Reviewed by Rama Gaind.
By Dr Leon Levitt, Hybrid Publishers, $29.99.
“What do I do now?” it’s a cry to get help – to take the stress out of parenting. As new parents, we remember what it was like to come home from hospital, being alone for the first time and feeling daunted by the sheer responsibility, the tasks never performed before and by the fear of not getting it right.
While becoming a parent is often easy, becoming a good parent takes some work.
For 30 years as a GP obstetrician, Dr Leon Levitt has had great success in easing the path for parents through those early months and years. In What Do I Do Now? he discusses common parental anxieties and the overriding principles he uses in his medical practice to guide parents, and demonstrates them with instances of real-life experiences from his patients.
“This can feel like a big responsibility, and for some parents, this might translate to impossible expectations and pressure. In fact, I believe the key to good parenting lies in the opposite: it lies in realistic expectations and in the reduction of stress.”
Dr Levitt describes the true goals of parenting and gives practical approaches to colic, reflux, feeding and sleep. Strategies are explored, encouraging parents to withdraw from the specific issue with their baby and instead use one or more of these broad approaches to bring back calmness, control and joy. The book concludes with a guide to common medical issues parents have with their baby.
Pausing, reflecting and adhering to the principles described in this book can lead parents to learning and understanding the deeper factors behind a stressful situation. This then changes their perspective and empowers them to be more successful at parenting not just at that moment but throughout their parenting journey.
“Succeeding at parenting is both about doing what we can for our baby and at the same time maintaining or own sanity and health. Both rely on reducing our stress levels!”
