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

by Tara Haelle, Emily Willingham Ph.D.

Overview

The latest scientific research on home birth, breastfeeding, sleep training, vaccines, and other key topics—to help parents make their own best-informed decisions.

In the era of questionable Internet "facts" and parental oversharing, it's more important than ever to find credible information on everything from prenatal vitamins to screen time. The good news is that parents and parents-to-be no longer need to rely on an opinionated mother-in-law about whether it’s OK to eat sushi in your third trimester, an old college roommate for sleep-training “rules,” or an online parenting group about how long you should breastfeed (there’s a vehement group for every opinion). Credible scientific studies are out there – and they’re “bottom-lined” in this book.

The ultimate resource for today’s science-minded generation, The Informed Parent was written for readers who prefer facts to “friendly advice,” and who prefer to make up their own minds, based on the latest findings as well as their own personal preferences. Science writers and parents themselves, authors Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham have sifted through thousands of research studies on dozens of essential topics, and distill them in this essential and engaging book. Topics include:

Home birth * Labor induction * Vaginal birth vs. Cesarean birth * Circumcision * Postpartum depression * Breastfeeding * Vaccines * Sleep training * Pacifiers * SIDS * Bed-sharing * Potty training * Childhood obesity * Food sensitivities and allergies * BPA and plastics * GMOs vs. organic foods * The hygiene hypothesis * Spanking * Daycare vs. other childcare options

Full reference information for all citations in the book is available online at http://theinformedparentbook.com/book-references/

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399171062
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	04/05/2016
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	928,182
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Tara Haelle writes about parenting, health, and science for NPR, Forbes, Washington Post, and other national publications. Emily Willingham, PhD, is a science journalist and Forbes contributor whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Discover, and other national publications.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction

Based on persistent headlines about the “mommy wars,” you could conclude that a visit to your local playground or a mom’s group outing might require decking yourself out head to toe in Kevlar. But the reality on the ground is different. There is no war, and we’d like to see that metaphor retired entirely for anything but, well, war.
 
There is, however, a whole lot of bias and judgment. All the time, every second, judging is the background noise of our social interactions. In the parenting arena, that judgment feels—and is—very, very personal. Of all the judgy noise around us, parenting criticism comes through loudly and clearly, a painful signal that elicits defensiveness and anger. Passing judgment on another parent, especially when that judgment is grounded in a “philosophy” of some kind, is a rude and nosy and even hostile thing to do. It’s one reason that some of us rarely do it in our face‑to‑face interactions. But that doesn’t mean we’re not thinking it. And a lot of the time, what we are thinking or another parent is thinking has little to do with what the latest research says.
 
Of course, it’s not a war. It’s human . . . humans raising other humans. Not one thing we do nor one philosophy we follow will guarantee the outcome we intend. We don’t even need science, for once, to tell us that.
 
But science is useful, because the practice of science produces data instead of anecdote—data we can use for evidence-based decision-making as parents. In this book, we look at what science has to say at the various crossroads parents encounter, from vaccines to attachment parenting to circumcision to screen time. We don’t dole out a lot of advice—after all, we don’t know you or your family and can’t say which route would be best for you and your child. But we give you the scientific information you need to map your own path. And here and there, we divulge what we ended up doing, which may not have been terribly scientific at the time.
 
We take on questions like: Should we circumcise our son? Is any sleep-training approach okay? Should I buy conventional or organic food? Is formula all right, because breastfeeding is just not for me? Is home birth ever a safe option? Does too much screen time harm children, and what is “too much” anyway? This book gives you the tools you need to decide, not within the framework of a parenting philosophy but within the framework of interpreting science for your family’s unique situation.
 
Perhaps the most important of these tools is understanding how to decipher the evidence. We don’t tell you what to do, because how you use the evidence depends on your specific circumstances. We work hard to limit or expose bias—yours, ours, theirs. As humans, we commonly overlook gaps in logic and ignore evidence that counters our existing beliefs and expectations. No one, including scientists, is immune to the mistakes in interpretation that all of us make when assessing evidence. As we dig into data, we note the traps to watch out for as you weigh research findings in the context of your personal needs.
 
Mistaking correlation for causation is one of the most common cognitive errors because the human mind seeks patterns and sees relationships in coincidence. That tendency is useful when your friend goes missing at the same time a lion is sighted near your village, and you then are on alert for lions. But it can mislead when the apparent associations are more subtle. Just because organic food purchases have increased at a similar rate as autism diagnoses over the past decade, for example, doesn’t mean they’re related.
 
Another common thinking trap is confirmation bias, which leads us toward information confirming what we already think and turns us away from what contradicts our beliefs. Countering this bias requires playing devil’s advocate with yourself and fighting your natural defensive reaction when evidence goes against a deeply held belief. Be on the lookout: confirmation bias might take hold as you read this book, often taking the form of cherry-picking data that conforms to what you believe. Even if you acknowledge the data, you might be inclined to diminish its relevance or ignore a larger consensus of data. We try to help by representing the entire cherry tree, if you will, in each chapter. We also focus on evidence from research, not anecdotes (even though we share a few from our own lives). As a common saying goes, the plural of “anecdote” is not data.
 
