this one as a more comprehensive guide to actually going about weaning. This is better for the recipes.

Excellent!!!, 18 Aug 2008
I really love this book, the recipes are very easy and tasty, my baby loves them!!!.
If I didn't have the book, I would have never used broccoli, nor onion on a purée for example. This book has been an excellent guide to me. The author also gives very good nutritional tips.
I'm very happy to have this book and I would recommend it to first time parents without a doubt.

very good, 18 Aug 2008
i got this for and thought it was great, then i was bought a newer version with a toddler bit in,i do tend to use the newer one. but i git some great ideas out of here.some things i didnt realise i was aloud to give my son at that age. a good book all in all.

Good, but not the best, 17 Aug 2008
I found this book good for the 1st stages of weaning, but not so much after that. Some good ideas, but there are defiantely better books out there by lesser known authors.

Great book, however be advised..., 04 Aug 2008
This is a fabulous book with lovely delicious recipes that once you've tasted, you cannot deny are good enough for the rest of the family. The book is split into recipes for the appropriate ages which is very helpful, and although the book is entitled top 100 baby 'purees', as the baby gets older many of the recipes included are not really purees, but rather just mashed loosely, or for example with small pasta pieces. However one word of caution, although many of the meals are indeed 'quick and easy', a number of them are not 'quick' as they involve you making up your own stock by boiling and simmering vegetables/chicken carcasses for 1-2 hours, then cooling for 2 hrs/overnight. Whilst this is fantastic for flavour and nutritional goodness, it is simply a fact that this is a real pain when it's 5 o'clock already and for those of us who aren't always particularly well organised, you've only just picked up the book to decide what to make your baby for dinner. To be perfectly honest it can sometimes be simply too much hassle as well to take the time to make up the stocks to then use them to make up a fresh puree. You can get around this of course by simply purchasing the Heinz ready made stocks or alternatively just being more organised! I'd definitely still recommend this book to anyone. My baby has eaten everything happily, and there's a wide range of foods suggested, including exotic fruit such as mango's and papaya's that I'd never even tasted myself until adulthood, yet my baby's enjoying them in the first year of her life!

Love it!, 01 Aug 2008
I love this book. My baby eats better than I do.
I've cooked most of the recipes and my baby loves them all. In fact I do too. I recommend making at least double a recipe to save time and if you do extra you can have some for your own dinner before pureeing/freezing the baby's. Recipes are adaptable too if you want to change or omit the odd ingredient.

Too much, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a bad book, it is very comprehensive and well written, so it is fun to read and contains useful information. It seems intended to be read through more than as a reference book.
However, in my opinion it is a bit too much. The information overloads the reader and then it is difficcult to remember the key things a new mom has to have in mind.It would suit you if you have a control freak side and want to know absolutelly everything about -1 yr old babies. It won't suit you if you are an aprehensive person.

Brilliant, honest, fair advice, 30 Sep 2008
This is the best book I bought for advice on raising my newborn son (and I bought a lot!). It contains honest, straightforward, non-judgemental ideas and advice. I found it really interesting, reassuring and sensible. It counters the 'ideal' (and seemingly theoretical) advice in many books with practical responses I could identify with. Strongly recommended.

Great source of advice, 19 Sep 2008
I received the first in the series from a very dear friend when I was pregnant (what to expect when expecting). Because I got so much out of it, I bought this one soon after my baby arrived. Great source of advice. Just one thing though: Don't wait until after your baby's arrival. Buy it when 6months pregnant as you will need some of the advice right from the 1st day. Not to miss.

BUY BUY BUY, 31 Aug 2008
This book is a must for all parents. It has so much information packed into it. It has answered nearly every question I've had on bringing up my child so far! Its very easy to dip in and out of, and you can see easily what to expect in future months!


V helpful for first time mums, 25 Aug 2008
This is a complete godsend when you have conflicting advice from all those around you. You can either read it on a month by month basis or use the index at the back. I cannot recommend it enough and it has put both mine and my husband's mind at ease when we're confused.

Excellant!, 23 Feb 2007
I was given this book, before starting my NC child care and early education, i then used if for both my level 2 and 3 SVQ modern aprrentice, and found this much easier to use than books supplied on the course's. I say this book is a must have for anyone studying or wishing to study childcare.

Fantastic help for NVQ3, 27 Jun 2006
This book is really really helpful, I am currently working my way through my NVQ3 and ordered this book in the hope that it would provide more information than what is given in the child care and development book when breaking down the ages and stages of child development, especially in the cognitive and language development sections, which are covered in less detail in the other child care book. The way it is set out is clear and concise and also provides activity ideas too.

excellant, 02 May 2006
This book is a must for anyone doing courses in childcare.
It is written in clear and is very easy to understand. I have found it invaluable whilst attending my cache diploma course. I have even used it to assess my own children. This book focuses on all child development upto the age of 16.

