Baby Ecology book is here! Learn more
Baby Ecology book is here!
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
How the book is structured
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, 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 your baby better, worry less, and enjoy more.
Table of Contents
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
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: EATING ENVIRONMENT
First nourishment
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
How Baby Ecology differs from other parenting books
- Overall environment over prescriptive techniques. Rather than prescribing strict, one-size-fits-all rules, Baby Ecology helps the readers create the physical and emotional environment for their baby to thrive.
- The Baby Ecology Approach introduces 10 interconnected, biology-based building blocks that span across feeding, sleep, care, and play.
- Fully and clearly referenced throughout: no need to guess where the information came from.
- Scientific understanding and practical advice. Non-judgmental, flexible guidance based on best available science and the author's lived experience as a parent to three children.
A little while back, I wrote why I decided to write Baby Ecology. If it resonates, let me know what you think via socials or the Contact form here. I look forward to hearing from you.
Last but not least, I invite you to explore Baby Ecology companion resources (all completely free).
Explore further:
Baby Ecology: Let's create the best environment for your baby
Baby Ecology: Using science and intuition to create the best feeding, sleep, and play environment for your unique baby
Finding reliable baby care advice
Most resources that offer baby care advice fall into distinct camps that criticize each other and even contradict themselves. Our babies deserve better.
Baby Ecology receives awards
Baby Ecology is honored with Silver + Gold in 2023 Feathered Quill Book Awards, Gold in 2022-23 Reader Views Awards, and a finalist status in 2022 Foreword INDIES
Hello! I'm Anya Dunham, a scientist with a PhD in Biology, an award-winning author, and a mom to three kids. Here and in my book, Baby Ecology, I analyze infant development research to find the optimal nurturing environment — the (usually wide) range of good options — to help you choose what works best for your baby and your family. Welcome!
Let's stay in touch