Science of Mom

Alice Callahan holds a PhD in nutritional biology from the University of California, Davis, and spent two years investigating fetal physiology as a postdoctoral scholar. After giving birth to her first child in 2010, she put her scientific training to work answering the big questions of caring for a baby. The creator of the blog Science of Mom: The Heart and Science of Parenting, she writes and teaches in Eugene, Oregon.

Dr. Callahan isn't bossy, and isn't out to tell you what she thinks. Her book tells you what the science says, and explains how we know what we know, and what things we still need to learn more about. There's humility and warmth, here, which I think parents of newborns will find reassuring. The Pediatric Insider [Callahan] takes a compassionate, non-preachy approach with a goal of not telling the reader what to do but rather how to seek wise advice and make smart decisions...and to enjoy having a baby, which is what it is all about... Live Science This is science-based medicine writing at its best. Callahan doesn't cherry-pick. She knows how to evaluate the entire body of research and put it into perspective along with practical parenting considerations. She enhances her message with a personal touch, including anecdotes about her own experiences as a new mother and about the experiences of her friends and family. If I had three thumbs, I would give this book a 3-thumbs-up recommendation. -- Harriet Hall, MD Science-Based Medicine ... in Science of Mom, Alice Callahan, PhD combines the critical eye of a scientist with the heart of a mother to create a helpful resource for all people interested in evidence based infant care and parenting. Science & Sensibility (Lamaze International) ... a timely and necessary book for parents... It will help both moms and dads work together to choose the right parenting methods for them and give them a research-based approach to raising a child. Patheos ... a fresh and enlightening approach... I'd highly recommend this book to any mom expecting her first child ... or her fourth. Uncommon Motherhood ... a solid resource for any new parent or parent to be. Callahan does the work of sorting through the science of baby's first year, so you don't have to. Raise Healthy Eaters [Callahan's] compassion and empathy for the difficulties of parenting shine through in every chapter, from breastfeeding to vaccines to feeding to sleeping. Forbes [ The Science of Mom] should be required reading for all new parents... She calms fears and provides parents with real facts. She doesn't make the decisions for you, but she makes it a lot easier to make sound decisions. MomSense A book long-overdue in the parenting literature. Momma Data Name a complex or controversial topic and Callahan provides the science on both sides of the arguments to help parents make wise choices. Psychology Today The Science of Mom stands out from the crowd...an easy to read, certifiable resource. American Reference Books Annual

• AcknowledgmentsIntroduction1. Show Me the Science2. Cutting the Umbilical Cord3. Of Injections and Eye Goop4. For Once, Sit Back and Watch5. Milk and Motherhood6. Where Should Your Baby Sleep?7. In Search of a Good Night's Sleep