A Must have, 03 Apr 2006
I'm currently in my 2nd year of the CACHE Diploma and this book is an absolute necessity. It features sections on all ages upto 16 years and a section on child development theory.
It is ideal for observations and assignments and is a must have for any student/practitioner.

Hopefully, it will come in handy for when I start University in September.

Brilliant for Child care practitioners and all., 16 Jun 2004
This book was a core book to use as part of my Cache diploma level three in childcare and education course at college 2 years ago. (I don't know what i would have done without it...)
The book contains sections regarding child development starting from birth to 8 years. I found this book really easy to use, furthermore, the language used in the book is also easy for us to understand and relate to.

I was particuarly impressed with the recommended actvities section for each age group situated within the book. Also there is a section on meeting the needs of all children including children with special educational needs which i thought was a good idea to include as i have a family member who has SEN and i also work with children with SEN too. This allowed me the opportunity to use some of the recommended actvities and helped me in the assistance of my assignments which are part of the course.

I am currently studying early childhood studies at university and i can reflect and refer to this book when needing information. I have told other students about this book and they are buying it.

Why love matters is a conversation starter, 10 Mar 2008
Taking the book with me on the bus or at the Waitrose checkout or at the barbers shop or Sussex University its title attracts attention. In the brief encounters which follow I enjoy speaking to parents whose infants obviously enjoy what's going on with the adults. I'm able to affirm that the love care and attention they give the child in those early years do make a difference and will set her up for life. To older people, and I am elderly, I speak of the 'forgiving space' that Sue Gerhart gives me in which to understand my chequered life. As Kierkegaard said 'Life must be lived foward, but it can only be understood backwards.'

An eye opener, 22 Jan 2008
I'm expecting my first baby in Feb-2008. I was looking for books about babies psychology, it's true that there are many things you know by instinct but many others are part of medical research, also important to consider.
I read the reviews of this book and that made me buy it immediately!. I loved it since the beginning, although it gives lots of technical info in the first chapters,I found it important as well, to understand in depth the rest of the book.
It's a great eye opener for all parents, parents to be, teachers and everyone in general, interested to understand babies and human behaviour... to improve our lives and the lifes of our loved ones.
100% recommended.

Rock solid scientific evidence and easy-to-folllow advice, 20 Dec 2007
The book is great. It presents many scientific data without being boring or worse incomprehensible for lay-people and it gives plenty of good advice. I myself have a four month old son and I have greatly profited from the book. Many parents who come to visit my wife and me find my son sociable, smiling and happy. In my opinion this book is a must for parents and people who work in nurseries and in general with newborns and small children.

Little bit too technical, 04 Sep 2007
I thought this book was good but I found it difficult to read because of all the references to brain chemistry. It is interesting to know how your behaviour towards your baby affects their development, and how it occurs in the brain, but I found there was too much focus on this and not enough focus on how to love your baby in the right way. A lot of people have said it should be a recommended book for all new parents, but I think the 'average' parent would struggle to understand most of the terminology in the book. However, I do feel more knowledgeable now I have read it and will never leave my baby to cry for prolonged periods due to what the book has told me, and now I love my baby as much as I can during the day and I do feel she benefits from it, she is a really happy baby. Perhaps a watered down version of this book should be available to new parents.

In depth, thought provoking..., 31 Jul 2007
I am a parent and I also work with young children with their parents - and so often I want to express to them how important it is to connect with their children - it simply is not a 'given' that parents will do it. All to often we underestimate the amount of attention children need. Upon reading this book - I have been inspired to be braver and gently encourage greater parental involvement. There is such a a limited 'time window' to make the best connections in our babies' brains. This book is inspiring - I have just purchased another copy to give as a gift.

A typical Gina Ford book, OK if your child conforms to a strict regime., 10 Sep 2008
I made the mistake of buying this book. As with other Gina Ford books if your child doesn't conform to her regime you feel inadequate and disappointed. She advises on day one (after they have proved they can do wee and poos on potty) to confine toddler in one room all day and repeatedly put them on the potty!! No way! I think I lasted half an hour and I got cabin fever. I found "No-cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Child Say Good-bye to Diapers" by Elizabeth Pantley far more helpful and reassuring. Gina Ford does make things seem so easy, but she isn't training her own child and the whole thing can get emotional. In the Pantley book she says it can take up to 12 months before they get completly dry and with some I think it's true, just get plenty of pants.

my son was dry on the 3rd day, 16 Jun 2008
i found this book a huge help. my son only had acsident on the 1st two day. i know this was down to my son not the book but it helped my make a start.

