Rating: 
Summary: Tragically uninformed
Review: Dr. Michel Cohen's laid back, "less is more" style has led to at least one case of undiagnosed, stage 4 cancer in a 3-year old patient of his here in New York. For this child's distended belly and painful bowel movements he prescribed prunes and enemas. A second opinion and a simple blood test told the truth. Tragically, this doctor is all flash and no substance, and the same could be said for his book.
Rating: 
Summary: very european very modern
Review: From the first page we like very much this book. So easy to read! So very much to the point! You find no fat in this book. All muscle. Good ideas, nice feeling, HEALTHY BABY! Very European, very modern the approach. Not so careful it make you so crazy, like other baby child care books. I look forward to a translation so my sister in Ankara will have the same pleasure as we to read and learn about our baby the New Basic Way.
Rating:
Summary: for all new and old parents
Review: Great advice for anybody who needs quick easy answer to old problems.
Rating:
Summary: At last! A comprehensive book you can comprehend
Review: Having read several other baby books, I find Dr. Cohen's approach refreshingly direct and useful. Should you read just one baby book? No. Do I like having one book I can rely on to explain the "basics" in simple, user-friendly language and layout? You bet. I don't think one book could cover every possible situation we face as new parents, but I found The New Basics very informative and realistic and fun to read. (I know -- sounds crazy, but it's a fun read.) Maybe it's because he's European, but Dr. Cohen doesn't go in for the hyper-worrying that's become so typical of our American culture. He's right -- you don't need a specialist for every little thing. The women in my Lamaze class who ended up with more than one "expert" on their payroll were highly neurotic to begin with. Maybe a dose of the New Basics would help. I wish I'd read this book before we had our showers.
Rating:
Summary: at last an easy to use baby book
Review: How wonderful it is to have an easy to use baby book. I've stopped reaching for Spock and started reaching for this book. I don't know what the last reviewer wanted, but when I need advice in the middle of the night, while struggling with a crying baby, I don't want a long drawn out answer, I want something clear and precise. I've given the book to all my expectant friends to help them get prepared for the months to come. A must first time parents!
Rating: 
Summary: Must have child care book
Review: I am a pediatric orthopedic surgeon and mother of a toddler. I found this book to be a comprehensive review of child care and children's health topics.
It was easy to understand and concise.
I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I am extremely disappointed in this book. Much of the advice on breastfeeding is outdated by about 10-20 years. I find it particularly disturbing that a pediatrician would present such a biased picture of lactation consultants. As in any profession (including pediatricians) that have styles that make mothers more anxious or who may not follow the standards of their own practice. Nevertheless, there are many great lactation consultants out there, including my own. I did not have a mother (mine died) and even had she been alive, she didn't breastfeed. My sister's breastfeeding experience was completely different than my own. My lactation consultant was very professional. She was the only health care professional that I asked who was able to tell whether or not the surgery I underwent, influenced my ability to produce milk. It did, but she was incredibly reassuring and pointed out that my other breast was making plenty. She got rid of my neck, shoulder and back pain with a comfortable position and showed me how to help my baby feed in a position that reduced his reflux. He went from being horribly colicky to a delightly smiling baby in a matter of days. Furthermore, the advice in the book that breastfeeding really only gives most of the immune benefits in the first three months is wrong. Even the American Academy of breastfeeding medicine recommends EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS, based on solid scientific evidence. Its too bad that this book is so biased.
Rating:
Summary: What a relief!
Review: I can't tell you what a relief it is to have a reliable baby book from a highly qualified doctor that sets parents free from all the hysterical and high-strung baby care philosophies of late. Dr. Michel's laid-back approach to taking excellent care of your baby will set your mind at rest, showing that you don't have to be a nuclear scientist in a specialized lab to introduce solids to your baby and that you don't have to have 3 graduate degrees to toilet train your toddler. I LOVE this book!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully insightful!
Review: I found this book to be very articulate and easy to read. Much easier than many of the others. The New Basics is the best baby book I have picked up yet!
Rating:
Summary: More ego than information
Review: I read through the breastfeeding sections of this book last night and thank goodness I did so that I didn't waste my time and money on the whole book.
This man has an obvious personal agenda. It is woefully apparent throughout the entire section on nursing. He gives such horrible advice, it makes me angry. I have visited his own website and sent him a letter about it. I really hope others do the same.
Mothers have enough on their plate without more of this 70s-style push away from nursing. The last thing they need is to be misinformed. I belong to more than a few mothering circles and you can bet I will be warning my friends about this guy.
| 