Some kinds of research carry greater weight than others. The gold standard is the randomized controlled trial, in which neither researchers nor patients know who’s receiving what intervention. This study design is intended to erase many of the problems of bias. Other kinds of clinical research include retrospective studies, taking a look back at already collected data and seeing what patterns emerge. But because these investigations weren’t controlled or planned ahead of time, the evidence they yield will be subject to caveats. And then some scientific publications aren’t based on original work at all but instead synthesize existing findings in a subject area. These systematic reviews and meta-analyses are great for getting a perspective of the state of the science, but because the authors select what to search for and include, they can be subject to bias too. The best ones give an assessment of the bias in the studies they evaluate and rate the evidence on a standardized scale. For this reason, we frequently describe the types of studies we’re discussing.
 
Finally, accept the fact that you (and we) probably are overestimating how much you (and we) know and understand. No matter how nice and unassuming you might be or how supersmart you are, you and the rest of us are all subject to superiority bias, known as the Dunning–Kruger effect. In short, it’s our tendency to overrate ourselves while underrating others. Remember how we find ourselves making comparisons to the Joneses and judging each other’s parenting styles, our own most favorably? We’re Dunning–Kruger-ing all over the place when we do that. If most of us are average parents, then most of us are not superior to other parents. What most of us are, though, is hoping to be the best parent we can be in the only situation that matters: for our children. You’re the only parent you need to worry about, and we want this book to help you be the best evidence-based parent you can be.
 
 
We hope this book will save you from the danger of Dunning–Kruger, but we also hope it helps you navigate some of the knottiest parenting questions we face today. Our goal is to place the strongest evidence in front of you, explained in a way you can understand, so that you can accurately decide what’s best for you and your family.
 
A Note on Terminology
 
We are aware of the developmental distinctions between the embryo and the fetus. In some cases, we use both terms when both stages are relevant, but in others, for brevity and to avoid repetition, we default to “fetus” or “fetal.” The word “data” is treated as a plural noun because it represents two or more pieces of information from a study. The term “birth defect” carries obvious negative onnotations, and we have sought to diminish the possibility of adding stigma by instead using the term “congenital anomaly.”

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Chapter 1 Parenting Begins Before Pregnancy 1

Chapter 2 Bun in the Oven 20

Chapter 3 Delivery Day around the Corner 60

Chapter 4 The Birth Day 120

Chapter 5 The First Weeks 149

Chapter 6 Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep 171

Chapter 7 The Joys and Pains of Feeding 196

Chapter 8 You, Your Child, and the Environment 236

Chapter 9 This Is Your Child's Brain on Screens 270

Chapter 10 Development and Its Derailments and Delays 280

Acknowledgements 303

Appendix 305

Index 311

About the Authors 321

Editorial Reviews

01/18/2016
Journalists Haelle and Willingham have made an ambitious but uneven attempt to build a comprehensive evidence-based resource for new parents. The book shines with clear explanations of the reasoning behind common hospital practices such as labor induction, vitamin K shots, and taking Apgar scores, including up-to-date summaries of the sometimes overwhelming-data surrounding giving birth and infant care choices. Subjects of controversy, such as allergies and sleep training, receive in-depth, scientifically minded treatment. The results will please information junkies who like to think their choices through rationally and comfort those who want justification for currently unpopular choices—such as for bottle-feeding over breastfeeding. Nevertheless, this guidebook overstates its lack of bias and its scope–the vast majority of topics covered fall between the prenatal period and the first few months of life—and suffers from poor, confusing organization and a lack of bottom-line summaries. The lack of footnotes and paucity of primary references, combined with a “what we did” section at the end of many of the discussions, contradicts the explicit message that parents should educate themselves. Instead, it conveys an implicit attitude that the authors should be trusted as research-savvy experts and smart parents rather than as data consolidators. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Clear, comprehensive, and resolutely evidence-based, The Informed Parent is a fabulous resource for science-minded parents. Haelle and Willingham have tirelessly compiled the evidence on so many questions that cause parents to worry and wonder, and with all of this science at their fingertips, they'll be able to make confident and informed choices for their families. From pre-conception to preschool, you'll find yourself returning to this book again and again."
—Alice Callahan, PhD, author of The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby's First Year 
 
"The Informed Parent is a beacon of science-based sanity for new parents caught in a blizzard of dubious child rearing advice. Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham are sure-handed guides, distilling the most up-to-date, reliable research into sensible advice that neither patronizes nor terrorizes. Circumcision? Television? Nipple confusion? Relax, Tara and Emily have got you covered."
—Dan Fagin, Director of the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at NYU, and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation 
 