Potty trained in one week....who is she kidding?, 21 May 2008
You can't fault her style or clarity, but this book should come with a sanity warning. The programme probably does work but (and this is a big but) your child has to be ready and predisposed to the Gina Ford technique. We had followed a lot of her advice in Contented Baby etc and so were pretty positive about it, but, ended up having to abandon the Gina Ford way of potty training because of the tantrums and tears (and not just the baby's). To be fair, the book makes it clear you can potty-train in one week...but only if your child is ready. And there's lots of good advice on familiarising your child with what will happen and sensible comments on how parents need to prepare themselves too. But nothing really your health visitor couldn't tell you or which you couldn't get off the net. And I think there's another caveat. Your child has to have the "right" personality. My son is very wilful and we abandoned the Gina Ford technique on our third attempt. Her answer would probably be "well, then he isn't ready," but at nearly 3 he should be (our health visitor agrees and, believe me I have devoted weeks to it pretty much full time). All following the Gina Ford method has achieved (apart from making us feel bad)is a power struggle and we are now having to back-track and try to undo some of the damage. No doubt it works well for some, but they're probably the kids who would be easy to potty train in any case.








A week?? More like 3 days!, 08 May 2008
This book is a little miracle. Following the advice in this book, my son was going to his potty without any prompting by the end of the first day. In three days, he was more or less fully trained and has had very few accidents since he came out of nappies. I was so worried about potty training and was expecting it to be a complete nightmare, but it turned out to be really easy - in large part due to this book. If you are thinking of buying this book, my advice is don't hesitate - you won't regret it. I certainly didn't!

Not a one-size-fits-all book, 04 May 2008
I followed this for both my children. It worked for one but not for the other. The preparation for potty training sections are good, to help you get your litte one used to sitting on the potty a certain times of day before the nappies come off for good and you go for it. But there is no advice whatsoever on how to handle poo accidents and how help a child who is not freaked out by number two's but who is never able to manage them on the potty.

Fabulous book for advice and recipes, 30 Sep 2008
I have recommended this book to everyone. It's full of good advice for different weaning stages. And I cook the 9months + recipes for my husband...he always says how nice they are and then I tell them that the meal was designed for a 12 month old!! Lovely food for babies, toddlers, and adults.

Location, location, location, 10 Sep 2008
This book does give lots of interesting ideas, but depending on your location, many of the ingredients might not be readily available, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and some fruits. There also seem to be a lot of fish recipes.

Very useful and easy to follow., 24 Aug 2008
This book is amazing! I find myself using it on a daily basis to look things up as well as using the recipes. It's great for people like me who do not have a clue about cooking as it is very easy to follow. Even if you are a good cook already, you will find this book invaluable for giving you ideas on what to give your little one. I think my daughter would be living on jars of baby food if I hadn't bought this book!

tedious waste of time, 24 Aug 2008
Why cook separately for children? Why not simply give them smaller portions of properly made food for adults? I bought this book when my children were very small, I had made my own baby food, not through any sense of righteous "earthmotherlyness", but through necessity brought on by living in the Central American jungle. Using this book meant I doubled up cooking first for my children and then for myself and my husband. Until I saw the light, threw the book away and stopped wasting time & money. Use a decent proper cook book, and teach your children to eat food not cartoon faced vegetable caterpillars.

Tasty, easy recipes, 09 Aug 2008
I got this in preparation for weaning my daughter who is 11 months at time of writing. Every recipe we have tried has been a winner and mum & dad have even enjoyed some too! I would recommend Gina Ford's weaning book alongside this one as a more comprehensive guide to actually going about weaning. This is better for the recipes.

Excellent!!!, 18 Aug 2008
I really love this book, the recipes are very easy and tasty, my baby loves them!!!.
If I didn't have the book, I would have never used broccoli, nor onion on a purée for example. This book has been an excellent guide to me. The author also gives very good nutritional tips.
I'm very happy to have this book and I would recommend it to first time parents without a doubt.

very good, 18 Aug 2008
i got this for and thought it was great, then i was bought a newer version with a toddler bit in,i do tend to use the newer one. but i git some great ideas out of here.some things i didnt realise i was aloud to give my son at that age. a good book all in all.

Good, but not the best, 17 Aug 2008
I found this book good for the 1st stages of weaning, but not so much after that. Some good ideas, but there are defiantely better books out there by lesser known authors.

Great book, however be advised..., 04 Aug 2008
This is a fabulous book with lovely delicious recipes that once you've tasted, you cannot deny are good enough for the rest of the family. The book is split into recipes for the appropriate ages which is very helpful, and although the book is entitled top 100 baby 'purees', as the baby gets older many of the recipes included are not really purees, but rather just mashed loosely, or for example with small pasta pieces. However one word of caution, although many of the meals are indeed 'quick and easy', a number of them are not 'quick' as they involve you making up your own stock by boiling and simmering vegetables/chicken carcasses for 1-2 hours, then cooling for 2 hrs/overnight. Whilst this is fantastic for flavour and nutritional goodness, it is simply a fact that this is a real pain when it's 5 o'clock already and for those of us who aren't always particularly well organised, you've only just picked up the book to decide what to make your baby for dinner. To be perfectly honest it can sometimes be simply too much hassle as well to take the time to make up the stocks to then use them to make up a fresh puree. You can get around this of course by simply purchasing the Heinz ready made stocks or alternatively just being more organised! I'd definitely still recommend this book to anyone. My baby has eaten everything happily, and there's a wide range of foods suggested, including exotic fruit such as mango's and papaya's that I'd never even tasted myself until adulthood, yet my baby's enjoying them in the first year of her life!

