Goodreads Book Giveaway

Baby Ecology

by Anya Dunham

Giveaway ends June 09, 2023.

Baby Ecology: Table of Contents

"A refreshing guide for new parents focused not on specific techniques but rather on the big picture elements that matter most. Highly recommend!"

-- Alice Callahan, PhD, author of The Science of Mom

Here is what you will find inside my award-winning book, Baby Ecology.

Chapter 1 will give you a sense of what newborns are like and help you prepare your home — and your mind — for your new arrival. Chapters 2 through 4 cover the major topics of sleep, feeding, and care and play during your baby’s first year. Chapter 5 will help you feel more confident and supported on your parenting journey.

Each chapter is divided into two parts. In Part I, I crystallize the scientific knowledge on each topic; all studies are fully referenced, with scientific publications listed at the end of the book. In essence, Part I is about all human babies and what science can tell us about their needs. In Part II of each chapter I offer advice on how you can create the most nurturing environment for your unique baby.

I hope Baby Ecology helps you see more, understand better, and worry less.

About this book

Chapter 1. BRINGING YOUR BABY HOME

Part I: NEWBORNS: THE SCIENCE

Capable and aware

Sensitive

Ready to connect

Ready to learn

Part II: GETTING READY FOR YOUR BABY

Preparing your home

Preparing your mind

Baby Ecology Table of Contents: expecting parents

Chapter 2. SLEEP

Part I: UNDERSTANDING SLEEP

The role of sleep

How sleep works

What affects sleep

Part II: A SLEEP-SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

A safe and soothing space for sleep

Responsive and consistent care

A balanced daily rhythm

Catch the wave: a stage-by-stage guide

When you want to make a change

Chapter 3. FEEDING

Part I: THE SCIENCE OF EATING AND FEEDING

Milk

Solid food

Part II: A HEALTHY, HAPPY EATING ENVIRONMENT

First nourishment: breast- and formula-feeding

Joining the family table: signs of readiness

A setup for comfort and mastery

Purees and baby-led weaning

Cooking for baby: a stage-by-stage guide

Responsive feeding

Chapter 4. CARE AND PLAY

Part I: INFANT DEVELOPMENT

Social-emotional development

Cognitive development

Sensory and motor development

Play materials

Babies and screens

Babies in daycare

Part II: AN ENVIRONMENT FOR CARE AND PLAY

Safe, simple spaces

Connection through care and play

Free movement and exploration

At home in the world

Chapter 5. YOUR ROLE

Part I: PARENTING KNOWLEDGE: THE SCIENCE

Maternal instinct

Evidence-based knowledge

Intuition

Combining knowledge

The work of parenthood

Part II: YOU

Supporting yourself and others

Your role in the ONE

Epilogue

Recommended reading

Acknowledgements

Bibliography

Book cover of Baby Ecology book in green and orange featuring an image of a baby sitting on the grass

To write Baby Ecology, I analyzed 800 scientific papers.

First, I looked with the eyes of a scientist; I kept only what science finds to be true for all human babies, regardless of culture and family practices.

Then, I looked with the eyes of a mother and kept only what felt important for young families to know. Hundreds of scientific findings crystallized into 10 key building blocks of baby’s environment that are easy to put in place, yet are often missing.

A multiple-ward-winning book, Baby Ecology will show you what these 10 building blocks are and how to create them in your home and tailor them to your own unique family, so your baby has the support and freedom to sleep well, explore happily, grow into an adventurous eater, and reach their full potential.

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Why I wrote Baby Ecology

Description and reader reviews

Using hundreds of scientific studies, Baby Ecology connects the dots and helps create the best spaces and experiences for sleep, feeding, and play. Now available in stores!