Off to a Great Start!: How to Relax and Enjoy Your Baby

Stern, a Los Angeles pediatrician, denounces bringing up kids according to a set of rules, and urges parents to relax and trust their instincts and common sense. The book is written in an informal, at times lighthearted, style; when asked by a mother if she can eat chocolate while nursing, Stern responds that ""life without chocolate isn't worth living.'' Though it doesn't delve into each subject in exhaustive detail, the volume covers a broad base of issues of concern to parents during their child's first years: selecting a pediatrician, feeding a newborn, dealing with common illnesses, making a home safe for baby, disciplining a toddler. Stern's belief that a ``pediatrician's major responsibility is to relieve parental anxiety'' is evident in her patient, reassuring tone. The book comforts as it informs, which first-time parents, in particular, will appreciate. (March 24)