Love it!, 01 Aug 2008
I love this book. My baby eats better than I do.
I've cooked most of the recipes and my baby loves them all. In fact I do too. I recommend making at least double a recipe to save time and if you do extra you can have some for your own dinner before pureeing/freezing the baby's. Recipes are adaptable too if you want to change or omit the odd ingredient.

Too much, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a bad book, it is very comprehensive and well written, so it is fun to read and contains useful information. It seems intended to be read through more than as a reference book.
However, in my opinion it is a bit too much. The information overloads the reader and then it is difficcult to remember the key things a new mom has to have in mind.It would suit you if you have a control freak side and want to know absolutelly everything about -1 yr old babies. It won't suit you if you are an aprehensive person.

Brilliant, honest, fair advice, 30 Sep 2008
This is the best book I bought for advice on raising my newborn son (and I bought a lot!). It contains honest, straightforward, non-judgemental ideas and advice. I found it really interesting, reassuring and sensible. It counters the 'ideal' (and seemingly theoretical) advice in many books with practical responses I could identify with. Strongly recommended.

Great source of advice, 19 Sep 2008
I received the first in the series from a very dear friend when I was pregnant (what to expect when expecting). Because I got so much out of it, I bought this one soon after my baby arrived. Great source of advice. Just one thing though: Don't wait until after your baby's arrival. Buy it when 6months pregnant as you will need some of the advice right from the 1st day. Not to miss.

BUY BUY BUY, 31 Aug 2008
This book is a must for all parents. It has so much information packed into it. It has answered nearly every question I've had on bringing up my child so far! Its very easy to dip in and out of, and you can see easily what to expect in future months!


V helpful for first time mums, 25 Aug 2008
This is a complete godsend when you have conflicting advice from all those around you. You can either read it on a month by month basis or use the index at the back. I cannot recommend it enough and it has put both mine and my husband's mind at ease when we're confused.

Excellant!, 23 Feb 2007
I was given this book, before starting my NC child care and early education, i then used if for both my level 2 and 3 SVQ modern aprrentice, and found this much easier to use than books supplied on the course's. I say this book is a must have for anyone studying or wishing to study childcare.

Fantastic help for NVQ3, 27 Jun 2006
This book is really really helpful, I am currently working my way through my NVQ3 and ordered this book in the hope that it would provide more information than what is given in the child care and development book when breaking down the ages and stages of child development, especially in the cognitive and language development sections, which are covered in less detail in the other child care book. The way it is set out is clear and concise and also provides activity ideas too.

excellant, 02 May 2006
This book is a must for anyone doing courses in childcare.
It is written in clear and is very easy to understand. I have found it invaluable whilst attending my cache diploma course. I have even used it to assess my own children. This book focuses on all child development upto the age of 16.

A Must have, 03 Apr 2006
I'm currently in my 2nd year of the CACHE Diploma and this book is an absolute necessity. It features sections on all ages upto 16 years and a section on child development theory.
It is ideal for observations and assignments and is a must have for any student/practitioner.

Hopefully, it will come in handy for when I start University in September.

Brilliant for Child care practitioners and all., 16 Jun 2004
This book was a core book to use as part of my Cache diploma level three in childcare and education course at college 2 years ago. (I don't know what i would have done without it...)
The book contains sections regarding child development starting from birth to 8 years. I found this book really easy to use, furthermore, the language used in the book is also easy for us to understand and relate to.

I was particuarly impressed with the recommended actvities section for each age group situated within the book. Also there is a section on meeting the needs of all children including children with special educational needs which i thought was a good idea to include as i have a family member who has SEN and i also work with children with SEN too. This allowed me the opportunity to use some of the recommended actvities and helped me in the assistance of my assignments which are part of the course.

I am currently studying early childhood studies at university and i can reflect and refer to this book when needing information. I have told other students about this book and they are buying it.

Why love matters is a conversation starter, 10 Mar 2008
Taking the book with me on the bus or at the Waitrose checkout or at the barbers shop or Sussex University its title attracts attention. In the brief encounters which follow I enjoy speaking to parents whose infants obviously enjoy what's going on with the adults. I'm able to affirm that the love care and attention they give the child in those early years do make a difference and will set her up for life. To older people, and I am elderly, I speak of the 'forgiving space' that Sue Gerhart gives me in which to understand my chequered life. As Kierkegaard said 'Life must be lived foward, but it can only be understood backwards.'

