It seems like every time a new mother turns on her computer, radio, or television, she is greeted with news of yet another scientific study about infancy. Ignoring good information isn’t the right course, but just how does one tell the difference between solid studies, preliminary results, and snake oil? In this friendly guide through the science of infancy, Science of Mom blogger and PhD scientist Alice Callahan explains how non-scientist mothers can learn the difference between hype and evidence. Readers of Alice’s blog have come to trust her balanced approach, which explains the science that lies behind headlines. The Science of Mom is a fascinating, eye-opening, and extremely informative exploration of the topics that generate discussion and debate in the media and among parents. From breastfeeding to vaccines to sleep, Alice’s advice will help you make smart choices so that you can relax and enjoy your baby.
Author
I am a former research scientist, and now an author, freelance writer, and a college instructor. My first book, The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby's First Year, was published by Johns Hopkins Press in August 2015. I've updated the book for a second edition, to be released fall 2021. I'm mother to Cee (born in 2010) and BabyM (born in 2014). I live and work in Eugene, Oregon. I completed my PhD in Nutritional Biology at the University of California, Davis, in 2008 and then spent 2+ years studying fetal physiology as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Arizona. After the birth of my daughter in 2010, I decided to leave the world of academic science, trading it for more time with my daughter and the opportunity to write. Without a lab bench and experiments to run, I found myself satisfying my curiosity by diving into the scientific literature on parenting topics, sorting through the science and trying to write coherent stories about how science informs parenthood. I started with a blog, but I found so much fascinating material and so many curious readers that I soon turned my attention to writing a book: The Science of Mom: A Research-Based Guide to Your Baby’s First Year, first published in 2015 by Johns Hopkins University Press. I am not selling anything, and I have no agenda or particular parenting philosophy to promote. I’m just curious, and my scientific training gives me the skill set to evaluate the science, to see its strengths and flaws, and to give my honest interpretation of how it applies to our parenting questions.
