Book Review: THE A TO Z OF CHILDREN’S HEALTH: A Parent’s Guide from Birth to 10 Years

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from the Robert Rose Publishing, for  review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

Need a great book for the new parent?

Synopsis:

An indispensable reference that is sure to become THE go-to health & wellness guide for parents.

This comprehensive and contemporary guide is written by the pediatric experts at the world-renowned Hospital for SickChildren (Sickkids). It goes without saying that no one understands kids better than these experts. The guide covers over 235 childhood conditions and illnesses in children ages newborn to ten in a friendly yet authoritative manner.

All the illnesses and conditions are arranged alphabetically, making it easy, quick and accessible for parents, for those situations when time really is of the essence! Parents and caregivers will find expert advice on how to cope with everything from common accidents and emergencies like fever and abdominal pain to conditions such as spina bifida, infective endocarditis and shingles. 

Some of the topics covered include:

- Fever, headaches and migraine, asthma, abdominal pain
- Croup, failure to thrive, thumb sucking and nail biting, night terrors
- Heart murmurs, infective endocarditis, measles, mumps and rubella
- Rheumatic fever, spina bifida, tonsillitis and strep throat
- Down syndrome, head lice, separation anxiety, shingles.
Photos and diagrams are featured throughout so parents can accurately pinpoint what potential condition and/or illness their child may be experiencing.This book addresses virtually every question a parent might have, and knowing that this kind of help is available, on any topic that may arise, provides the reassurance every caregiver needs and wants.

Review: 

Every new parent needs a copy of this book, period! It should become your go-to guide for anything your kid can get into/have occur to them! I love how easy it is to look up an illness or symptom, and find more info BEFORE calling the doctor. The rash section for instance has 7 pictures alone, to help you narrow down what TYPE of rash your child might have. All the topics answer three questions: 1) what is the condition, 2) what might happen as a result of the condition, and 3) how should the problem be treated?
Great sections include understanding growth charts, teething, bruising, cold or not?, ear problems, eye problems, headaches and leg pains. They cover area to be concerned about, what the problem could be, and how to treat before calling your doctor, and what your doctor may say, and what that means! This book would be perfect for baby showers along with a basket of needed items, or as a Christmas present for a new mother-to-be, so they have this valuable resource at hand before baby is born! 

About the authors:

DR. JEREMY FRIEDMAN, MB.ChB, FRCPC, FAAP, is the Chief of Paediatric Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Childrenand an Associate Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. Dr. Friedman also works closely with Canadian Family Magazine, Chatelaine Magazine, Today’s Parent Magazine, Proctor & Gamble & Children’s Wish Foundation. He resides in Toronto, ON.

DR. NATASHA SAUNDERS, MD, MSc, FRCPC, is the mother of a busy toddler, and a staff pediatrician at the Hospital for Sick Children and Rouge Valley Health System in Toronto. She’s completing an Academic General Pediatrics Fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children. Natasha resides in Toronto, ON.