An eye opener, 22 Jan 2008
I'm expecting my first baby in Feb-2008. I was looking for books about babies psychology, it's true that there are many things you know by instinct but many others are part of medical research, also important to consider.
I read the reviews of this book and that made me buy it immediately!. I loved it since the beginning, although it gives lots of technical info in the first chapters,I found it important as well, to understand in depth the rest of the book.
It's a great eye opener for all parents, parents to be, teachers and everyone in general, interested to understand babies and human behaviour... to improve our lives and the lifes of our loved ones.
100% recommended.

Rock solid scientific evidence and easy-to-folllow advice, 20 Dec 2007
The book is great. It presents many scientific data without being boring or worse incomprehensible for lay-people and it gives plenty of good advice. I myself have a four month old son and I have greatly profited from the book. Many parents who come to visit my wife and me find my son sociable, smiling and happy. In my opinion this book is a must for parents and people who work in nurseries and in general with newborns and small children.

Little bit too technical, 04 Sep 2007
I thought this book was good but I found it difficult to read because of all the references to brain chemistry. It is interesting to know how your behaviour towards your baby affects their development, and how it occurs in the brain, but I found there was too much focus on this and not enough focus on how to love your baby in the right way. A lot of people have said it should be a recommended book for all new parents, but I think the 'average' parent would struggle to understand most of the terminology in the book. However, I do feel more knowledgeable now I have read it and will never leave my baby to cry for prolonged periods due to what the book has told me, and now I love my baby as much as I can during the day and I do feel she benefits from it, she is a really happy baby. Perhaps a watered down version of this book should be available to new parents.

In depth, thought provoking..., 31 Jul 2007
I am a parent and I also work with young children with their parents - and so often I want to express to them how important it is to connect with their children - it simply is not a 'given' that parents will do it. All to often we underestimate the amount of attention children need. Upon reading this book - I have been inspired to be braver and gently encourage greater parental involvement. There is such a a limited 'time window' to make the best connections in our babies' brains. This book is inspiring - I have just purchased another copy to give as a gift.

A typical Gina Ford book, OK if your child conforms to a strict regime., 10 Sep 2008
I made the mistake of buying this book. As with other Gina Ford books if your child doesn't conform to her regime you feel inadequate and disappointed. She advises on day one (after they have proved they can do wee and poos on potty) to confine toddler in one room all day and repeatedly put them on the potty!! No way! I think I lasted half an hour and I got cabin fever. I found "No-cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Child Say Good-bye to Diapers" by Elizabeth Pantley far more helpful and reassuring. Gina Ford does make things seem so easy, but she isn't training her own child and the whole thing can get emotional. In the Pantley book she says it can take up to 12 months before they get completly dry and with some I think it's true, just get plenty of pants.

my son was dry on the 3rd day, 16 Jun 2008
i found this book a huge help. my son only had acsident on the 1st two day. i know this was down to my son not the book but it helped my make a start.

Potty trained in one week....who is she kidding?, 21 May 2008
You can't fault her style or clarity, but this book should come with a sanity warning. The programme probably does work but (and this is a big but) your child has to be ready and predisposed to the Gina Ford technique. We had followed a lot of her advice in Contented Baby etc and so were pretty positive about it, but, ended up having to abandon the Gina Ford way of potty training because of the tantrums and tears (and not just the baby's). To be fair, the book makes it clear you can potty-train in one week...but only if your child is ready. And there's lots of good advice on familiarising your child with what will happen and sensible comments on how parents need to prepare themselves too. But nothing really your health visitor couldn't tell you or which you couldn't get off the net. And I think there's another caveat. Your child has to have the "right" personality. My son is very wilful and we abandoned the Gina Ford technique on our third attempt. Her answer would probably be "well, then he isn't ready," but at nearly 3 he should be (our health visitor agrees and, believe me I have devoted weeks to it pretty much full time). All following the Gina Ford method has achieved (apart from making us feel bad)is a power struggle and we are now having to back-track and try to undo some of the damage. No doubt it works well for some, but they're probably the kids who would be easy to potty train in any case.








A week?? More like 3 days!, 08 May 2008
This book is a little miracle. Following the advice in this book, my son was going to his potty without any prompting by the end of the first day. In three days, he was more or less fully trained and has had very few accidents since he came out of nappies. I was so worried about potty training and was expecting it to be a complete nightmare, but it turned out to be really easy - in large part due to this book. If you are thinking of buying this book, my advice is don't hesitate - you won't regret it. I certainly didn't!

Not a one-size-fits-all book, 04 May 2008
I followed this for both my children. It worked for one but not for the other. The preparation for potty training sections are good, to help you get your litte one used to sitting on the potty a certain times of day before the nappies come off for good and you go for it. But there is no advice whatsoever on how to handle poo accidents and how help a child who is not freaked out by number two's but who is never able to manage them on the potty.

Essential pregnancy book - for men AND women, 01 Oct 2008
Having recently discovered I am pregnant with our first baby, I went looking for some books for information. Most seemed dry, full of scary accounts of all the things that could go wrong, and pictures of the developing baby in the womb.