“In The Informed Parent, Emily Willingham and Tara Haelle, two widely respected science writers (and parents), explore key questions about child health, beginning with fetal development and continuing into toddlerhood. The result is engaging, conversational, deeply researched, and smart, a book that should be considered a necessary resource for all 21st century parents.”
—Deborah Blum, Director of the Knight Science Journalism Program, MIT, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Love at Goon Park: Harry Harlow and the Science of Affection

"Finally! An amazing, informed, evidence-based tour through the most common questions and concerns of parenthood that I can recommend without hesitation. A must for any science minded new parent, or for anyone who thinks Google doesn’t replace expertly curated information."
—Yoni Freedhoff, MD, Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, University of Ottawa and creator of the Weighty Matters blog

"Parents in the internet age have to navigate their way through a maze of confusing information and misinformation. Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham are the perfect guides to what's fact and fiction when it comes to the science of parenting."
—Seth Mnookin, Associate Director of MIT’s Graduate Program in Science Writing, and author of The Panic Virus

"Science-based. Judgment free. A perfect guide for evidence-based parenting!"
—Ari Brown, MD, pediatrician and author of Baby 411 book series

"In The Informed Parent, journalists Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham manage to answer everything a parent could possibly be worried about during pregnancy, birth, infancy, and toddlerhood. What makes this book different from every other book on this subject (and there are many) is that the authors take on not only the science of what concerns us, but encourage us to think along with them—giving us the tools to answer other questions in the future. It was like reading the answer sheet before the test."
—Paul Offit, MD, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
 
"With The Informed Parent, Tara Haelle and Emily Willingham have gifted today’s neurotic parents with fuel - and ultimately antidote - for their obsessive researching. Unlike most parenting books, the authors never preach, condone or praise. Instead, they report the science on all possible parenting controversies in a lay-friendly (and often pithy) style, allowing the reader to come to her/his own conclusions. Well-written, impeccably researched, and brilliantly suited for millennial parents, The Informed Parent should be on the top of everyone’s baby'shower list."
—Suzanne Barston, the "Fearless Formula Feeder" and author of Bottled Up: How the Way We Feed Babies Has Come to Define Motherhood, and Why It Shouldn't
 
“Is it confirmation bias to say that anyone who decides to look at scientific facts instead of hectoring parents is doing the world a service? If so, consider my opinion biased: This book will help a lot of folks!”
—Lenore Skenazy, founder of the book, blog and movement Free-Range Kids

"As a mom, I can confidently say that The Informed Parent will be a lifesaver for all moms and dads going through the anxiety and excitement of raising a young child. From autism to organic food, the authors demystify modern parents’ most prevalent fears for the first four years, and effectively arm them with a critical thinking cap for years to come. If you’re tired of the mommy (and daddy) wars, or simply need help separating the credible wheat from the misinformation chaff on the internet, look no further."
          —Kavin Senapathy, science advocate and author of The Fear Babe
“Accessible and informative…For anyone headed into parenthood, this is a must-read, as it answers so many questions new parents are bound to ask.”
—Kirkus Reviews

"The book shines with clear explanations of the reasoning behind common hospital practices such as labor induction, vitamin K shots, and taking Apgar scores, including up-to-date summaries of the sometimes overwhelming-data surrounding giving birth and infant care choices. Subjects of controversy, such as allergies and sleep training, receive in-depth, scientifically minded treatment."
—Publishers Weekly 

From the Publisher

2016-02-03
The latest scientific findings on child-rearing from pregnancy through toddlerhood.As Haelle (Seasons, Tides and Lunar Phases, 2016, etc.) and Willingham (The Complete Idiot's Guide to College Biology, 2010, etc.) point out in their introduction, the book does not provide advice on child care. Instead, the authors gather the latest science on a variety of issues, letting parents make their own decisions after learning what the most recent research indicates about various stages of child care. Beginning with the months and days before pregnancy has even occurred, the authors discuss the need for prenatal vitamins, weight gain of the mother and fetus, medical screenings during pregnancy, whether certain foods can affect the fetus, and how to choose the best person to assist the mother during labor. Then they move rapidly into the labor and delivery room, providing extensive information on the pros and cons of circumcision, breast-feeding vs. formula feeding, vaccines, and cloth vs. disposable diapers. Not only do they point out what is best for the infant, they also analyze the emotional ups and downs a new mother may experience, including postpartum depression, sleep deprivation, and the inability to bond with the infant. Moving beyond infancy, they discuss trips to the dentist, solid foods and food allergies, potty training, letting children use technology, air and water pollution, preschool, and a host of other pertinent topics. About 90 percent of the book centers on scientific data, but Haelle and Willingham also offer readers glimpses into their personal lives and the things they did or didn't do for their children during these first four years, which adds a more personal touch to this already accessible and informative book. For anyone headed into parenthood, this is a must-read, as it answers so many questions new parents are bound to ask. Easy-to-read, up-to-date information on the latest research into pregnancy, childbirth, and early childhood.

Kirkus Reviews