How to Have a Smarter Baby : The Infant Stimulation Program For Enhancing Your Baby's Natural Development

Rating:
Summary: Dangerous "smell games" in Smarter Baby Book
Review: Since 1987,when this book was written, there has been muchresearch on the toxicity of ingredients in modern fragrances andfragrant products. On page 189, under "Smell Games," Dr. Ludington-Hoe advocates using "mommy's perfume" and "daddy's aftershave" to stimulate baby's sense of smell. Unfortunately, fragrances and aftershave contain many chemicals that are not adequately tested for health effects, both chronic and acute. Many fragrance chemicals are neurotoxic, carcinogenic, disrupt endocrine function, cause respiratory and skin, eye and ear irritation (think of all those infant ear infections and the extraordinary increase in childhood and adult asthma cases and fatalities in the last ten-fifteen years!), and even central nervous system disruption and liver and kidney damage. Infants and children are much more susceptible to the effects of toxic chemicals. Holding toxic mixtures like this under a baby's nose is far more likely to kill brain cells than to nourish them. Modern parents should be much more saavy about indoor air pollution, its causes and its effect on child and family health. I give this book a "two" because it contains dangerously outdated information about what is appropriate or healthy stimulation for children.

Rating:
Summary: Dangerous "smell games" in Smarter Baby Book
Review: Since 1987,when this book was written, there has been muchresearch on the toxicity of ingredients in modern fragrances andfragrant products. On page 189, under "Smell Games," Dr. Ludington-Hoe advocates using "mommy's perfume" and "daddy's aftershave" to stimulate baby's sense of smell. Unfortunately, fragrances and aftershave contain many chemicals that are not adequately tested for health effects, both chronic and acute. Many fragrance chemicals are neurotoxic, carcinogenic, disrupt endocrine function, cause respiratory and skin, eye and ear irritation (think of all those infant ear infections and the extraordinary increase in childhood and adult asthma cases and fatalities in the last ten-fifteen years!), and even central nervous system disruption and liver and kidney damage. Infants and children are much more susceptible to the effects of toxic chemicals. Holding toxic mixtures like this under a baby's nose is far more likely to kill brain cells than to nourish them. Modern parents should be much more saavy about indoor air pollution, its causes and its effect on child and family health. I give this book a "two" because it contains dangerously outdated information about what is appropriate or healthy stimulation for children.

Rating:
Summary: Info is timeless, not dated-- Good for new parents
Review: Susan Ludington-Hoe provides many tips for stimulating your baby both before and after birth--but whereas these were better than none at all several years ago now they show wear. Instead, parents expecting are advised to review the most current evidence replacing Dr. Ludington-Hoe's. For example, see Dr. Sarah Brewer's Super Baby, which tells how as a physician she used Dr. Brent Logan's BabyPlus prenatal enrichment system discussed on www.babyplus.com (I understand that his own book, Learning before Birth, is due shortly through www.1stbooks.com, and contains the most up-to-date material). My own experience with this technology for two children, also the amazing reports from mothers I attended as a nurse, convinces me that a major breakthrough in fetal stimulation has taken place.

Rating:
Summary: An alert for expectant parents.
Review: Susan Ludington-Hoe provides many tips for stimulating your baby both before and after birth--but whereas these were better than none at all several years ago now they show wear. Instead, parents expecting are advised to review the most current evidence replacing Dr. Ludington-Hoe's. For example, see Dr. Sarah Brewer's Super Baby, which tells how as a physician she used Dr. Brent Logan's BabyPlus prenatal enrichment system discussed on www.babyplus.com (I understand that his own book, Learning before Birth, is due shortly through www.1stbooks.com, and contains the most up-to-date material). My own experience with this technology for two children, also the amazing reports from mothers I attended as a nurse, convinces me that a major breakthrough in fetal stimulation has taken place.