Yes, yes, I thought, but how is this going to affect US?

Well, The bloke's Guide to Pregnancy answers that very question.

Because my husband reads slowly, I read this before him, and found it to be spot on, funny AND useful. Now my husband is working his way thorugh it, and even a few pages in was saying 'ha ha, this bit's so tue'.

It gives guys an insight into how we women will be behaving and feeling, and gives them some tips on how to cope - much more useful than 'the embryo is now the size of a grain of rice' which may be interesting but isn't actually very useful.

If you only buy one pregnancy book, buy this one.

Fantastic Read, a must for all expectant fathers!, 30 Jul 2008
The Blokes guide books are absolutly fantastic, and a real must for all expectant fathers! The book is written in such a readable non-bulls$%t way, that it cannot fail to make you laugh, cry and think deeply about your forthcoming arrival. Yes it's humours, but it is FULL of useful and CRITICAL info. I read this book prior to attending any anti-natel classes, and found that when we went to the classes, I was actually one of the most knowledgable people in the room (except for the mid-wife!!!) I cannot recommend this book enough, but it, read it, and pass the word on to all your male friends! Lastly good luck with your little one!

Losers Guide More like it, 16 Jul 2008
This book is great if you are an employee, british, and watch too much TV. There is no mention about being your own boss. There is too much indicating that he thinks blokes are fearful of their partners and should try to interpret the situation to prevent being smacked on the head by the woman. Nothing mentioned about blokes also having feelings. I would have to say it must have been written by a woman because it was totally off the mark suggesting that as your partner is pregnant that you will start to see her in the same light as your mother!! oooeee Yuk and sick!
The Bloke's Guide to Pregnancy

The Descent of Man, 10 Jun 2008
A missed opportunity. After a promising, empathetic start, Smith swiftly descends into a conspiratorial blokeishness that does no-one any favours.

The early pages may be useful in assisting the newly-"pregnant" man to get over the shock that can accompany a positive test, and to understand there is nothing out of the ordinary about having misgivings. But there is little here that will help a man to build a bond of understanding with his partner about the process of pregnancy, birth and parenthood.

Instead there are sniggering (or sneering) references to female body size, natural birth and the use (or non-use) of drugs in labour. Smith seems more interested in decorating a nursery and getting on with "men's work" than engaging with his partner.

A man seeking a book about pregnancy is, one would suspect, probably thinking beyond those sort of cliches, and will find this "guide" increasingly frustrating the more he reads.


The Bloke's Guide to Pregnancy, 03 Apr 2008
I ordered this book and then read the negative reviews that it had been given..... I disagree with these - the book is tops! Despite being labelled as "simplistic" and "sexist" - it isn't! I have good medical knowledge, but this book contains the right amount of detail for most, but importantly, explains to men why things are the way they are - you don't get this from the medical books!

If you want something to summarise the progress that your partner is going through in terms of behavioural changes then this hits the nail on the head - it is easy reading, light-hearted, informative and amusing. Sure, it doesn not give you all the preparation you need, but it never claims to!

Enjoy.

Fabulous book for advice and recipes, 30 Sep 2008
I have recommended this book to everyone. It's full of good advice for different weaning stages. And I cook the 9months + recipes for my husband...he always says how nice they are and then I tell them that the meal was designed for a 12 month old!! Lovely food for babies, toddlers, and adults.

Location, location, location, 10 Sep 2008
This book does give lots of interesting ideas, but depending on your location, many of the ingredients might not be readily available, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash and some fruits. There also seem to be a lot of fish recipes.

Very useful and easy to follow., 24 Aug 2008
This book is amazing! I find myself using it on a daily basis to look things up as well as using the recipes. It's great for people like me who do not have a clue about cooking as it is very easy to follow. Even if you are a good cook already, you will find this book invaluable for giving you ideas on what to give your little one. I think my daughter would be living on jars of baby food if I hadn't bought this book!

tedious waste of time, 24 Aug 2008
Why cook separately for children? Why not simply give them smaller portions of properly made food for adults? I bought this book when my children were very small, I had made my own baby food, not through any sense of righteous "earthmotherlyness", but through necessity brought on by living in the Central American jungle. Using this book meant I doubled up cooking first for my children and then for myself and my husband. Until I saw the light, threw the book away and stopped wasting time & money. Use a decent proper cook book, and teach your children to eat food not cartoon faced vegetable caterpillars.

Tasty, easy recipes, 09 Aug 2008
I got this in preparation for weaning my daughter who is 11 months at time of writing. Every recipe we have tried has been a winner and mum & dad have even enjoyed some too! I would recommend Gina Ford's weaning book alongside this one as a more comprehensive guide to actually going about weaning. This is better for the recipes.

