The Science of Mom - 2nd Edition by Alice Callahan (Paperback)

About the Book

Sharing the latest scientific research on raising healthy babies, she covers topics like the microbiome, attachment, vaccine safety, pacifiers, allergies, increasing breast milk production, and choosing an infant formula.

Book Synopsis

Now updated! The new edition of this best-selling guide uses science to tackle some of the most important decisions facing new parents--from sleep training and vaccinations to breastfeeding and baby food.

Is cosleeping safe? How important is breastfeeding? Are food allergies preventable? Should we be worried about the aluminum in vaccines? Searching for answers to these tough parenting questions can yield a deluge of conflicting advice. In this revised and expanded edition of The Science of Mom, Alice Callahan, a science writer whose work appears in the New York Times and the Washington Post, recognizes that families must make their own decisions and gives parents the tools to evaluate the evidence for themselves. Sharing the latest scientific research on raising healthy babies, she covers topics like the microbiome, attachment, vaccine safety, pacifiers, allergies, increasing breast milk production, and choosing an infant formula.

Review Quotes

The Science of Mom stands out from the crowd . . . an easy-to-read, certifiable resource.

-- "American Reference Books Annual"

[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"

[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"

[S]hould be required reading for all new parents. [Callahan] 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"

A fresh and enlightening approach. I'd highly recommend this book to any mom expecting her first child or her fourth.

-- "Uncommon Motherhood"

A rare gem in the parenting canon--smart, sensitive, and a lifesaver for a generation of parents caught in the nebulous spider's web of Internet 'wisdom.'

--Suzanne Barston

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"

Alice Callahan has written a breakthrough book, combining the compassion, warmth, and angst of a mother with the measured reasoning of a scientist. She helps parents not only understand how science works but how they can access that science to answer their questions. She's found a way to access the scientist in all of us.

--Paul A. Offit, MD

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)"

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"

Families routinely search for health information. The Science of Mom makes it easy, collecting evidence for health decisions and putting it into perspective with a mom-to-mom connection. Callahan's advice is thoughtful, backed by science, and feels fueled by love. She is willing to provide powerful advice when detailing the science and safety of vaccines. Keep this book in arm's reach as you support your infant for calm and direction.

--Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE, FAAP

Finally, someone has brought some science--and some sense--to the mommy wars. Should be required reading for all new (and old) parents.

--Emily Oster

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"

Think of all the controversial, hot-button topics that parents obsess about in a child's first year--from vaccines to feeding, bed-sharing to sleep training. Weighing the scientific evidence, Callahan offers balanced insights and in-depth answers--a far cry from the oversimplified advice prescribed by many 'parenting experts.' The result: a must-have guide that's substantive and extremely engaging.

--Jena Pincott

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 three-thumbs-up recommendation.

-- "Science-Based Medicine"

Yes! An easy-to-read, fascinating review of the science behind new parents' biggest health questions. Many of these issues--infant sleep, breastfeeding, vaccines--will hit your 'Should I panic?' button. With gentle guidance, Alice Callahan puts your fears to rest.

--Tracy Cutchlow

About the Author

Alice Callahan holds a PhD in nutritional biology from the University of California, Davis. 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 popular blog Science of Mom: The Heart and Science of Parenting, she writes and teaches in Eugene, Oregon.