Excellent!!!, 18 Aug 2008
I really love this book, the recipes are very easy and tasty, my baby loves them!!!.
If I didn't have the book, I would have never used broccoli, nor onion on a purée for example. This book has been an excellent guide to me. The author also gives very good nutritional tips.
I'm very happy to have this book and I would recommend it to first time parents without a doubt.

very good, 18 Aug 2008
i got this for and thought it was great, then i was bought a newer version with a toddler bit in,i do tend to use the newer one. but i git some great ideas out of here.some things i didnt realise i was aloud to give my son at that age. a good book all in all.

Good, but not the best, 17 Aug 2008
I found this book good for the 1st stages of weaning, but not so much after that. Some good ideas, but there are defiantely better books out there by lesser known authors.

Great book, however be advised..., 04 Aug 2008
This is a fabulous book with lovely delicious recipes that once you've tasted, you cannot deny are good enough for the rest of the family. The book is split into recipes for the appropriate ages which is very helpful, and although the book is entitled top 100 baby 'purees', as the baby gets older many of the recipes included are not really purees, but rather just mashed loosely, or for example with small pasta pieces. However one word of caution, although many of the meals are indeed 'quick and easy', a number of them are not 'quick' as they involve you making up your own stock by boiling and simmering vegetables/chicken carcasses for 1-2 hours, then cooling for 2 hrs/overnight. Whilst this is fantastic for flavour and nutritional goodness, it is simply a fact that this is a real pain when it's 5 o'clock already and for those of us who aren't always particularly well organised, you've only just picked up the book to decide what to make your baby for dinner. To be perfectly honest it can sometimes be simply too much hassle as well to take the time to make up the stocks to then use them to make up a fresh puree. You can get around this of course by simply purchasing the Heinz ready made stocks or alternatively just being more organised! I'd definitely still recommend this book to anyone. My baby has eaten everything happily, and there's a wide range of foods suggested, including exotic fruit such as mango's and papaya's that I'd never even tasted myself until adulthood, yet my baby's enjoying them in the first year of her life!

Love it!, 01 Aug 2008
I love this book. My baby eats better than I do.
I've cooked most of the recipes and my baby loves them all. In fact I do too. I recommend making at least double a recipe to save time and if you do extra you can have some for your own dinner before pureeing/freezing the baby's. Recipes are adaptable too if you want to change or omit the odd ingredient.

Too much, 05 Oct 2008
This is not a bad book, it is very comprehensive and well written, so it is fun to read and contains useful information. It seems intended to be read through more than as a reference book.
However, in my opinion it is a bit too much. The information overloads the reader and then it is difficcult to remember the key things a new mom has to have in mind.It would suit you if you have a control freak side and want to know absolutelly everything about -1 yr old babies. It won't suit you if you are an aprehensive person.

Brilliant, honest, fair advice, 30 Sep 2008
This is the best book I bought for advice on raising my newborn son (and I bought a lot!). It contains honest, straightforward, non-judgemental ideas and advice. I found it really interesting, reassuring and sensible. It counters the 'ideal' (and seemingly theoretical) advice in many books with practical responses I could identify with. Strongly recommended.

Great source of advice, 19 Sep 2008
I received the first in the series from a very dear friend when I was pregnant (what to expect when expecting). Because I got so much out of it, I bought this one soon after my baby arrived. Great source of advice. Just one thing though: Don't wait until after your baby's arrival. Buy it when 6months pregnant as you will need some of the advice right from the 1st day. Not to miss.

BUY BUY BUY, 31 Aug 2008
This book is a must for all parents. It has so much information packed into it. It has answered nearly every question I've had on bringing up my child so far! Its very easy to dip in and out of, and you can see easily what to expect in future months!


V helpful for first time mums, 25 Aug 2008
This is a complete godsend when you have conflicting advice from all those around you. You can either read it on a month by month basis or use the index at the back. I cannot recommend it enough and it has put both mine and my husband's mind at ease when we're confused.

Excellant!, 23 Feb 2007
I was given this book, before starting my NC child care and early education, i then used if for both my level 2 and 3 SVQ modern aprrentice, and found this much easier to use than books supplied on the course's. I say this book is a must have for anyone studying or wishing to study childcare.

Fantastic help for NVQ3, 27 Jun 2006
This book is really really helpful, I am currently working my way through my NVQ3 and ordered this book in the hope that it would provide more information than what is given in the child care and development book when breaking down the ages and stages of child development, especially in the cognitive and language development sections, which are covered in less detail in the other child care book. The way it is set out is clear and concise and also provides activity ideas too.

excellant, 02 May 2006
This book is a must for anyone doing courses in childcare.
It is written in clear and is very easy to understand. I have found it invaluable whilst attending my cache diploma course. I have even used it to assess my own children. This book focuses on all child development upto the age of 16.

A Must have, 03 Apr 2006
I'm currently in my 2nd year of the CACHE Diploma and this book is an absolute necessity. It features sections on all ages upto 16 years and a section on child development theory.
It is ideal for observations and assignments and is a must have for any student/practitioner.

Hopefully, it will come in handy for when I start University in September.

Brilliant for Child care practitioners and all., 16 Jun 2004
This book was a core book to use as part of my Cache diploma level three in childcare and education course at college 2 years ago. (I don't know what i would have done without it...)
The book contains sections regarding child development starting from birth to 8 years. I found this book really easy to use, furthermore, the language used in the book is also easy for us to understand and relate to.

I was particuarly impressed with the recommended actvities section for each age group situated within the book. Also there is a section on meeting the needs of all children including children with special educational needs which i thought was a good idea to include as i have a family member who has SEN and i also work with children with SEN too. This allowed me the opportunity to use some of the recommended actvities and helped me in the assistance of my assignments which are part of the course.

I am currently studying early childhood studies at university and i can reflect and refer to this book when needing information. I have told other students about this book and they are buying it.

Why love matters is a conversation starter, 10 Mar 2008
Taking the book with me on the bus or at the Waitrose checkout or at the barbers shop or Sussex University its title attracts attention. In the brief encounters which follow I enjoy speaking to parents whose infants obviously enjoy what's going on with the adults. I'm able to affirm that the love care and attention they give the child in those early years do make a difference and will set her up for life. To older people, and I am elderly, I speak of the 'forgiving space' that Sue Gerhart gives me in which to understand my chequered life. As Kierkegaard said 'Life must be lived foward, but it can only be understood backwards.'

An eye opener, 22 Jan 2008
I'm expecting my first baby in Feb-2008. I was looking for books about babies psychology, it's true that there are many things you know by instinct but many others are part of medical research, also important to consider.
I read the reviews of this book and that made me buy it immediately!. I loved it since the beginning, although it gives lots of technical info in the first chapters,I found it important as well, to understand in depth the rest of the book.
It's a great eye opener for all parents, parents to be, teachers and everyone in general, interested to understand babies and human behaviour... to improve our lives and the lifes of our loved ones.
100% recommended.

Rock solid scientific evidence and easy-to-folllow advice, 20 Dec 2007
The book is great. It presents many scientific data without being boring or worse incomprehensible for lay-people and it gives plenty of good advice. I myself have a four month old son and I have greatly profited from the book. Many parents who come to visit my wife and me find my son sociable, smiling and happy. In my opinion this book is a must for parents and people who work in nurseries and in general with newborns and small children.

Little bit too technical, 04 Sep 2007
I thought this book was good but I found it difficult to read because of all the references to brain chemistry. It is interesting to know how your behaviour towards your baby affects their development, and how it occurs in the brain, but I found there was too much focus on this and not enough focus on how to love your baby in the right way. A lot of people have said it should be a recommended book for all new parents, but I think the 'average' parent would struggle to understand most of the terminology in the book. However, I do feel more knowledgeable now I have read it and will never leave my baby to cry for prolonged periods due to what the book has told me, and now I love my baby as much as I can during the day and I do feel she benefits from it, she is a really happy baby. Perhaps a watered down version of this book should be available to new parents.

In depth, thought provoking..., 31 Jul 2007
I am a parent and I also work with young children with their parents - and so often I want to express to them how important it is to connect with their children - it simply is not a 'given' that parents will do it. All to often we underestimate the amount of attention children need. Upon reading this book - I have been inspired to be braver and gently encourage greater parental involvement. There is such a a limited 'time window' to make the best connections in our babies' brains. This book is inspiring - I have just purchased another copy to give as a gift.

A typical Gina Ford book, OK if your child conforms to a strict regime., 10 Sep 2008
I made the mistake of buying this book. As with other Gina Ford books if your child doesn't conform to her regime you feel inadequate and disappointed. She advises on day one (after they have proved they can do wee and poos on potty) to confine toddler in one room all day and repeatedly put them on the potty!! No way! I think I lasted half an hour and I got cabin fever. I found "No-cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Child Say Good-bye to Diapers" by Elizabeth Pantley far more helpful and reassuring. Gina Ford does make things seem so easy, but she isn't training her own child and the whole thing can get emotional. In the Pantley book she says it can take up to 12 months before they get completly dry and with some I think it's true, just get plenty of pants.

my son was dry on the 3rd day, 16 Jun 2008
i found this book a huge help. my son only had acsident on the 1st two day. i know this was down to my son not the book but it helped my make a start.

Potty trained in one week....who is she kidding?, 21 May 2008
You can't fault her style or clarity, but this book should come with a sanity warning. The programme probably does work but (and this is a big but) your child has to be ready and predisposed to the Gina Ford technique. We had followed a lot of her advice in Contented Baby etc and so were pretty positive about it, but, ended up having to abandon the Gina Ford way of potty training because of the tantrums and tears (and not just the baby's). To be fair, the book makes it clear you can potty-train in one week...but only if your child is ready. An